WordPress with JAWS for Windows
Class Three
By
CathyAnne Murtha
www.blind.training
cathy@blindtraining.com

 Copyright 2025 CathyAnne Murtha. All Rights Reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the address below.

Access Technology Institute, LLC
PO Box 90812
Tucson, AZ 85752
cathy@blind.training
www.blind.training

Introduction
There are a myriad of block types. When a block is inserted, JAWS does an excellent job explaining their use and access.

If youre comfortable with standard Windows controls, consider turning off Tutor Messages to reduce JAWS verbosity. If you want a reminder, just read the focused control.

Well explore some popular block types and Group blocks. Dont forget the Block Settings sidebar. It has options that enhance or disable features.

Group blocks are containers that hold related blocks. They can be organized in several ways and offer different layout options.

Group blocks also affect document navigation. List View shows how blocks are organized. Use it to label blocks, move between them, and review layout.

Finally, well manage blocks using keyboard accelerators and the Block toolbar.

This lesson is packed with new skills. Combine them with what youve already learned to get the most out of blocks and Groups.

Navigate and explore the display. WordPress has hidden gems waiting to be discovered.


Contents
Introduction	1
Block Types	4
Heading Block	5
Heading HTML Anchor	8
Quotations	10
Separator	10
Group Block	11
Group	13
Row	13
Stack	14
Grid	16
List View	17
Block Labels	18
Close List View	18
Manage Blocks	19
Delete a Block	19
Move a Block	20
Select Blocks	20
Cut, Copy, and Paste Blocks	20
Conclusion	21



Block Types
You learned to select a block type with the slash menu and slash command. The slash menu has recently used block types. The slash command is handy, but its impossible to remember every block type. There are dozens. Lets review.

Select a block in the slash menu:
* Type a forward slash (/)
* Activate a block type

Use a slash command:
* Type forward slash (/) followed by the block type
* /Paragraph
* /File
* /Separator

And more.

Review all block types, find your favorites, and insert them from the Block Inserter menu of the top toolbar.

To open the Add Block menu:
* Focus on the top toolbar
* Open the Block Inserter menu

The Block Inserter panel opens.

The Block Inserter has three tabs:
* Block
* Patterns
* Media

Press RIGHT and LEFT ARROW to select a tab. Activate a tab to load related blocks at the bottom of the panel

Panel controls include:
* Search: Search for a block type
o Insert a text string
o Search results propagate as you type
o Review search results at the bottom of the panel
o Clear the edit box to restore the block list
* Block list: A block type list is at the bottom of the panel
o Blocks are in rows and columns
o Use all four arrow keys to navigate blocks

Activate a block to insert it after the last page or post block

Reverse navigate to and activate the Close button to close the Block Inserter panel.  Focus is on the Block Inserter button.

To edit the block:

* Return to the document: CTRL-SHIFT-TILDE
* Navigate to the new block
* JAWS announces how to access the block

There are dozens of blocks

Lets review some of the most popular.
Heading Block
All page and post headings start with a basic Heading block configured in the Block toolbar or Block Settings sidebar.

To add a heading:

* Add a Heading block using:
* The slash command
* The slash menu
* The Block Inserter panel

Configure the heading level in the Block toolbar:

* Focus on the Block toolbar: ALT-F10
* The Heading menu is selected
* Use this drop-down list to change the block style
* Navigate right to the Change Level menu
* Open the drop-down list and select a heading level
* Activate heading level 1 to 6

Configure the heading level and text or background colors in the Block Settings sidebar:

* Open the Settings sidebar: CTRL-SHIFT-COMMA
* If the Settings sidebar is open, use CTRL-TILDE to navigate to the sidebar
* Select and activate the Block property sheet

Configure the following:

* Color options: Two checked options show the text and background color options
o Uncheck an option to hide the related control
o Tap ESCAPE to close the menu without making changes
o Focus returns to the sidebar
* Text or Background: Activate Text or Background to open a color popup
o The popup overlays the document beside the sidebar
o Navigate once to the bottom of the panel and select a color
o Colors are arranged in rows or columns
* Activate a color to apply it
o A Clear button restores the default theme text or background color
o Tap ESCAPE twice to return to the Settings sidebar
* The first tap enables the virtual cursor
* The second ESCAPE returns focus to the sidebar Text or Background button
* This is the same for all sidebar popups
o Reset: Reset the background and text color to the theme defaults

The next options configure heading block typography settings:

* Typography: Open a drop-down list of typography options. Checked items are shown in the sidebar
o Uncheck an option to hide the related control
o Tap ESCAPE to close the menu without making changes
o Focus returns to the sidebar
* Set Custom Size: Toggle this button to enable text size settings. Three controls are enabled
o Size spin box: Input a font size or select a size with UP and DOWN ARROW
o Unit: Select the text unit of measure
* PX: A fixed pixel size. 16 is 16 pixels. This is the standard Windows text unit
* EM: The text size scales based on the parent element font size
* 2 EM doubles the font size
* You can use decimals such as 1.25 EM
* Well discuss parent elements later
* REM: The text size scales based on the default browser or theme font
* 2 REM doubles the font size
* You can use decimals such as 1.25 REM
o Percent: The font is scaled based on the parent element font size
* 200% doubles the font size
* You can use any positive percentage
o Negative values are not valid font sizes
o Custom Size: Use this slider bar to adjust the font size. The custom size uses the PX unit

A parent element is the element that contains another. For example, you can create block containers that hold other blocks.

