Accessibility
We recognise that some users may have particular requirements to enable them to browse websites so we have done our best to make the site as accessible as possible.
An accessible website should ensure that all visitors have the same user experience whether they use assistive technology, may be disabled or are not using the latest web technologies. This website meets level 2 (and in part level 3) of the W3C’s – Web Accessibility Initiative standards and guidelines for creating accessible websites. The following features have been implemented throughout to ensure the same access to our site from all of our visitors.
Navigation
A hidden link has been placed on each page to help users using a screen reader to access the navigation and main content with ease.
Headings and navigation menus
Header tags are used across the website to denote the content structure. This ensures that content is read in the correct order.
Images
All of the images on this site contain descriptive alt tags. Alt tags describe the image in screen readers and other assistive technologies and are in main use when an image cannot be displayed. Images’ alt tags that bear no relation to the content are set to null to enable easy reading by all users.
Colours
The colours of text across the site have been used to offer enough contrast for easy reading by all users following the suggested levels set out by Hewlett Packard (HP).
Font size
Users can increase/decrease the size of text using their browser.
- For Microsoft Internet Explorer: select View, then Text Size and select your preferred size
- For Firefox: select View, then Text Size and select Increase or Decrease
- For Apple Safari: hold down the apple key and press the + and – keys to increase or decrease the font size.
Stylesheets
Stylesheets have been used to control the style and structure of the website. Should CSS not be available on your browser then the content will still be displayed in the correct order and structure.
Forms and fields
All forms fields follow a logical tab sequence to ensure easy navigation. Most form fields also have ‘label’ and ‘id’ attributes to explicitly associate the form field with its label to allow for easy entry of data.
The form fields are ordered and structured to allow easy navigation using the alt tab.
JavaScript
Should javascript not be available to the user then the site will offer an alternative. However, usage of javascript has been kept to an absolute minimum and is not in use on any navigation.
Feedback
Your suggestions and feedback to improve accessibility would be very much appreciated. If you are experiencing any difficulties accessing the information on our pages, please let us know.