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Accessibility
Accessibility
We aim to make our website as accessible as possible. Here you will find more information about:
Changing the way this website looks
Accessibility Wizard
Browsers
Accessing PDFs (link to ‘Help with PDFs’ page below)
Options for people with a visual impairment
Options for people with mobility or dexterity difficulties
Options for people with a hearing impairment
Options for people with a learning difficulty
Please use our
feedback form to make suggestions about accessibility, or to let us know if you find it difficult to access our website.
Changing the way this website looks
You can increase the font size on this website. If you use Internet Explorer, go to the ‘View’ menu, select ‘Text size’ and choose ‘larger’ or ‘largest’.
You can also change the colour of text and backgrounds. If you use Internet Explorer, follow these steps:
- Go to the ‘Tools’ menu
- Select ‘Internet options’
- Select ‘Colors’
- Make changes to the text and background in the ‘Colors’ panel.
Accessibility Wizard
Windows offers an Accessibility Wizard that enables you to choose preferences for using your PC and the internet. To use the Wizard:
- Look in the ‘Start’ menu
- Select ‘Programs’
- Select ‘Accessories’
- Select ‘Accessibility’
- Select ‘Accessibility Wizard’
- Follow the instructions
Browsers
This website has been developed to work with a reasonable range of web browsers and operating systems including Internet Explorer 6.0 and 7.0, and Firefox 1.0.
If you use Internet Explorer 4.0+ or 5.0+ we cannot guarantee the content will be correct.
You should regularly update your browser.
Options for people with a visual impairment
You can make changes to the visual display and text size on your computer, or receive information by sound or touch. Please visit the BBC website for more information and advice about this:
You may also be interested in the following aids:
Screen magnifiers
These enlarge the part of the screen you are looking at.
Screen readers
These read aloud all text on the screen.
Refreshable Braille displays
These electro-mechanical devices enable Braille users to read text displayed on the monitor.
Braille embossers
These convert text into Braille and emboss it onto paper.
Talking word processors
These programs enable users to hear the text they have written.
Large print word processors
These enlarge text on the screen.
Colour contrast testers
This software can judge colour contrast to maximise legibility.
Voice-activated software/speech recognition software
This enables users to enter text by speaking rather than typing.
Options for people with mobility or dexterity difficulties
Limited movement, loss of feeling or pain can make it difficult to use a standard keyboard or mouse. It may help to:
- Use FilterKeys to ignore inadvertently repeated keystrokes
- Use StickyKeys to hold down more than one key at once
- Adjust the mouse cursor size, appearance and pointer options
- Change how the mouse scrolls and the way the buttons work
- Use ClickLock to highlight and drag without holding down the mouse button
Please visit the BBC website for more information and advice:
You may also be interested in the following aids:
Voice-activated software/speech recognition software
This enables users to enter text by speaking rather than typing.
On-screen keyboard programs
This provides an on-screen keyboard which can be used with a variety of aids such as mouse, touch-screen, trackball, joystick, switch technology or electronic pointing device.
Touch screens
This enables the user to interact with the computer by directly touching the screen.
Keyboard filters
These reduce the number of keystrokes required through, for example, word prediction and spell checkers.
Alternative input devices
These include a range of input aids such as alternative keyboards, electronic pointing devices, expanded guarded keyboards, sip-and-puff systems, wands and sticks, joysticks and trackballs.
Options for people with a hearing impairment
Hearing impairment can range from a slight hearing loss to deafness. Headphones can block out background noise and you may be able to adjust your computer sound to make it easier to hear. Text or visual graphics may be a good alternative to sound alerts.
Please visit the BBC website for more information and advice:
Options for people with a learning difficulty
People with learning difficulties may benefit from a range of available aids. To find out more, visit the BBC website:
You may also be interested in the following aids:
Word prediction programs
These allow the selection of a word from a suggested list based on the first one or two letters of the word required.
Reading comprehension programs
These help to improve reading skills through activities, exercises and games.
Reading tools and learning disability programs
These make text-based materials more accessible for those who find reading difficult. Options include reformatting, navigating, scanning or speaking text.
Speech synthesisers/text to speech (TTS) systems
This enables the user to type information which is then spoken aloud.
Voice-activated software/speech recognition software
This enables users to enter text by speaking rather than typing.