We want to make sure everyone can access the information provided on this website.
We are making every effort to ensure that we don’t exclude any users. For example by:
- using clear and simple language
- providing meaningful alternative text for images
- ensuring the target of each link is clearly defined
- providing a sitemap
- only using tables for tabular data, not for layout purposes
PDF (Portable Document Format) Accesibility
Some material on the website is provided in PDF Format, and can be accessed using software such as Adobe Reader. Modern versions of PDF software, such as Adobe, have a number of features which improve the accessibility of PDF files. However, if you continue to have trouble reading them, variety of free online tools for converting PDF files to HTML or text are available on the internet.
For disability access, PDF files may be converted to accessible web pages using Adobe’s online conversion tools You will need the URL of the file in question. This will be in the format of the name of the link. The Adobe Acrobat Accessibility site has more information.
PDF files preserve all the fonts, formatting, graphics, and colour of a printed document once it is placed on a website. Several documents on our website are provided in PDF format.
PDF file standards have improved over the years and have become more accessible through technologies like screen readers, navigation through the keyboard and enhanced screen viewing. The Adobe website provides information on how best to use these features, however you may encounter earlier versions of PDF files which are not so accessible.
Additional support
The BBC and ability.net have teamed up to provide great information about how to adapt your computer and web browser.
You can also download free style sheets from One Format, which give you the option to view websites on Internet Explorer in your preferred colour and font sizes.
The style sheets cover five font sizes, 10 colour combinations and the option to add or remove underlining and bold text. They can also be used with (or instead of) screen magnification software.