While laying out a page, visualize a screen reader as it moves across a page and reads the text and alternative text of an image or images. Since the path of the reader is linear, it is recommended that the text follow a related logical order. You can download an extension in Firefox that will display the text as a screen reader would view it.
Using the Mozilla Firefox Extension called Fangs here is a text version of the NAU Home Page showing what would be read by a screen reader.
"Page has fifty-four links Northern Arizona University dash Mozilla Firefox Table with three columns and twenty-four rows Graphic Northern Arizona University Founded one thousand eight hundred ninety-nine Link PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS Link DISTANCE LEARNING Link ACADEMICS and RESEARCH Link ATHLETICS Graphic Photos courtesy University Marketing NAU Index vertical bar Link a Link b Link c Link d Link e Link f Link g Link h Link i Link j Link k Link l Link m Link n Link o Link p Link q Link r Link s Link t Link u Link v Link w Link x Link y Link z Graphic quicklinks Link Admissions Link Apply Now Link Campus Visits Link Current Students Link Faculty slash Staff Link Alumni Link Parents Link Search Center Link LOUIE Online Link Maps Link MyNAU Link Webmail Link Careers at NAU Link About NAU and Flagstaff Table with three columns and twelve rows Table with two columns and seven rows Go retro at Link 'That seventy s Yard Sale' , hosted by the Public Relations Student Society of America. nine a.m. to four p.m. Oct. twelve Tinsley dash Wilson dash Allen Quad. The NAU Symphony presents its Link season dash opening concert at seven colon thirty p.m. Oct. twelve in Ardrey Auditorium. Free. Come see what we have to offer. Join us for an Link open house . eight a.m. to three colon thirty p.m. Oct. fifteen . Link More News Link Graphic slash caltwo .gif Link Graphic slash vr.tours.gif Table end Table with one column and four rows Search Radio button Checked web Radio button Not checked people Edit Table with one column and two rows Table with one column and one row The NAU Campus Sustainability Steering Committee is inviting the NAU community to sign an e dash pledge card to reduce their use of electricity and water and reduce waste by ten percent. Link Click here to pledge. Table end Table end Table end Table end Table with two columns and one row Northern Arizona University South San Francisco Street Flagstaff, Arizona eighty-six thousand eleven Link Comments vertical bar Link Help vertical bar Link Privacy Table end Table end"