The parent blocks text can differ from the rest of the page. Parent blocks function like folders that contain subfolders. The subfolders are children of the parent.

A blocks parent is often the page itself. Blocks can also be grouped and share font and formatting settings. A grouped blocks font size is based on the block group. If a block groups font changes, the changes are applied to all child blocks unless you customize it.

Well cover block groups in detail shortly.

An Advanced button enables an HTML Anchor edit box. You can link to this heading text from elsewhere in the document.

Lets talk about that next.
Heading HTML Anchor
Hyperlinks are called anchors. I imagine it as a tether to another web location that is anchored to my page.

Earlier, you learned how to create links or anchors to outside web resources or your website content.

A same-page link is a hyperlink to content on the same page. You can link to headings, paragraphs, pictures, and more. If a block has an HTML Anchor edit box in the Block Settings sidebar, you can link to it elsewhere in a page or on your site.

The Heading block Settings sidebar HTML Anchor edit box names the element. Add a name in the edit box. Concatenate anchor words or separate them with dashes or underscores. Anchors are case specific. ContactUs is different from contactus. I use all lowercase letters to avoid confusion.

HTML Anchor name examples:

* wordpress-info
* wordpress-syllabus
* wordpress-pricing

Add the heading name to the page path preceded by a hash tag (#) to link to a same-page heading. These anchors work from the same page or may be cross-linked from another page.

Patterns can help you remember anchor names:

* wordpress-info
* word-info
* powerpoint-info

If all class information anchors follow the same pattern, they are easier to recall.

Use same-page links to add a menu of links at the top of a page or link to class prices from another webpage.

For example: A page advertising a training course has links to class information, syllabi, and pricing. Links at the top of the page whisk visitors to the section they want to read.

To add an HTML Anchor:
* Focus on a block
* Focus on the HTML Anchor edit box in the Settings sidebar
* Input an anchor name
o Concatenate or use dashes or underscores to separate words
o I recommend lower case unless you are concatenating
o For example:
* WordPressSyllabus
* zoom-wordpress-link
* contact_us

Same-page anchors are not found through a Link dialog edit box search. You can enter them manually or append them to a searchable page or post.

To link or cross-link to a same-page link:
Search for or Input the page address. If necessary, add a FORWARD SLASH after the page name, followed by a hashtag (#) and the anchor name:

www.mysite.com/wordpress/#info
https://stella.mysite.com/word/#pricing

Notice there is one slash after the page name. Two slashes before the hashtag breaks the link. HTML is precise.

When a visitor activates the link, focus is placed on the anchored content. You direct readers to specific content sections without scrolling by linking directly to the anchor.
Quotations
Quoted text can be formatted to stand alone on the page, gaining the spotlight it deserves.

There are two ways to add a quote:

Paste and convert:

* Copy the quote to the clipboard
* Paste it into a Paragraph block
* Use the Block toolbar or Block Inserter panel to convert the block to a Quote block

Insert a Quote block:

* Use the slash command, slash menu, or Block Inserter to insert a Quote block
* Type the quote
* Navigate to the next or previous block

Quotes are formatted by the theme.

You can select colors, typography settings, and an HTML Anchor in the Settings Sidebar.
Separator
A Separator is a thin grey line that spans the page horizontally and divides document sections or topics. It provides visual separation for sighted and low vision users. JAWS ignores separators. They are essentially invisible to screen reader users.

For example:

* Course info
* Separator
* Course syllabus
* Separator
* Course pricing

The Separator provides a visual break between topics. It draws attention to new content and gives sighted and low vision users a break from what may otherwise feel like a wall of text.

This graphical bar serves multiple purposes and is inserted like any other block. Because Separator is not a frequently used block, use the slash command or Block Inserter panel to add it.

The slash command:

Focus on a new block

* Type /separator
* Press ENTER

The Separator is inserted
Focus moves to a new block below the Separator

The Block Inserter panel:

* Focus on a new block
* Open the Block Inserter panel
* Search for and activate Separator
* Close the Block Inserter
* Return to the Content Area

Separators do not affect accessibility
They break up content and add a touch of style
Group Block
A Group block is a container for other blocks. Group blocks create document sections. JAWS users navigate sections using Navigation Quick Keys.

