Accessibility FAQs
  1. I have questions about accessibility for MLB.TV and Gameday Audio.
  2. What is the best way for a screen reader user to navigate MLB stats?
  3. What is the best way for a screen reader user to purchase tickets online?
  4. Is there a special phone number I should call if I am having trouble with the MLB.com web site as either a screen reader or screen magnification user where the person answering the phone will understand my issues?
  5. Do all MLB team web sites have the same accessibility features as MLB.com and if not, how do I learn to use them?
  6. Where can I email MLB.com with any suggestions as to how the web site might be made easier for me to use as a person who uses access technology?
  7. Is there a way for me to ask other access technology users about how they navigate and use the services of MLB.com?
  8. Why do I hear information with my screen reader when navigating MLB.com that my sighted friends cannot see?

1. I have questions about accessibility for MLB.TV and Gameday Audio.

If you have questions about accessibility for MLB.TV and Gameday Audio please click here.

2. What is the best way for a screen reader user to navigate MLB stats?

The statistics home page contains MLB leaders’ hitting and MLB leaders’ hitting statistics arranged in data tables. The rows contain the player, club, and statistic. The number one statistic is rendered as data above the table. To investigate this, screen reader users should navigate to text immediately before the table and read with their reading keys.

The rest of the data can be read using standard data table reading keys. Users should consult their screen reader documentation for detailed instructions on how to navigate the tables. For example, in JAWS, a user would press ‘T’ to go back into the table, and use the following keystrokes to navigate the table:

  • Alt + Control + Down Arrow – to move down a row
  • Alt + Control + Up Arrow – to move up a row
  • Alt + Control + Left Arrow – to move to the previous cell
  • Alt + Control + Right Arrow – to move to the next cell
  • Insert + Shift + Up Arrow – to read the current row
  • Alt + Control + Num Pad 5 – to read the current cells along with header information

Alternately, the following keys may be used in Window-Eyes for table navigation:

  • Numpad Insert + Down Arrow – to move down a row
  • Numpad Insert + Up Arrow – to move up a row
  • Numpad Insert + Left Arrow – to move to the previous cell
  • Numpad Insert+ Right Arrow – to move to the next cell
  • Navigate to any cell and use arrow keys – to read the current cells

At the end of the table are links for Top 50, What’s Hot, and Historical Statistics. To access this information, assistive technology users should navigate out of the table, and browse the content using their standard reading keys.

The MLB leaders hitting section contains three tables for Avg, HR, and RBI. The next and previous table keystrokes can be used to move backwards and forwards between tables (usually T for next table, and Shift + T for previous table).

The MLB leaders pitching section contains three tables for Wins, Strikeouts, and ERA. As with MLB leaders, the next and previous keystrokes can be used to navigate between tables.

3. What is the best way for a screen reader user to purchase tickets online?

The tickets are sold by clubs under the heading, “Club by club ticket information”. Assistive technology users can use their header navigation key to locate the heading (usually ‘H’). The teams are arranged in links under this heading. The clubs are not in alphabetical order, so screen reader users should tab through the list until they hear their club name. Screen magnifier users may be able to zoom out a bit if they can recognize their team’s logo.

Selecting a club takes you to the team’s ticket purchasing page. Games in the next couple of weeks are displayed in a table under the heading “Team name Tickets”. Use a heading navigation key to locate the heading, and then use T to move to the table. The first row contains the team playing your team. Use table navigation commands to navigate the available times. Users should consult their screen reader documentation for detailed instructions on how to navigate the tables. For example, JAWS uses the following keystrokes for table navigation:

  • Alt + Control + Down Arrow – to move down a row
  • Alt + Control + Up Arrow – to move up a row
  • Alt + Control + Left Arrow – to move to the previous cell
  • Alt + Control + Right Arrow – to move to the next cell
  • Insert + Shift + Up Arrow – to read the current row
  • Alt + Control + Num Pad 5 – to read the current cells along with header information

Alternately, the following keys may be used in Window-Eyes for table navigation:

  • Numpad Insert + Down Arrow – to move down a row
  • Numpad Insert + Up Arrow – to move up a row
  • Numpad Insert + Left Arrow – to move to the previous cell
  • Numpad Insert+ Right Arrow – to move to the next cell
  • Navigate to any cell and use arrow keys – to read the current cells

Navigate through the rows to find the game you’re interested in. When you have found the game you’re interested in, navigate through the columns ignoring what is announced until you hear a link with the phrase, “images slash icon underline ticket”. Press Return on this link to book the ticket. A new page is presented where you can choose your seat, number of tickets, and price.

