Web accessibility

Our website accessibility

Our website has been carefully designed and built to conform to accessibility best practice.  The website has been implemented according to a User-centred Design thinking. 

Key online accessibility considerations

Our website has been carefully designed and built to conform to accessibility best practice.  The website has been implemented according to a User-centred Design thinking. 

Text size & spacing

We use a larger text size then average online to improve readability for our users. Text sizes on our website range from 16 to 28. Size 16 text is the largest size of the traditional text size options. Generous line spacing and kerning (spacing between letters) also improves the readability of our website.

Font selection

Two Google font typefaces are used on our website. These Sans Serif fonts are both optimised for best on screen readability for our users.

Colour contrast & use of colour

A and AA colour tests have been applied across our website on all text and backgrounds contrasts to ensure we are fully compliant. 
Simple bold block colours are used throughout our website with consistent colour also being used to help users identify interaction points on different pages.

Interaction patterns

Patterns are ways to describe best practices, explain good designs, and capture experience so that other people can reuse these solutions. Typical and expected interaction patters were used through the site. This approach increases usability for users. For example body text hyperlinks having an underline, navigation bread crumb and the dropdown menu etc.

Semantic code

Code was developed for our website to cater for a wide range of devices, from desktop computers and mobile phones to screen readers. It was built in a way that even a very basic device can access the content and interpret it for a user. All pages are titled with the appropriate h1 as part of the AA specification and Google best practices.

Images

Alternative text content for images is available across our website. 

Navigation

Our website navigation is fully keyboard accessible. Focused elements are also highlighted as part of the AA specification.

Browsealoud

Our website features an innovative support tool called Browsealoud. Browsealoud is a customisable support tool that assists with online accessibility requirements. It provides support for a number of visual, cognitive and learning impairments and/or difficulties. It also supports English as a second language.

Key accessibility features:

• Text size magnification 
• Text highlighting 
• Text masking
• Colour contrasting
• Read aloud
• Translation (Translates text on web pages into over 90 languages and/or can read aloud translated text in over 40 languages).
• MP3 creation
• Page simplification 

To access Browsealoud, please click on the orange button called "Speak" at the bottom of the page.