Accessibility

Overview

We are committed to making this eGuide accessible to all users, regardless of ability and we are striving to ensure that all pages in this guide comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 and Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) AAA standard as well as implementing framework strategies based on British Standard BS 8878: 2010

Development of the eGuide has followed the main principles of these guidelines and we aim to make the structure, layout (including colours) and content:

• Perceivable - Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive.
• Operable - User interface components and navigation must be operable.
• Understandable - Information and the operation of user interfaces must be understandable.
• Robust - Content must be robust enough that it can be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies.

This guide uses HTML5 structured code and CSS3 style sheets allowing users to use appropriate screen readers and non pointer based navigation. It is responsive in that it is suitable for use on a variety of screen sizes and devices from desktops to smart phones - interaction on smaller devices may be constrained by the operating systems.

Screen Readers

Role Attributes add further semantic information in support of WAI-ARIA, the Accessible Rich Internet Applications technical specification for making dynamic, interactive web content accessible to people with disabilities.

Colours

Colours have been chosen to maximise contrast ratios where possible to comply with WAI-AAA specifications to make it easier for those with visual impairment to access the guide. The colours are consistent throughout the eGuide enabling the user to navigate and determine the nature and provenance of the information presented in an intuitive manner.

Dyslexia

Wherever possible we have complied with the style guides produced by The British Dyslexia Association and The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) particularly in respect of text, colours, accessibility and design.

Links

Internal links

Internal links are between files which form part of the guide and will open in the same browser window replacing the source page.

Links displayed as icons in the Navigation Bar at the top of each page allow the user to navigate around the guide.

Internal text links in the text body are displayed in a different colour from the surrounding text and are followed by a link symbol.

Links which are 'in focus' or hovered over will display in a different colour.

Sample internal link - this link will still work even when off-line.

Preceding Page icon

This icon in the top navigation menu will take the user to the preceding page of the chapter or file (if available) - to return to the previously viewed page (which may be different) use the back button on the browser - see also below.

Previously Viewed Page icon

On some pages this button replaces the Preceding Page icon allowing the user to return to the previously viewed page (it acts in the same way as the browser back button). These are used in the National Offence Codes pages for instance which are accessed via a link from a pages in a different location.

External Links

Text links to external sites are also displayed in a different colour from the surrounding text and are followed by a globe symbol.

Links which are 'in focus' or hovered over will display in a different colour.

Selecting an external link will cause a new browser window to open.

To return to the guide close the new window (the back button on the browser, if available, will not function)

Image Links

Some images contain links - these may be internal or external - hover over the link to reveal the image or link description.

Link Override

It is possible for the user to override the way the links open - the methods vary according to the operating system and typically consist of holding down a key whilst selecting the link or holding down on the link on a touch screen device.

Compliance with UK Law

This guide has been designed from the ground up to make it simple to navigate and easy to read and by doing so we have taken into account the needs of users with a wide range of disabilities. As such we seek not only to comply with all the standards and guidelines listed above but also with the requirements of The Equality Act 2010, in particular section 20(6) .

The use of this eGuide by Public Sector Organisations and other employers would satisfy the requirements imposed by the Equality Act 2010 in respect of their duties towards the public and their own employees.

Navigation Menu

Navigation Menus in the eGuide

The Home page has a link to the Chapter Contents table.

Links at the bottom of the Home page give access to the Information pages and an Exit link.

Elsewhere in the guide there is a horizontal menu bar at the top of each page, the links may vary according to the content of the page. Each item consists of a web-font icon and a text description. The web-font icons will not be visible to screen readers :-

• Home
• Index
• Contents
• Back (to preceding page in Chapter)
• Back (to last visited page - same as browser back button)
• Next
• Top

Navigating the site without using a mouse

The user can move around the page and access links using the 'Tab' key on the keyboard. To tab through the links in the opposite direction, key 'Shift+Tab'. Once a link is highlighted, key 'Enter' to follow the link.

Access Key Shortcuts

Access keys provide a means to quickly navigate a site by using keyboard shortcuts - a combination of keys pressed simultaneously. Their use however can present difficulties for the user :-

• access keys can override or be over-ridden by keyboard shortcuts for screen readers and other assistive technology,
• they can conflict with operating system or application shortcut key combinations,
• there is no global convention on access keys, users need to a learn those used on each site.

For these reasons we have limited their use to numeric values, some based on the UK Government access key system with additional keys which allow easier navigation to the main sections of the eGuide.

The following access key shortcuts are included within the site :-

• 0 - key page
• 1 - home page
• 2 - skip navigation
• 3 - top of page
• 4 - not used

Keyboard navigation techniques vary between browsers and most commonly require a combination of modifier keys + Access Key
eg: Ctrl + Alt + Access Key

Text size

You can increase the size of the text by using tools built into your browser.

• Internet Explorer users - select the 'view' option at the top of the page, choose 'text size' and pick either larger or largest.
• Mozilla and Firefox users - select the 'view' option at the top of the page, choose 'text size' or 'Zoom' and use the 'increase' function until the text is a satisfactory size.

Most modern operating systems and devices including tablets and smartphones incorporate accessibility features which allow users to additionally customise their use of the eGuide including changing the foreground and background colours.

Ongoing Development

We are always seeking to improve the accessibility of the website. If you have any difficulties using this site that you believe we could address please don’t hesitate to contact us by email at hughesguides@gmail.com