Accessibility options

We have made every effort to make our website accessible and easy to use for everyone. Our website conforms to the World Wide Web Consortium's level AA guidelines for accessibility. Maintaining an accessible website is an ongoing process and we are continually working to offer a user friendly experience. If you have any problems using this website please contact us. 

 

Design

This site uses cascading style sheets (CSS) for visual layout. All pages are built using structured markup so that if your browser or browsing device does not support style sheets (or you choose to turn them off), the content of each page is still readable.

This site uses relative font sizes so that you can adjust the size of the text if you find it too small or too large. You can access this feature by clicking on the 'plus' and 'minus' buttons next to the words 'Font resize at the top of the page. Alternatively, you can resize the text by using the the View > Text Size option on the menu bar at the top of your browser's window. In Internet Explorer and Firefox browsers, you can also adjust text size by holding down the CTRL key and pressing the + and - keys. Windows users with a wheel mouse can adjust text size by holding the CTRL key and turning the wheel.

 

Navigation assistance: keyboard or mouse?

If you have restricted mobility or wish to avoid repetitive strain injury, you may find it useful to use your keyboard instead of your mouse to navigate our website. By using the Tab button on your keyboard it is possible to navigate and access all areas of our website. The Tab key allows you to move and browse amongst the menus and links displayed on each page, and pressing Enter will activate your request for a particular menu or link. The arrow keys on the keyboard will enable you to move up or down the page or from left to right.

 

Changing text size

Text size: Please click on the buttons at the top of the page to enlarge or reduce the text size. There are three text sizes available, choose your desired size and this will automatically change the size of wording in our website.

 

To further assist with website accessibility we also offer:

 

Browsealoud

Browsealoud is a free speech enabler download that enables you to listen to, rather than read our website content.

 

 

Browsealoud can be useful for people who may:

• Have reading or literacy difficulties
• Not be fluent in English as it is not their first language
• Have Dyslexia
• Have mild visual impairment
• Just find it easier to listen, rather than read

All you need to do to install this free software is click on the Browsealoud button above or visit the Browsealoud website and follow the simple step-by-step guide.

Why speech enable our website?

Speech-enabling our website provides an additional way of accessing our content for people who find it hard to read. This includes those with dyslexia or learning difficulties, those for whom English is not their first language, or anyone with a mild visual impairment. It is not designed to replace other screen readers.

How does it work?

You download a free, small browser plug-in from the Browsealoud website. Once the plug-in has been installed, written content on this site can be spoken aloud.

Does it work on all pages?

Yes. Browsealoud will read every webpage on our site. It can also read pdfs in Adobe Reader Version 6.0 onwards. This meets the World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C's) Level A guidelines for accessibility.

Can I customise Browsealoud?

Yes. Once plugged in, look for the Browsealoud icon in your system tray, which is usually at the bottom right hand corner of your screen (beside the system clock). Right click on the icon and choose 'open browsealoud settings' from the menu. The speech tab on the settings window enables you to choose a male or female voice, and change the speed, pitch and volume of the reader. To read the entire page from where your cursor points, check the 'Continue reading from pointer' box. Otherwise Browsealoud will only read the individual sentences you point to. 

 

Useful tips for accessing information

Throughout our website we use PDF (Portable Document Format) documents which are accessed by clicking on appropriate document links. To view a PDF, you may need to download Acrobat Reader first. This is a free software package and is available to download free from Adobe's website (link opens in a new window).

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Last updated: 03 August 2010