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Accessibility

Introduction

Adviceguide is designed to conform to World Wide Web Consortium accessibility standards, but there are some things you can do to make using our site even even easier to use:

Site accessibility features

Skipping to content and footer links

For users who have assistive technology such as screen or Braille readers, we have included two links at the top of every page to allow you to bypass repetitive information:

  • a skip to content link which takes you straight to the main heading on the page
  • a skip to footer link which takes you to a selection of useful links.

Resizable text

By default, text is set at the smallest font size, but you can resize the text on all pages to one of two larger fonts, using the font buttons at the top right of the screen. Chose one of the three different-sized 'A's in the top hand corner to make the text larger.

Image of accessibility buttons

If your browser has cookies enabled, when you next visit the site, text will still be displayed at the text size you chose.

Flexible width and scalable layout

You can drag the four edges of the website to display any size you want. The page content adjusts automatically to display correctly for the shape you choose:

  1. If you have full screen display, select the 'Restore down' button at top right, to see the edges of the display window.
  2. Move the pointer over a display window edge until two arrows appear.
  3. Drag the top, bottom and side edges to the shape and size you want.

You can change your display this way in any application, not just on our website (although the content may not adjust). Next time you visit us and choose 'Restore down', your display will be the size and shape you last chose, regardless of where you chose it from.

Customising your computer

AbilityNet and the BBC have developed some tutorials which tell you how to customise your computer to give you a better experience when using the web. For example, you can find out how to:

  • change how information is shown on your screen, to get more on, or to see content more clearly
  • change colours and fonts, a good idea if you have a visual impairment and need more contrast
  • adapt the mouse, for example, to slow it down, make the pointer bigger, or if you are left-handed
  • change a variety of keyboard settings, including the rate at which the cursor blinks.

Go to AbilityNet for more information, or My Web My Way to see the tutorials.

Using keyboard shortcuts

You can use keys on the keyboard to move around our website more quickly. These are called shortcuts, and the keys you use depend on your browser. Find information for the four main browsers by selecting:

Internet Explorer version 9 shortcuts

Internet Explorer version 8 shortcuts

Internet Explorer version 7 shortcuts

Firefox shortcuts

Opera shortcuts

Safari shortcuts

Access keys

The Adviceguide website features some 'access keys'. These are keyboard shortcuts which allow you to get to certain parts of a web site quickly. They help you if you have difficulties using a mouse or prefer to use shortcuts. We have used the UK government access key standard on the most commonly used links and help features as listed below:

  • S - Skip navigation
  • 1 - Home page
  • 2 - News
  • 4 - Search
  • 6 - Help
  • 8 - Terms and conditions
  • 9 - Feedback
  • 0 - Accessiblity.

To learn more about access keys, go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Access_key

Useful links

You can download free software from the web, and find out about accessibility features for a variety of systems. Select the links below:

www.abilitynet.org.uk - for information about customising your computer

My Web My Way - for information and tutorials, developed by the BBC and AbilityNet, on customising your computer

www.screenreader.net - for access to the award-winning free screen reader Thunder

www.microsoft.com/enable/training/default.aspx - for details about the Microsoft accessibility wizard and how to use it

www.apple.com/accessibility - for details about the Apple Macintosh accessibility features

www.opera.com/support/access - for details about the Opera browser's accessibility features

www.accessfirefox.org - to enable accessibility features in Firefox and download extentions

Comments and feedback

If you have any comments or feedback about any of the features or content on our site, please contact us.

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