Website accessibility tools
Microsoft windows users
Microsoft has inbuilt features, to aid accessibility. Select 'All Programs' and 'Accessories' and 'Accessibility' to find the options.
Slight visual impairment
For those with a slight visual impairment, the 'Magnifier' option in Microsoft Windows may be useful, to enlarge text size.
Microsoft 'Narrator' is a basic screen reader that may also be of use. Be aware that it can only be used in certain programs and will only read in English.
For those with Vista, click here for accessibility demos.
You can view a short video: 'How to resize text on web pages' using Internet Explorer.
Each page of the website has a 'Text Only' option (located at the top right of the page). This allows for high-contrast viewing.
Linux, Mac and Apple users
The BBC My Web My Way site gives information on web accessibility for Linux users and Mac users. Apple users can visit the Apple Accessibility pages.
Using Adobe’s Acrobat’s ‘Read Out Loud’
This screen-reading tool can be used to convert written text into audio format. For example, to read a prospectus:
- Select ‘Download prospectus’ (as pdf) from the relevant page on the website
- Save as an ‘Adobe pdf file’ on your computer
- Open the file with ‘Adobe Reader’
- Select ‘View’ from the top tool bar
- Select ‘Read Out Loud’, then ‘Activate Read Out Loud’
- Start using as required. You may wish to use headphones to listen
In addition, many website pages can be converted into PDF format to facilitate the use of screen-reading software. The PDF option is located at the bottom left of the page.
Videos
Some videos have a transcript available. Videos viewed via YouTube allow for captions to be enabled. Select the icon labelled 'Automatic captions available in your language'.
Website help
If you have any questions relating to this website's accessibility please email [email protected]