Using this site with assistive technologies
The site linking to this page has made use of Communis' accessibility expertise to make it easier to use for users of screen readers such as JAWS and for users of other assistive technologies.
Navigation
Main site navigation is set out as a list of links, often with one level of sub-list within them. Your screenreaders' list-reading capabilities should make this easy to use, and easy to skip past.
You should be able to navigate make sense of each page by using your screen reader to list headings or to list links. Headings are well structured and link text should make sense when read out of context. A 'skip link' at the beginning of each page allows you to jump within the page, straight to the beginning of the main page content.
Keyboard access
Every page should be fully accessible with a keyboard. A mouse is not required.
Tables
Tables are not used for layout. We only use tables for what they are supposed to be for, tabulating data, and use table headers to help screen readers make sense of table structures.
Flash, javascript and cookies
We might use these technologies, but we don't rely on them. The site works perfectly well with or without them.
Changing Text Size and colours
You can use your web browser's View menu to do so. In Internet Explorer, for example, go to the View menu and select Text Size, and choose your preferred size from the list.
You can set your browser to apply certain rules about font colour, background colour, font size and font face automatically to all web pages you visit. In Internet Explorer, for example, select the Tools menu - Internet options. Then select the Colours and Fonts of your choice. Once you have done this, select the Accessibility button and check the boxes to ignore font sizes, styles and colours specified on web pages (it will use your defaults instead).
General Access keys
Windows
Windows provides a range of access features that can be turned on from the keyboard.
- RIGHT SHIFT for eight seconds: FilterKeys - ignores brief or repeated keystrokes and slows down the repeat rate.
- LEFT ALT+LEFT SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN: High Contrast.
- LEFT ALT+LEFT SHIFT+NUM LOCK: MouseKeys - use the numeric keypad to control the mouse; use 5 to 'click'.
- SHIFT five times: StickyKeys - allows you to use the SHIFT, CRTL, ALT and WINDOWS-LOGO keys by pressing them one at a time.
- NUM LOCK for five seconds: ToggleKeys - makes your computer bleep at you when you press CAPS LOCK, NUM LOCK or SCROLL LOCK.
Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer is the most commonly used browser, so we have provided some of the shortcut keys here
- Alt+Left-arrow: Back
- Alt+Right-arrow: Forward
- Alt+A: Favourites menu
- Alt+D: Address bar
- Alt+E: Edit Menu
- Alt+F: File Menu
- Ctrl+F: Find on Page
- Alt+H: Help Menu
For more shortcuts, see Getting more from your web browser in our Resources section.
If you have any questions regarding the accessibility of this site, please contact us.
Contact Us
Communis Ltd
31 Newtown, Bradford-on-Avon, BA15 1NF
Tel: +44 (0)1225 863267
Send us an email