Accessibility

We are working towards compliance with Priority 2 of the W3C Web Accessibility Guidelines. We are continually making improvements to meet these guidelines but if you have any problems accessing the information you require in the meantime, please contact us..

If you are experiencing any technical problems or would like to make a suggestion about how we could make this website more accessible to you, please send us an email.

Viewing text
Our web pages are designed so that they can be viewed at a screen resolution of 800 x 600 pixels.

If you are have any sort of visual impairment of dyslexia our website will shortly allow you to select the size of type you prefer, from small, medium or large.

You can also make changes within the browser you use to improve the way you view web pages. Your browser will allow you to alter the size of the text, the colour of the text and the colour of the background.

Changing browser settings
If you use Internet Explorer, you can set it to ignore the colours and fonts used in websites. To do this you need to go to ‘Tools’, then select ‘Internet Options’ and ‘Accessibility’. You will now be able to check boxes to indicate that you want to ‘ignore colours’, ‘ignore font styles’ or ‘ignore font sizes’. Then just click ‘OK’ to apply the changes you’ve made.

Using screen readers
Alternative text is provided for all images that convey important information.

No information is conveyed exclusively using colour and a sitemap is provided to offer more information about the layout of the website.

Filling in forms
Before you complete any online forms we recommend that you read all of the headings carefully so you know exactly what information is required
When you do fill a form in you may find it useful to turn Virtual PC Cursor off if you are using the screenreader JAWS version 3.3 or above. Once you have filled the form in, turn Virtual PC Cursor back on and check what you have entered before submitting the form.

If you have problems completing our online forms please contact us.

More information
If you require specific advice on web accessibility and more information on using things like screen readers, we hope that you find some of the links below useful.

AbilityNet
www.abilitynet.org.uk
AbilityNet is a national charity helping disabled adults and children use computers and the internet by adapting and adjusting their technology.

Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB)
www.rnib.org.uk
Leading UK charity offering information, support and advice to over two million people with sight problems.

Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID)
www.rnid.org.uk
A large charity providing information, support and advice for the UK’s deaf and hard of hearing population.

Scope
www.scope.org.uk
A disability organisation whose focus is to help people with cerebral palsy in England and Wales.

British Dyslexia Association
www.bdadyslexia.org.uk
A charitable organisation offering support to dyslexia suffers and their families while lobbying the government and other institutions to promote a dyslexia friendly society.