The ticketing page starts with an image map of available seats. There is also a seat map link at the end of the image map, but the Flash movie is silent. Assistive technology users should use their shortcut key to move to the first form control (usually F) to bypass choosing a seat.

Enter the number of tickets required. The next field allows you to select a price level through a group of radio buttons. Choose the price level you want, and then continue. This takes you to a CAPTCHA page, where you have 3 minutes to complete the form. There is an audio challenge for visually impaired users. Navigate through the links until you hear, “Audio Version”. Select this choice, and type in the sentence that is spoken. After you have entered the sentence, navigate to the “Continue” button and press enter.

A confirmation screen is presented where you have 1 minute and 30 seconds to confirm the details are correct. The confirmation displays an image with the location of the seats you have purchased, but there is no way to determine where the seats are with a screen reader. However, a table contains details of the ticket that does include the seat number. Confirming the details are correct takes you to a shopping cart when you can continue, or add another game to your cart. You have 1 minute and 30 seconds to reconfirm the details on this page.

4. Is there a special phone number I should call if I am having trouble with the MLB.com web site as either a screen reader or screen magnification user where the person answering the phone will understand my issues?

If you are having trouble with the MLB.com web site, please contact our accessibility dedicated Customer Service number at 866.239.1284 (international customers call 512.434.1542).

5. Do all MLB team web sites have the same accessibility features as MLB.com and if not, how do I learn to use them?

All MLB team sites should have the same accessibility features as MLB.com. We are continually working to enhance the accessibility features across MLB.com and the MLB team sites. If you have questions or have issues with MLB.com or a team site, please contact our accessibility dedicated Customer Service at <!-- coded = "" key = "9W1rEhQ0qSXFUY@Gnv4jfAecR257tHxuOBLaPoNbJV_wC8TI63-isKgdyMDmkz.plZ" shift=coded.length link="" for (i=0; i<coded.length; i++) { if (key.indexOf(coded.charAt(i))==-1) { ltr = coded.charAt(i) link += (ltr) } else { ltr = (key.indexOf(coded.charAt(i))-shift+key.length) % key.length link += (key.charAt(ltr)) } } document.write(""+link+"") //--> or via phone at 866.239.1284 (international customers call 512.434.1542).

6. Where can I email MLB.com with any suggestions as to how the web site might be made easier for me to use as a person who uses access technology?

Please email MLB.com at <!-- coded = "" key = "6Sv@q.7yolhZwDbUpV_mz3B85iFE0WXPf4MIrcKRH9k-gGCsTNA2enjaxtYu1OLJdQ" shift=coded.length link="" for (i=0; i<coded.length; i++) { if (key.indexOf(coded.charAt(i))==-1) { ltr = coded.charAt(i) link += (ltr) } else { ltr = (key.indexOf(coded.charAt(i))-shift+key.length) % key.length link += (key.charAt(ltr)) } } document.write(""+link+"") //--> .

7. Is there a way for me to ask other access technology users about how they navigate and use the services of MLB.com?

There are a number of forums and listservs where access technology users can communicate about the use of services of MLB.com. The following are examples of forums which may be of interest to access technology users.

  • Window Eyes listserv: <!-- coded = "" key = "CmLcRUPHNWgj.Fkp4M2vao0SYXB_iJKeOd87h9fTsqAzZ1VrntlGE@DQbxwuI536y-" shift=coded.length link="" for (i=0; i<coded.length; i++) { if (key.indexOf(coded.charAt(i))==-1) { ltr = coded.charAt(i) link += (ltr) } else { ltr = (key.indexOf(coded.charAt(i))-shift+key.length) % key.length link += (key.charAt(ltr)) } } document.write(""+link+"") //-->
  • Blind Programmers: http://www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind
  • BlindTech: <!-- coded = "" key = "O9ncSVj.YFbdxpvhJesQoCqk-80GR1_DN25iBE73XMtAH6KTwlmPaUgfzIry4uZWL@" shift=coded.length link="" for (i=0; i<coded.length; i++) { if (key.indexOf(coded.charAt(i))==-1) { ltr = coded.charAt(i) link += (ltr) } else { ltr = (key.indexOf(coded.charAt(i))-shift+key.length) % key.length link += (key.charAt(ltr)) } } document.write(""+link+"") //-->

8. Why do I hear information with my screen reader when navigating MLB.com that my sighted friends cannot see?

On the signup page, there is a hidden submit button to help assistive technology users submit an option without having to continue through the page.

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