Accessibility

We want trusteenet to be accessible to all.

Introduction

There are various facilities available within your browser to make web sites more accessible. For the most common browsers the internet options section can be found as follows:

• Microsoft Internet Explorer - go to the Tools menu, select Internet options and then select from a range of colours, fonts, languages and accessibility

• Netscape Navigator - go to the View menu and choose preferences. From there you can select from a list of options

• AOL - on the browser toolbar select My AOL, then Preferences and then click on www or internet properties from where you will be able to access internet options

• Mozilla/Firefox - go to the Tools menu and then click Options. Here in Content and Advanced you will be able to edit your colours, fonts, etc.

For those of you who use Windows Microsoft provides some accessibility aids; these are limited, but may be a useful starting point.  From the Windows Start menu, select Programs, and then Accessories, and finally Accessibility.  The options provided are:

• Magnifier - a screen magnifier for people with visual impairment

• Narrator - reads on screen text. dialogue boxes, menus and buttons (if speakers or a sound output device are set up)

• On-screen Keyboard - displays a keyboard controlled by a mouse or switch input device

• Accessibility Wizard - configures your system to meet your vision, hearing and mobility needs.  This includes such things as changing Windows text size, settings and colour schemes for Windows.

• Utility Manager - starts and configures accessibility tools from one window. From the Windows Start menu select "Settings", then "Control panel".

The Accessibility Options entry allows you to perform various functions:

• Show extra keyboard help in programs - will show additional help on keyboard options in programs where available

• StickyKeys - enables simultaneous keystrokes while pressing one key at a time

• FilterKeys - adjusts the response of your keyboard

• ToggleKeys - emits sounds when certain locked keys are pressed

• SoundSentry - provides vital warnings for system sounds

• ShowSounds -  instructs programs to display captions for program speech and sounds

• High Contrast - improves screen contrast with alternative colours and font sizes

• MouseKeys - enables the keyboard to perform mouse functions

• SerialKeys - allows the use of alternative input devices instead of a keyboard and mouse.

Screen magnifiers

Screen magnifiers can enlarge areas of screen for people with a visual impairment.  This usually leads to having to "Scroll" sideways through text, which can lead to feelings not unlike seasickness! However, screen magnifiers are often a cheap and readily-available accessibility aid.

Screen readers

Screen readers will use a synthesised speech system to literally read the contents of a web page to the user. They are designed for people with a visual impairment, but can also be used by people with dyslexia. There are free screen readers available, but serious users may need to purchase more sophisticated software. Thunder is free award-winning screenreader talking software for blind and visually impaired people, although currently only available for machines using Windows. Download via http://www.screenreader.net

Braille readers

This is a piece of hardware which provides a Braille output for people with a severe visual impairment, and is usually a more costly option.

Our aim

We have tried to label images, links and graphics according to guidelines, and use appropriate codes, to help with accessibility.

We are working towards removing barriers to accessing our sites for those with a range of disabilities: 'Double-A' level from the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).