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[0] Accessibility (this page)
Accessibility
It's important for us that as many people as possible can benefit from the services on our website.
This site is currently undergoing rigorous web accessibility testing by the Shaw Trust. Designed to be the most comprehensive web accessibility audit available, and endoresed by the Guild of Accessible Web Designers (GAWDS), we can be confident that this site will meet the highest standards possible accessibility standards in line with Web Content Authoring Guidelines 1.0 (WCAG).
Access keys
In order to enable you to use the website without the use of a mouse, the main navigation items have been assigned accesskeys.
How to use access keys in your browser
|
Browser |
What to do |
| Internet Explorer 5+ (PC) | Hold down the ALT key, press the number of the access key, release both keys then press ENTER |
| Internet Explorer 4 (PC) | Hold down the ALT key and press the number of the access key |
| Internet Explorer 5+ (Mac) | Hold down the CTRL key and press the number of the access key |
| Internet Explorer 4.5 (Mac) | Access keys are not supported |
| Netscape 6 and earlier (PC and Mac) | Access keys are not supported |
| Netscape 7 (PC) | Hold down the ALT key and press the number of the access key |
| Firefox, Mozilla (PC) | Hold down the SHIFT and ALT keys and press the number of the access key |
| Firefox, Mozilla (Mac) | Hold down the CTRL key and press the number of the access key |
| Safari and Omniweb (Mac) | Hold down the CTRL key and press the number of the access key |
| Opera | Hold down the Shift key and press Escape, release both keys, then press the number of the accesskey |
Website Enquiries
If you are experiencing any problems with the accessibility of this website please tell us. We're always looking for ways to improve the user experience and value your thoughts.
In addition to the introduction of accesskeys, we have also made a number of other changes. These changes have been outlined below for your information.
HTML
Web pages are created using Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). The W3C defines the standards that should be followed when writing HTML to ensure that internet pages are displayed correctly across different computers, including accessibility software, such as screen readers for the partially sighted. We have coded this website to 'HTML 4.01 Transitional' rules.
Stylesheets
This website has been created using cascading style sheets (CSS), which follow the principle of separating content from presentation. The CSS files contain instructions for the page, such as the size of the fonts, the background colour, etc. Internet browsers can be configured to ignore CSS. If you are having difficulty reading the webpages because of the colours, fonts, etc, you can disable the CSS. The page will retain all of the information, without the style formatting.
Images
All informative photographs and graphics on the website have been given relevant alternative text. This is a description of the image, which screen reading software will read out to visually impaired users.
Colours
We have ensured that the web pages' font and background colour contrast notably enough to enable users to read the text, even if they suffer from conditions such as colour blindness. The contrast in colours also helps people viewing the site on a monochrome (black and white) screen.
Tables
All data tables have been created with properly scoped header cells. This enables screen readers to interpret the information in the table correctly. In addition, the tables contain full summaries and caption tags, again, to help screen readers to translate the content in an understandable way.
Content
The copy within our web pages has been written using plain english, to be clear and concise without using jargon.
What else needs to be done?
We are aware that some of our content, such as pdfs and Adobe Flash games, are not totally accessible for all users. We are committed to continually improving this site and its content, making it as accessible as possible.
If you have any feedback regarding the accessibility of this site, please contact our Web Communications Team.