You can add blocks to a Group in two ways:

* Copy or move an existing block
* Create new blocks within the Group container

The Group container is itself a block that holds other blocks. You can insert multiple blocks into a Group.

Create a Group using the slash command or Block Inserter.

* The slash command:
* Focus on a new block
* Type /Group
* Press ENTER

The Block Inserter:

* Focus on a new block
* Open the Block Inserter panel
* Search for and activate Group
* Close the Block Inserter
* Return to the Content Area

The Group block includes four layout options. One is free-form, and the others are structured. Navigate through the options and activate a layout.

Activate one of the following:

* Group: The block behaves like an insular page. Insert content just as you would on a page
o Gather a name, picture, and recipe in a single Group block
o Since each Group is a section, navigation is easy
* Row: Blocks are arranged horizontally and aligned across browsers and platforms
o A row of social media icons
o A timeline of pictures
o Side-by-side comparisons
* Stack: Blocks are arranged vertically and aligned across browsers and platforms
o A testimonial, quote, and image
o A class name, summary, and syllabus link
o Your picture, name, and title
* Grid: Blocks are arranged in rows and columns
o Team or student pictures
o Product thumbnails
o A Bingo card

 
Use List View to quickly access blocks and Groups in a tree view.
Group
Group is the most popular Group Block.. Activate Group in the new Group Block to insert the group.

Navigate to and activate the Add Block button. The Block Inserter popup opens.

Select and activate a block type. The block is inserted inside the Group.

Insert and edit blocks inside the Group. As long as you dont use the ARROW KEYS to move out of the Group, new blocks are inserted within the Group container.

Groups can hold any block type, including Heading, Paragraph, Quote, Separator, and more.

You may notice that standard page navigation doesnt function as expected when a page contains Groups.

Row
The Group block Row layout places blocks side by side in a single horizontal line. This is a great option for content that should be visually grouped across the page, like social media icons, a timeline of images, or side-by-side comparisons.

To create a Row layout:

* Focus on a new block
* Type /Group
* Press ENTER
* Navigate the Group layout options
* Select and activate Row

A single Row is inserted.

Add a block:

* Navigate to and activate the Add Block button
* The Block Inserter popup opens
* Select and activate a block type
* The block is added
* Repeat to add more blocks across the Row

The Row layout aligns blocks horizontally regardless of screen size, browser, or platform. The layout is consistent. Sighted and low vision users see the blocks aligned side by side across the display.

JAWS treats each block in a Row as an individual block. Theres no spatial indicator that theyre side by side.

For example:

* Follow us on social media followed by a Row of icons with ALT text
* Compare plans followed by a Row with three paragraph blocks titled Basic, Plus, and Pro

Screen reader users hear each block in order. Sighted users see them aligned across the screen. The Row layout gives you an accessible, attractive, and space-saving option.
Stack
The Stack layout places blocks in a single vertical column. Each block stacks on top of the next like a layer cake. This layout works well for content that should align from top to bottom regardless of screen size or platform.

To create a Stack layout:

* Focus on a new block
* Type /Group
* Press ENTER
* Navigate the Group layout options
* Select and activate Stack

A single Stack column is inserted

To add a block:

* Navigate to and activate the Add Block button
* The Block Inserter popup opens
* Select and activate a block
* The block is added vertically
* Repeat to add more blocks to the Stack

Stack layouts hold content meant to be read or viewed in vertical order. They work well for testimonials, quotes, contact sections, or student bios. The layout works on all platforms and browsers.

Screen reader users navigate each block in an order that matches the visual layout. Sighted users see the blocks layered from top to bottom.

For example:

A quote
A name and image

Or

A class name
A summary and syllabus link

Or

Your picture
Your name
Your title

Stack keeps the blocks grouped. Visually, they are clean and readable. JAWS recognizes the section and follows each block in order.
Grid
The Grid layout arranges blocks in rows and columns. Its like a flexible table, but easier to create. Grid layouts work well for evenly spaced thumbnails, product previews, or student bios. You can group related content and visually organize it without writing HTML.

To create a Grid layout:

* Focus on a new block
* Type /Group
* Press ENTER
* Navigate the Group layout options
* Select and activate Grid

A single Grid row is inserted.

To add a block:

* Navigate to and activate the Add Block button
* The Block Inserter popup opens
* Select and activate a block
* The block is added to the grid
* Repeat to add more blocks to the grid

Each new block fills the next space in the row. When the row fills, the grid adds a new row. The Grid can hold unlimited blocks.

The Group automatically adjusts based on screen size. Sighted users see the blocks cleanly aligned across and down the screen.

Like the Row and Stack layouts, JAWS users seamlessly navigate the Grid. There is no announcement or column headings. Each block is echoed in order.

