• Accessibility

          Introduction

          Our website is designed to conform to World Wide Web Consortium accessibility standards, but there are some things you can do to make our site even easier to use:

          Site accessibility features

          Skipping to content and footer links

          For users who have assistive technology such as screen or Braille readers, we have included two links at the top of every page to allow you to bypass repetitive information:

          • skip to content link which takes you straight to the main heading on the page
          • skip to footer link which takes you to a selection of useful links.

          Resizable text

          By default, text is set at a medium font size, but you can resize the text on all pages using options in your web browser.

          Flexible width and scalable layout

          You can drag the four edges of the website to display any size you want. The page content adjusts automatically to display correctly for the shape you choose:

          1. If you have full screen display, select the 'Restore down' button at top right, to see the edges of the display window.
          2. Move the pointer over a display window edge until two arrows appear.
          3. Drag the top, bottom and side edges to the shape and size you want.

          You can change your display this way in any application, not just on our website (although the content may not adjust). Next time you visit us and choose 'Restore down', your display will be the size and shape you last chose, regardless of where you chose it from.

          Customising your computer

          AbilityNet and the BBC have developed some tutorials which tell you how to customise your computer to give you a better experience when using the web. For example, you can find out how to:

          • change how information is shown on your screen, to get more on, or to see content more clearly
          • change colours and fonts, a good idea if you have a visual impairment and need more contrast
          • adapt the mouse, for example, to slow it down, make the pointer bigger, or if you are left-handed
          • change a variety of keyboard settings, including the rate at which the cursor blinks.

          Go to AbilityNet for more information, or My Web My Way to see the tutorials.

          Using keyboard shortcuts

          You can use keys on the keyboard to move around our website more quickly. These are called shortcuts, and the keys you use depend on your browser. Find information for the four main browsers by selecting:

          Internet Explorer version 9 shortcuts

          Internet Explorer version 8 shortcuts

          Internet Explorer version 7 shortcuts

          Chrome shortcuts

          Firefox shortcuts

          Safari 8 shortcuts

          Safari 6/7 shortcuts

          Useful links

          You can download free software from the web, and find out about accessibility features for a variety of systems:

          www.abilitynet.org.uk - for information about customising your computer

          My Web My Way - for information and tutorials, developed by the BBC and AbilityNet, on customising your computer

          www.screenreader.net - for access to the free screen reader Thunder

          www.microsoft.com/enable/training/default.aspx - Microsoft accessibility wizard and how to use it

          www.google.com/accessibility/all-products-features.html - Google accessibility tools

          www.apple.com/accessibility - Apple Macintosh accessibility features

          www.accessfirefox.org - accessibility features in Firefox and download extensions

        • How can we help?

          Get Advice online from Citizens Advice

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        • Contact us

          For Advice Phone us 03444 111 444

          or for advice online here