Accessibility

Design Standards

The site is designed to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0, and to conform with the BSI PAS 78:2006 guidelines where possible.

Structure of the Site

We have one set of pages for the whole site, which we aim to make accessible to all. We do not separate accessible and less accessible pages into separate sections. A link to a site map can be found at the footer of every page, which shows the organisation of the whole site.

How to make text larger?

It is possible to increase or decrease the size of the text on the site by use of the buttons provided at the top of the header area.  It is also possible to increase and decrease the size of the website using your browsers in built page zoom facility. Page zoom has the benefit that each element of the page will be scaled proportionately. It is also more common for people with visual impairments to have their own software built-in, which automatically increases the text size. Text is scaleable, as are the pages themselves. We set a maximum size for most pages, to ensure lines are wrapped according to commonly accepted typographical rules. To change the text size on modern browsers use the following key combinations (note that Mac users should use the CMD key and not the CTRL key).

Content

We aim to use clear, plain English in a concise and meaningful way.

Use of Cookies

Every user is informed about how the site uses cookies on their first visit. For more information see our cookies policy.

Use of Images and Multimedia

We aim to label all images, and use images appropriately (i.e. not for purely decorative text and headings). All images have ALT tags. Where appropriate, ALT tags provide screen reader users and those with images turned off with a description of the content of the picture.

Browser Support

There will always be small differences in the display between browsers, but we do aim to broadly support:

• Internet Explorer 7+ for Windows
• Safari for the Macintosh
• Mozilla Firefox for all platforms
• Google Chrome for all platforms

Proof of Compliance

Rather than using automated tools and badges, which can be a bit hit-or-miss, we aim to be responsive to your needs. Please notify us of any specific problems you encounter, or any suggestions you have for improvement.