Examples include:

* A grid of team photos
* A set of class thumbnails
* A row and column layout for a Bingo board

Use Grids to showcase pictures that link to biographies, states that link to newspaper indexes, or product images that link to detail pages. Grids save space and are completely accessible.
List View
List View opens in a sidebar on the left side of the screen. It has a tree view that lists all page blocks and Groups. Each List View item matches a page block.

To open List View:

* Navigate to the Top Toolbar: CTRL-SHIFT-TILDE from the document editing area
* Focus is placed on the View Posts button
* Navigate once to the Top Toolbar
* Activate Document Overview

Or press the WordPress keyboard accelerator: ALT-SHIFT-O

* Navigate the tree view to review page blocks and Groups
* Expand a Group to access its nested blocks
* JAWS announces each block type and tree view level

Activate a block to focus on it in the editor.

At first glance, List View may seem useless. JAWS echoes the block type rather than the content. So how do you know which block has focus?

Sighted and low vision users match the highlighted item in List View to its corresponding block in the Content Area. 

We use labels.

Each block can have a tree view label. Lets label some blocks.
Block Labels
Blocks can be labeled to facilitate List View access. You can label key Groups and pages for easy reference. The ambitious among us will label every block. I love that idea, in theory.

For ease of access, I use the List View keyboard accelerator to label blocks. Focus is placed directly on the matching List View block.

To label a block:

* Focus on a block or select a Group block
* Open List View: ALT-SHIFT-O
* Focus is placed on the matching tree view block
* Press CTRL-SPACEBAR to select it
* An Options menu is to the right of each tree view item
* Press RIGHT and LEFT ARROW to navigate between the menu and List View block
* Open the Options menu and activate Rename
* A small dialog opens
* Type a new label and activate OK

The dialog closes. Focus returns to the Options menu. Press LEFT ARROW to navigate to the block label. JAWS echoes the new label

Block labels let you review the block order and make changes to the document layout.
Close List View
Close List View using the Top toolbar or the List View close button.

The List View Close button:

* Focus on List View
* Reverse navigate to and activate Close.

The Top toolbar:

* Navigate to the Top Toolbar
* Activate Document Overview

List View closes.
Manage Blocks
Blocks are moved, deleted, and managed with the Block toolbar or keyboard accelerators.

Lets discuss:

* Deleting blocks
* Moving blocks
* Cutting and copying blocks
* Pasting blocks

These features give you control over webpage layout and appearance.
Delete a Block
Delete a block in the Block toolbar or with a WordPress keyboard accelerator.

In the Block toolbar:

Focus on the Block toolbar: ALT-F10
Open the More Options menu
Activate Delete

Use the WordPress keyboard accelerator: ALT-SHIFT-Z

The focused block is deleted

You can recover deleted blocks with the Undo command
The Windows Undo command remembers every step of your current editing session

If you reverse too far, press the Redo command: CTRL-SHIFT-Z

Redo reverses the last Undo.
Move a Block
Move a block above the previous block or below the next block using the Block toolbar

To move a block:

* Focus on a block to move
* Focus on the Block toolbar
* Navigate to Move Up or Move Down
* Activate a button to move the block

The block is moved. Focus returns to the block.
Select Blocks
Select blocks with WordPress keyboard accelerators.

To select blocks, press:

* To select a block: CTRL-A
* To select the entire document: CTRL-A twice
* To select multiple blocks:
o Select the first block
o Press CTRL-SHIFT-DOWN ARROW

JAWS announces each block or block group as its selected.

Remove selection with any ARROW KEY.
Focus is placed on the last selected block.

Youre ready to cut and copy.
Cut, Copy, and Paste Blocks
Cut or copy a block by focusing on the block and using the Block toolbar Options menu or the Windows keyboard accelerators.

To cut or copy a block in the Options menu:

* Focus on a block and enter Forms Mode
* Focus on the Block toolbar
* Open the Options menu
* Activate Cut or Copy

JAWS announces the block is copied or cut to the clipboard.

To paste the block or selected blocks:

* Create a new block where you want to paste the copied content
* Execute the Paste command

The blocks are pasted to the destination.

Even if multiple blocks are selected, you only need to create one new block. WordPress automatically adds the additional blocks.
Conclusion
This lesson is the final piece of your WordPress foundation. Youll build on the skills youve explored to bring your website to life.

Websites are all about content. Content is presented in blocks. Blocks have settings that finesse their content in the Block toolbar and Settings sidebar.

Documents dont go live until you activate Publish.

To save a draft, activate Save as Draft, and edit the content in the Pages or Posts page.

You know everything you need to create an attractive and accessible webpage. The hard work is behind you. Upcoming lessons will refine your site with images, files, plugins, categories, and more.

Experiment and explore. If you get lost, refresh the page or move focus to a familiar point. You wont break anything by adding and editing pages and posts.


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