JSTOR and Accessibility

Improving Access for Users With Vision and Learning Differences

Journals in JSTOR

It is a priority for JSTOR to ensure that the journals we archive are available and accessible to all of our users. In order to increase the accessibility of the archived journal articles within JSTOR, we offer users two options: High Quality PDF and TIFF (Tagged Image File Format). As a not-for-profit organization with the mission to act as a trusted archive, JSTOR is in a unique position with regard to making the archived journal content accessible. Rather than displaying the raw text for articles, we display and deliver page images in order to provide a faithful replication of the original print journals. It is through this faithful replication in image format that we fulfill our not-for-profit mission to function as an electronic archive that can be used as a substitute for the original print material. Although we have created a full text index for search purposes, we are unable to display or deliver it to users, because while it is accurate for search purposes, it is not designed for use in connection with assistive technology. For more information about this, please see Why Images?

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Article Delivery Options

JSTOR offers two options for downloading accessible articles: High Quality PDF and TIFF.

• High Quality PDF
  High Quality PDF is compatible with screen reader technologies such as JAWS. Additionally, users can copy and past text and search for words or phrases within an article.


• TIFF
  Through this approach, each page image for an article is packaged into a single, multipage file which can be used with a variety of assistive technology programs including document scanner/readers, OCR (together with screen reading software), and screen magnifiers. The images that make up these TIFF packages are the same images that are used to create our High Quality PDFs and therefore, are virtually identical in file size and quality.

Users can choose to download an article from a search results list, table of contents, or an article page. After selecting the "Download" link, they will be presented with a "Download Options" page where High Quality PDF or TIFF may be chosen. Once the option is selected, users will then be prompted to save the file.

Alternatively, users may choose to set their download preference by selecting the "Set Preferences" link from the global navigation bar. Once the preference is set for High Quality PDF or TIFF, users will bypass the "Download Options" page and immediately be prompted to save the file.

NOTE: Occasionally, users of Internet Explorer might experience difficulty accessing the TIFFs when certain plug-ins have been installed. The browser might try to open the image file rather than prompting the user to save it. If users encounter this, they should right-click the link or type Shift+F10 when the download link is selected to invoke the context menu. From this menu, users should select "Save Target As . . ." and proceed with saving the file.

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Site Navigation

In addition to the improving the accessibility of the archived journal content in JSTOR through TIFF and High Quality PDF, JSTOR is now compliant with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and W3C WAI Priority 1 standards. We will continue to make improvements to our site to meet additional standards and to increase usability.

Site navigation of JSTOR was successfully tested using popular screen readers including JAWS for Windows, WindowEyes, and IBM Home Page Reader and was reviewed by members of the visually impaired community.

The JSTOR site now contains the following features that will help with use and navigation of the site:

• "Skip to Main Content" link:
  At the top of each page, there is a link that will allow people using screen readers to jump past the global navigation bar to the start of the content on the page.
  
  
• Access Keys for global navigation links:
  The links found in the global navigation bar each have keyboard short cuts for easier site navigation. Learn more about JSTOR access keys.
  
  
• Fieldset and Legends for search forms:
  Because JSTOR search forms are complex, fieldsets and legends have been added to aid the navigation of the forms with screen readers. For sighted users, fieldsets add a border around the sections of the form. Screen readers will read the legend, or heading, for each section along with each form field in that section.
  
  
• Labels for form fields, where appropriate:
  Labels have been added to form fields so that screen readers will associate the descriptive text with the entry field on the form.
  
  
• Redundant text links at bottom of page:
  In order to aid with site navigation, global navigation has been repeated at the bottom of the page. Users will not need to return to the top of the page to hear the options.
  
  
• Larger text entry boxes on search form:
  For sighted users, it will be easier to see what they have entered as their query.
  
  
• Linked article titles:
  Article titles are now linked, rather than having a link that says, "View Article" in order to help people who use screen readers identify the article they are looking for. This is also more intuitive for sighted users.
  
  
• Streamlined navigation of articles:
  For sighted users, page navigation within an article has become more intuitive and streamlined. Next Page and Previous Page links are in a more logical position on the page.

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Feedback and Assistance

We hope to continue to improve the accessibility and usability of JSTOR and are interested in getting feedback and suggestions from users. We look forward to keeping our users informed about our developments in this area. If you have any questions or comments about these efforts, please let us know. We can be contacted at support@jstor.org.

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Last updated on March 26, 2007