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Asked: 2026-06-02T12:48:24+00:00

I have written a JavaScript-based print feature for a web page. It extracts HTML

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I have written a JavaScript-based print feature for a web page. It extracts HTML from a hidden div on the page, renders it into a new window and triggers the print dialog.

The option is made available over a button with an onclick="printTheThing()" event. I know that for example screen readers have some caveats with JavaScript. I am wondering whether/how many people such as blind or vision-impaired I block from using this feature.

The implementation opens a new browser window and appends to its document:

function printTheThing() {
    var dispSettings = "toolbar=yes,location=no,directories=yes,menubar=yes,"
        + "scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=400",
        html = $('#theDivToPrint').html(),
        printWindow = window.open("", "", dispSettings),
        doc = printWindow.document;

    doc.open();
    try {
        doc.write('<html><head>');
        doc.write('<title>' + title + '</title>');
        doc.write('</head><body>');
        doc.write(html);
        doc.write('</body></html>');
    } finally {
        doc.close();
    }
    printWindow.focus();
    printWindow.print();
}

Update: This is what the button looks like:

<button type="button" onclick="printTheThing()">Print the thing!</button>

In addition, I am using CSS to replace the button by an image. I have tested the button with the Firefox plug-in “Fangs”. It suggests that screen-readers will perfectly read out the original button text. But Fangs does not provide any interactivity so I cannot test the printing with it.

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1 Answer

  1. Editorial Team

    to improve accessibility by using screen readers use W3C WAI-ARIA live regions, for more info see their recommendations and FAQ.

    to test you can use the following screen readers:
    on Windows – JAWS, NVDA
    on Linux – orca (is not working with Chromium) + advice of Florian Margaine

    you can also use AChecker to test on compliance of WCAG 2.0, Section 508, Stanca Act accessibility standards.

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