Text Alternatives

Text alternatives are used in older courses to describe the visual content of static images and video content. The text alternative can be read by screen reader software. Skillsoft supports the JAWS screen reader.

To access text alternatives while using JAWS:

  1. Launch a course as normal.
  2. Disable video in the General Settings section of the player.
    The General Settings menu in the Player contains options for enabling or disabling AutoPlay, Video, Animations, and Keyboard Accessibility Hints.


    This means the course will present as a series of static images with audio narration.

  3. Pause the narration whenever you want to access the text alternative by navigating to the Pause button and pressing Enter.
  4. Navigate to the Main region of the Player, and go to the static image. For example, in JAWS v16, v17, or v18, do the following:
    1. Navigate to the Main region of the page by pressing "r" three or four times (depending on whether the General Settings menu is still open).
    2. Arrow down twice to reach the static image.

    JAWS will read the text alternative (if any) associated with that image.

  5. Return to the Navigation region to continue course playback.