Accessibility

Show graphical version
Show low graphics version
Show high contrast yellow on black version of site
Show high contrast black on yellow version of site

We aim to make our website accessible to everyone and are continually working to improve its ease-of-use and the range and quality of our web services and content.

Key accessibility features include:

Javascript and pop-up windows

Javascript enables us to create small programs within web pages to add extra features such as pop-up windows or to check that a form has been completed in the correct way. As not all browsers support Javascript we have tried to ensure that wherever we use Javascript the same content and functions are available whether or not Javascript is enabled in your browser.

Pop-up windows are used within the site. We warn users where a link or button pops up a window. Although your browser may support Javascript many browsers have "pop-up blockers" which stop pop-up windows.

If you click certain links and nothing seems to happen, you may need to deactivate this function. Some browsers such as Opera and Firefox have built in features to do this or you may have installed a third party toolbar (eg Google toolbar) which is preventing the pop-up window from opening.

Using the keyboard and access keys

In testing our site we have ensured that all site functions can be accessed using the keyboard only.

We offer additional shortcut keys that allow fast navigation to important pages. We follow UK Government recommendations for access key assignments:

S Skip navigation
1 Home page
2 News
3 Site map
4 Search
5 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
6 Help
7 Complaints procedure
8 Terms of use
0 Access key details

How to use access keys

Access keys work when pressed in combination with other keys. The combination depends on which web browser you are using.

PC: Internet Explorer 5+
Hold down ALT, press the access key and then press ENTER
ALT + left arrow takes you back to the previous web page (as per your browser back button).

PC: Netscape 6 and Mozilla Firefox
Hold down ALT and press the access key
ALT + left arrow takes you back to the previous web page (as per your browser back button).

Mac: Internet Explorer 5+
Hold down Ctrl and press the access key.

Changing text size

You can change the size of text that appears in a website to suit your needs.

Internet Explorer

Click on the View menu and then select Text Size. Click on the text size you require.

If you have a scroll wheel on your mouse you can make the text size bigger by holding Ctrl and rolling the wheel towards you (as if scrolling down the page). To make the text smaller, hold Ctrl and roll the wheel away from you.

Netscape 6 and Mozilla

PC users: Hold down Ctrl and press the + or - keys to make the text bigger or smaller.
Mac users: Hold down Cmd and press the + or - keys to make the text bigger or smaller.

Safari (Mac)

Click on the View menu and then select either Make Text Bigger or Make Text Smaller.

Changing colours and fonts

You can also change the text, background colour and fonts that appear in a website.

Internet Explorer

Mozilla Firefox

Click on the Tools menu, then Options. Click on the Fonts & Colors button to adjust these settings.

Screen reader advice

We have tested this site with screen readers such as JAWS, Window-Eyes and IBM Home Page Reader.

Some users access the web using special software that "reads out" the content of web pages.

We have given a few hints for navigating the site and provided some example keyboard shortcuts for the JAWS screen reader. If you are using a screen reader other than JAWS then most of these applications have similar commands and you should check your program documentation to find the equivalent keyboard shortcuts.

Navigating using headings

The site has been set up to use HTML headings where appropriate. The main site heading starts at level 1 and the main content starts at level 2. This provides an easy way for screen reader users to skip to the main content by pressing the shortcut key for headings. For example, JAWS users can press H or Shift + H to move to the next heading, 2 or Shift + 2 to move to the next level two heading and Insert + F6 to display a list of all headings on the page.

Navigating tables

In some places in the site, particularly where forms are presented, we have used tables for general layout. We also use tables for displaying out rows and columns of information also called data tables.

We have tried to ensure that the content will always read in a logical order. In some data tables it may be hard to understand the meaning of each item in which case you can use the table navigation keys in your screen reader to deliver the relevant headers for each item in the table. JAWS users can use the Ctrl + Alt + arrow keys to move around a table and JAWS will read out the headers for each cell. You can also press Ctrl + Alt + NumPad 5 to read the headers for the current cell.

Data tables have a summary that you can hear in your screen reader to help you understand their meaning without having to read the whole table. We've also ensured that you can easily find data tables using table navigation keys. JAWS users can press T or Shift + T to move between tables and have the summary read out.

Reading special symbols In JAWS

On certain pages we have footnote symbols such as asterisks *, the dagger †, double dagger ‡ to indicate further information available at the bottom of the page. These may not be read out in the JAWS screen reader unless a program option is changed. To read all special characters in JAWS select Options > Voices > Global Adjustment and set Punctuation to "All".