Accessibility

This site has been designed to make it accessible by everyone. This means that it will be easier to use by people with disabilities.

Text sizing

The size of the text accross the whole site is able to be easily changed as fixed sizes are not specified. This is easily done from your browsers menu. Instructions for changing text size in different browsers. To make it easier, text size can also be changed directly at the very top of each page of this site. Please only use one method to change the text size of the site, ie use either the tool provided on the site, or use the browser to control the text size.

Text Contrast

Alternative style sheets have been provided so that the contrast between text and background colours can be changed. This is especially useful for people with visual disabilities who migft have trouble reading black text on a white background for example. Instructions for using alternative style sheets

Standards

There are standards that are laid down by the Worldwide Web Consortium (W3C) that allow websites to validate the code that is used in the programming of them. This site has been programmed (or coded) and has Validated as:

XHTML 1.0 Strict - The whole website has been programmed using the XHTML 1.0 Strict standard, and validates when tested with the W3C's own validation service. A link to this can be found right at the bottom of each page. It is important to have valid code on a website so that browsers will read and display the website properly and any other software such as screen readers (used by the blind) will function correctly. It is also good practice to produce websites that adhere to set standards.
CSS 2.1 - This refers to the style sheet language used for the website. The style and alternative styles are all coded completely separtely from the XHTML, meaning that users can freely change, remove, or apply an alternate style that is provided on this site. Having valid CSS also means that browsers and other software will display the website correctly (although sometimes browsers will read CSS differently from others, and display changes occur. Best efforts have been made that this does not happen)
WAI - A - Although W3C themselves do not validate accessibility there are plenty of other ways to have it validated. This site does at least satisfy the steps that must be taken to produce an accessible site. Continuous improvement will aim to make the site WAI-AAA accessible, which means that steps that should and also that may be taken, have been. For each extra letter A up to a total of three, it means that more features have been included in the website to make it easier for people with disabilities to access.

Changing the Text size with your browser

To make it easier for people with different visual abilities, this site is completely scalable. None of the text in the site has a fixed size, which means that it can be changed very easily from your browser menu. This will work in all browsers and below is guideance on how to change the text size of the site:

Browser	How to change the text size
Internet explorer 5/5.5/6	Use the menu and click on View > Text Size > then select which text size you require. The available options are Smallest, Smaller, Medium, Larger, Largest. You can also hold down CTRL and use the mouse scroller if you have one. Alternatively, you can access the text size menu by pressing ALT, pressing the letter v, and then x. From here just select the required text size.
Internet Explorer 7	It is possible in IE7 to show or hide the main menu, so there are two ways to do this. With the menu showing, click on View > Text Size > then select which text size you require. With the menu hidden, click on the Page button near the right hand side at the top, click on Text Size then select which text size you require. You can also access the text size menu by pressing ALT, pressing the letter v, and then x. From here just select the required text size.
Mozilla Firefox	On a PC - Just hold down the CTRL key, and either use +(plus) or -(minus) keys to increase or decrease the text size, or use the mouse scroller. Alternatively you can press ALT, press the letter v, and then z. From here just you can increase or decrease the text size. You can also access the text size menu by pressing ALT, pressing the letter v, and then z. From here just select the required text size. On a Mac - Just hold down the Apple (Command) key and use the +(plus) or -(minus) keys to adjust text size.
Safari	Just hold down the Apple (Command) key and use the +(plus) or -(minus) keys to adjust text size.
Netscape Navigator	Just hold down the CTRL key, and use +(plus) or -(minus) keys to increase or decrease the text size. Alternatively you can access Text Zoom (150%) by pressing ALT, pressing the letter v, and then z. From here just you can increase or decrease the text size.
Opera	There isn't really a text size option, rather a zoom option. To zoom in on the page by 10% at a time, use the +(plus) and -(minus) keys.
AOL browser	AOL uses the latest version of browser that is installed on your computer, and is set in AOL's preferences. It is not that straight forward or fast to use AOL's method of changing text size so i would suggest the following: Sign in to AOL in the normal way Minimize AOL (AOL will still stay signed on) Open up a browser such as Internet Explorer, Firefox or Safari and use that instead as text size is much easier to alter It would make good sense to avoid using the built in AOL browser all together, and especially if you need to use any kind of accessibility features.

Using alternative style sheets

Browser	How to use the alternate style
Firefox	View > Page Style, then select the style called High Contrast.
Netscape	View > Use Style, then select the style called High Contrast.
Opera	View > Style, then select the style called High Contrast.

Alternative style sheets cannot be used in Internet Explorer