Skip to the main content of the page
JAWS Instructions

JAWS INSTRUCTIONS for PAL

Help Manual (508) Notification

The user is notified about the availability of the 508 Compliance Help instructions while the URL is loading, prior to the notification of the available options in PAL.
The user can manually cause the notification of the availability of 508 Compliance Help instructions to be read aloud at any time by performing the following steps:

  • Turn off the Virtual PC Cursor by pressing the Insert + Z keys.
  • Open the Frames list by pressing the Insert + F9 keys.
  • Select PAL Application frame from the Frames list.
Tab Navigation

When a form is loaded, if the form contains any editable fields and they are focused, JAWS enters into Forms mode by default. At that time, instead of reading the entire form content, JAWS reads only the focused field. In order to have JAWS read the entire form content:
  1. Turn off the Virtual PC Cursor by pressing the Insert + Z keys.
  2. Press the Insert + F9 keys to open the Frames list.
  3. Select Workspace Area from the frames list.
        Or
  1. Press M to navigate between the available frames.
  2. Select Workspace Area frame then press the Insert + Down Arrow keys.
To read single line at a time instead of entire form content:
  1. Turn off the Virtual PC Cursor by pressing the Insert + Z keys.
  2. Press the Ctrl + Home keys to move the control flow to the first control on the form.
  3. Press the Up arrow to move the control backward.
  4. Press the Down arrow to move the control forward.
  5. Select Workspace Area frame then press the Insert + Down Arrow keys.
Mandatory Fields Notification

All asterisks are identified as wild card searches in search screens. In addition, the user is notified of all mandatory fields that contain an asterisk. The user can manually cause wild card searches with asterisks and mandatory fields to be read aloud in the following two scenarios:
  1. Workspace Area: For the wild card search for the mandatory fields in a new window to be read aloud to the user, perform the following steps:
    • Turn off the Virtual PC Cursor by pressing the Insert + Z keys.
    • Press the Insert + F9 keys to open the Frames list.
    • Select Workspace Area from the Frames list.
  2. New Window: For the wild card search: For the wild card search or the mandatory fields in a new window to be read aloud to the user, perform the following steps: steps:
    • Exit Forms mode by pressing the number pad''s plus sign key.
      • Press the Ctrl + Home keys to read aloud the first control on the page.
      • Press the Down arrow to read aloud everything on the page.

Left Panel Shortcut Keys

The following table provides a list of default access keys to the PAL application.

Shortcut Key Menu Name Task
Alt + H Home Selects the Home link
Alt + F Reference Guide Selects the Reference Guide link
Alt + X Exemption Codes Selects the Exemption Codes link
Alt + Q Requests and Fees Selects the Request and Fees link
Alt + I Sign In Selects the Sign In link
Alt + S Submit Request Selects the Submit Request link
Alt + B Submit Appeal/Complaint Selects the Submit Appeal/Complaint link
Alt + R Request Status Selects the Request Status link
Alt + W Change Password Selects the Change Password link
Alt + A My Account Selects the My Account link
Alt + D Send Mail Selects the Send mail link
Alt + L Help Selects the Help link
Alt + G Reading Room Selects the Reading Room link
Alt + E
Reading Room Popular Documents Selects the Reading Room Popular Documents link
Alt + V Dashboard Selects the Dashboard link
Alt + P Main Page Selects the Main Page link
Alt + T Contact Us Selects the Contact Us link
Alt + U Sign Out Selects the Sign Out link
Alt + J
JAWS Instructions Selects the JAWS Instructions link

Note:

  1. The links available in the left panel will vary based on the configurations for your agency.
  2. The focus/cursor must be positioned in the left panel to avoid accessing buttons, links, or fields on screens displayed in the right panel of the application.
  3. The Change Password, My Account, Send Mail and Sign Out links will be available upon signing into the application.
  4. By default, the Reading Room and Dashboard links are not assigned shortcut keys.
  5. You must press the Enter key upon pressing the access keys to open a screen.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development | 451 7th Street S.W., Washington, DC 20410  |  Telephone: (202) 708-1112     TTY: (202) 708-1455

Find the address of the HUD office near you