Accessibility
We are committed to providing relevant information and services to everyone. This means that no matter where you are located, how you use the internet and what impairments you may have, you should still be able to access the information you need.
With this in mind we have been very careful to make this website as "accessible" as we can. There are a number of facilities that we have built into the site to make this possible and this page explains what they are. Access keys, screen readers, changing text size, font colour, text only version.
Screen Readers
Below is a list of free screen readers that can be downloaded and installed on your machine. Once installed these tools will read out the content of the web page to you.
Features of the HTML code used to make up the pages
You can be assured that every significant image on the site has an alternative text version which will be picked up by a screenreader. The only images that don't have this "ALT" text are ones that just make up aspects of the design of the page.
The code of the pages has been arranged in a way that should you not want to wade through a long list of links then select the "Skip to content" link in "Text only" mode. This will take you directly to the core contents of the page.
We have laid out all of the elements on the page in a logical order and all links make sense when read out of context.
We've used heading styles on all pages to break them up into hierarchical structures.
Changing text size, font colour and turning off images
We have coded our pages so that it should be possible for you to easily increase or decrease the size of the site's text using your browser's built in controls. You might find that some of the header graphics don't change in size but you should always be able to access alternative versions of these graphics by hovering over them to reveal a pop-up in Internet Explorer, or by right-clicking on them with your mouse and selecting Properties in most other browsers.
Changing your settings for Internet Explorer on a PC
Font size
- Select the 'Tools' menu within your Internet Explorer browser.
- Select 'Internet Options' from the Tools menu.
- Click on the 'General' tab.
- Click on the 'Accessibility' button.
- To change your font size, check the box marked 'Ignore font sizes specified on Web pages'
- Click on the 'OK' button on this tab and then on the 'OK' button on the Internet Options tab.
- Select the 'View' menu within your Internet Explorer browser.
- Select 'Text Size' from the menu - another menu listing possible sizes will appear. Select the option that you require.
Font style
- Select the 'Tools' menu within your Internet Explorer browser.
- Select 'Internet Options' from the Tools menu.
- Click on the 'General' tab.
- Click on the 'Fonts' button.
- Change your font using the 'Web page font' drop down.
- Click on the 'OK' button on this tab and then on the 'OK' button on the Internet Options tab.
Font and Background colour
- Select the 'Tools' menu within your Internet Explorer browser.
- Select 'Internet Options' from the Tools menu.
- Click on the 'General' tab.
- Click on the 'Colors' button.
- Check the box next to 'Use Windows colors', allowing you access to change the colours yourself.
- Select your own Text, Background and link colours from those available.
- Click on the 'OK' button on this tab and then on the 'OK' button on the Internet Options tab.
Images
- Select the 'Tools' menu within your Internet Explorer browser.
- Select 'Internet Options' from the Tools menu.
- Click on the 'Advanced' tab.
- Scroll down the page until you reach the Multimedia category.
- Uncheck the box next to 'Show pictures'
- Click on the 'OK' button.
Changing your settings for Internet Explorer for Apple Mac
Font size and style
- Select the 'Edit' menu within your Internet Explorer browser.
- Select 'Preferences' from the menu.
- Click on 'web content', under 'Web Browser', in the left-hand pane.
- Deselect the button marked 'show style sheets'.
- Select 'Language/Fonts', under 'Web Browser', in the left-hand pane.
- Select the font size and style you require.
- Click on 'OK' to close the popup.
Font, Background colour and Images
- Select the 'Edit' menu within your Internet Explorer browser.
- Select 'Preferences' from the Edit menu.
- Click on 'web content', under 'Web Browser', in the left-hand pane.
- Ensure that the button marked 'show style sheets' is deselected.
- Select your own Text, Background and link colours from those available in the 'Page & Link' section.
- If you want your links to appear underlined then check the 'Underline links' box.
- To turn off pictures uncheck the box marked 'Show pictures' under 'Page Content'.
- Click on 'OK' to close the popup.
Change your settings for Opera on a PC
These instructions are based on Opera 7.
Font Size, Face, Colour, Style and Background colour
- Select the 'File' menu within your Opera browser.
- Select 'Preferences' from the File menu.
- Click on 'Fonts and colors' in the box on the left of the pop-up.
- Opera gives you very detailed facilities for changing the appearance of each type of text on your page. The most used styles are 'Normal' and 'Heading 1'. To change these, click on their entry in the 'My fonts and colors' scrolling box, and then click on the 'Choose' button to the right of the scrolling box. Select a font face, style, size and colour from the options available and click on 'OK'.
- NB – you can use Opera to ensure that fonts are never displayed in a size smaller than the minimum you can see. To do so, enter a font size into the 'Minimum font size [pixels]' box.
- To change the background colour of your page click on the 'Choose' button to the right of the 'Background color' text. Choose a colour from those available and click on 'OK'.
- If you want to change how links appear within your page then click on the 'My link style…' button and make a selection from those available.
- When you are happy with all of your settings, click on 'Apply'. Review your page and if it appears as required click on 'OK'
Page size
- Opera offers an unusual feature that allows you to enlarge the size of your page as a whole. To use this facility, follow these steps
- Select the 'View' menu within your Opera browser.
- Select 'Zoom' from the File menu.
- Select your required zoom ratio from those offered.
Images
- Select the 'File' menu within your Opera browser.
- Select 'Preferences' from the File menu.
- Click on 'Multimedia' in the box on the left of the pop-up.
- To turn images off, click on the radio button next to 'Show no images'. To turn images on, click on 'Show images'.
Change your settings for Opera on a Mac
Font Size, Face, Colour, Style and Background colour
- Select the 'Edit' menu within your Opera browser.
- Select 'Preferences' from the Edit menu.
- Click on 'Fonts and colors' in the box on the left of the pop-up.
- Opera gives you very detailed facilities for changing the appearance of each type of text on your page. The most used styles are 'Normal' and 'Heading 1'. To change these, click on their entry in the 'My fonts and colors' scrolling box, and then click on the 'Choose' button at the bottom of the scrolling box. Select a font face, style, size and colour from the options available and click on 'OK'.
- NB – you can use Opera to ensure that fonts are never displayed in a size smaller than the minimum you can see. To do so, enter a font size into the 'Minimum font size [pixels]' box.
- To change the background colour of your page click on the 'Background colour' box. Choose a colour from those available and click on 'OK'.
- If you want to change how links appear within your page then click on the 'My link style…' button and make a selection from those available.
- When you are happy with all of your settings, click on 'Apply'. Review your page and if it appears as required click on 'OK'
Images
- Select the 'File' menu within your Opera browser.
- Select 'Preferences' from the File menu.
- Click on 'Multimedia' in the box on the left of the pop-up.
- To turn images off, click on the radio button next to 'Show no images'. To turn images on, click on 'Show images'.
