Accessibility help
Access toolbar
At the top right of the screen is the web site's accessibility toolbar, this provides access to the following functions from all pages
Text Size 
The site offers 3 default text sizes (as well as those offered by most internet browsers). They are indicated by the three different sized letters in the boxes shown. Click the box to change the text size of the browser. The smallest size is the default size of the web site. A guide to using the browser to change text size can be viewed below.
High contrast version 
This button switches the site to (and from) a high contrast yellow on black rendering.
Text only version 
A text-only version of the Internet site is available which contains all of the text from the Internet, but does not show any graphics, images or photographs. To access the text only version, click on the "Text only version" link, which is in the top left-hand corner of the site.
Reset 
This button resets all accessibility settings to their default values.
Help 
Links to this page
Liquid / fixed width page 
Switches the site between a "liquid" design, which stretches to fit the browser window and a "fixed" width design built to fit the average screen resolution (1024x768 pixels)
Settings
The settings you choose from the toolbar are saved in our web server's "session state" - this session is maintained while you browse the site. The session will time out after 20 minutes of inactivity, returning the site to its default configuration.
Other features and advice
Access keys
To use access keys follow the following guidelines:
- For Windows users, you can press "ALT" plus the listed access key
- For Macintosh users, you can press "Control" plus the listed access key
- Pressing "Enter" will then take you to the page.
We have included the following access keys:
S= Skip to content (i.e. bypass access tools and navigation)
N = Skip to main navigation (i.e. bypass access tools)
1 = Homepage
3 = Sitemap
4 = Search
5 = A to Z of services
8 = Terms and conditions
9 = Contact us
0 = Accessibility help
Screen size
You can change the screen size, reducing the number of words per line, by grabbing the grey bar at the bottom right-hand side of the site.
Changing text size
Microsoft Internet Explorer
If you are using Internet Explorer, go to the menu at the top of the browser window and select View, from the list of options, select Text Size. You will see a side menu open up; select the size you wish to view the website in.
Firefox (Mozilla)
If you are using Firefox, go to the menu at the top of the browser window and select View, from the list of options, select Text Size. You will see a side menu open up; select the size you wish to view the website in.
- Firefox also allows the text size to be changed with keyboard shortcuts:
- Press Ctrl and + to increase the size
- Press Ctrl and - to decrease the size
- Press Ctrl and 0 to go back to the default size
Netscape Navigator
If you are using Netscape Navigator the text size is altered via keyboard shortcuts:- Press Ctrl and + to increase the size
- Press Ctrl and - to decrease the size
- >Press Ctrl and 0 to go back to the default size
View the page at Full Screen: F1
Apple Mac
For a computer using a Macintosh operating system- Press Cmd and + to increase the size
- Press Cmd and - to decrease the size
- Press Cmd and 0 to go back to the default size
Linux
For a computer using a Linux operating system
- Press Ctrl and + to increase the size
- Press Ctrl and - to decrease the size
- Press Ctrl and 0 to go back to the default size
Styles and colours
Internet Explorer users should click on tools, options and then the colours, fonts or accessibility buttons.
PDF files
Many of the PDF documents available on our website have been created using later versions of Adobe Acrobat, either version 6.0 or the newly released 7.0. If you have difficulties opening our documents, this may be because you have an older version of Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your pc.
The latest version, version 7.0, can be downloaded free from the Adobe website.
Adobe can also help you access content using assistive technologies such as screen readers or screen magnifiers. You can link to the Access Adobe website for information on making these documents accessible.
W3C Compliance
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) provides Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) for people who create and maintain websites.
These guidelines help organisations provide websites that are accessible to people with disabilities. The guidelines are split into 3 priority levels:
- Priority 1
- Priority 2
- Priority 3
All pages on this site comply with Priority 1 and the majority of pages comply with Priority 1 and 2.
We are committed to maintaining and improving the accessibility of this site. Our longer term aim is to provide a site that complies with all WCAG priority levels.
Our site has been professionally reviewed by a group of four testers from Abilitynet with varying disabilities using a range of access tools and software. The general feedback from these users was that the site is clear and easy to read.
Feedback
If you would like to offer suggestions for improvement, please use our feedback form.
Website usage
See our website usage page for usage figures.