Accessibility
We have tried to make this website as accessible as possible and are continuing to make changes to improve the site's accessibity.
Reading PDF documents
Some documents on this website are available to download in PDF format. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to read PDF documents. If you do not have it already, you can download it from the Adobe website.
Adjusting text size
If you would prefer the text to be larger, you can increase the text size. The text size buttons can be found on the top right of the screen, underneath the tabs.
Keyboard alternatives
If you have difficulty using a mouse there are keyboard alternatives which allow you to navigate around the site. Press the Tab key to move between links, and Return or Enter to select the link you are on. Use the arrow keys to move up and down the page. To go back to the previous page press the Backspace key.
Speech enabling
This website offers Browsealoud, a speech enabling system which reads aloud the words on the page while highlighting them. This can help if you suffer from learning difficulties, low reading skills or if English is not your first language.
The software is free to download and easy to use. You can even control the voice, pitch and speed. Browsealoud is a Windows application and can be used with Internet Explorer 5.5 and Firefox 1.5 upwards.
Click on the logo to download the software and follow the instructions. If you need any help to download Browsealoud see the download instructions, on the Browsealoud website.
Once you have downloaded Browsealoud, you hear the words on the screen. Move the mouse cursor over the words, phrase, button or image and Browsealoud will highlight the words while reading them.
Once you have downloaded the software, the Browsealoud icon in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen can be used to customise the settings. Right click on the icon and choose 'open Browsealoud settings' from the menu. The speech tab on the settings window enables you to choose a male or female voice, and change the speed, pitch and volume of the reader. To read the entire page from where your cursor points, check the 'Continue reading from pointer' box. Otherwise Browsealoud will only read the individual sentences you point to. Additional voices can be installed from the speech engines page on the Browsealoud website.
For more information on the features of Browsealoud, including customisation, see the frequently asked questions on the Browsealoud website.
Reading PDF documents with Browsealoud
Some documents on this website are available to download in PDF format. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to read PDF documents and when using Browsealoud Acrobat Version 7 is recommended. If you do not have it already, you can download it from the Adobe website.
Experiencing problems?
If you experience any problems using this website, or if you have any suggestions to improve the site, please send us your feedback.