Accessibility Policy
The Knowledge Network aims to provide information and services
to everyone. This means that no matter where you are located, how
you use the internet and what impairments you may have, you should
still be able to access the information you need.
The site currently aims to pass automated validation for WCAG 1.0 guidelines (AA).
This page describes a number of facilities that help to make this
site fully accessible:
Design and code features
You can be assured that every significant image on the site has
an alternative text version which will be picked up by a
screenreader. The only images that don't have this "ALT" text are
ones that just make up aspects of the design of the page.
We have laid out all of the elements on the page in a logical
order and all links make sense when read out of context.
We have used heading styles on all pages to break them up into
hierarchical structures.
Changing text size, font
colour and turning off images
We have coded our pages so that it should be possible for you to
easily increase or decrease the size of the site's text using your
browser's built-in controls. You might find that some of the header
graphics don't change in size but you should always be able to
access alternative versions of these graphics by hovering over them
to reveal a pop-up in Internet Explorer, or by right-clicking on
them with your mouse and selecting Properties in most other
browsers.
Changing your settings for Internet
Explorer on a PC
Font size
Select the 'Tools' menu within your Internet Explorer
browser.
Select 'Internet Options' from the Tools menu.
Click on the 'General' tab.
Click on the 'Accessibility' button.
To change your font size, check the box marked 'Ignore font sizes
specified on Web pages'
Click on the 'OK' button on this tab and then on the 'OK' button
on the Internet Options tab.
Select the 'View' menu within your Internet Explorer
browser.
Select 'Text Size' from the menu - another menu listing possible
sizes will appear. Select the option that you require.
Font style
Select the 'Tools' menu within your Internet Explorer
browser.
Select 'Internet Options' from the Tools menu.
Click on the 'General' tab.
Click on the 'Fonts' button.
Change your font using the 'Web page font' drop down.
Click on the 'OK' button on this tab and then on the 'OK' button
on the Internet Options tab.
Font and Background colour
Select the 'Tools' menu within your Internet Explorer
browser.
Select 'Internet Options' from the Tools menu.
Click on the 'General' tab.
Click on the 'Colors' button.
Check the box next to 'Use Windows colors', allowing you access to
change the colours yourself.
Select your own Text, Background and link colours from those
available.
Click on the 'OK' button on this tab and then on the 'OK' button
on the Internet Options tab.
Images
Select the 'Tools' menu within your Internet Explorer
browser.
Select 'Internet Options' from the Tools menu.
Click on the 'Advanced' tab.
Scroll down the page until you reach the Multimedia
category.
Uncheck the box next to 'Show pictures'
Click on the 'OK' button.
Changing your settings for
Internet Explorer for Apple Mac
Font size and style
Select the 'Edit' menu within your Internet Explorer
browser.
Select 'Preferences' from the menu.
Click on 'web content', under 'Web Browser', in the left-hand
pane.
Deselect the button marked 'show style sheets'.
Select 'Language/Fonts', under 'Web Browser', in the left-hand
pane.
Select the font size and style you require.
Click on 'OK' to close the popup.
Font, Background colour and Images
Select the 'Edit' menu within your Internet Explorer
browser.
Select 'Preferences' from the Edit menu.
Click on 'web content', under 'Web Browser', in the left-hand
pane.
Ensure that the button marked 'show style sheets' is
deselected.
Select your own Text, Background and link colours from those
available in the 'Page & Link' section.
If you want your links to appear underlined then check the
'Underline links' box.
To turn off pictures uncheck the box marked 'Show pictures' under
'Page Content'.
Click on 'OK' to close the popup.
Change your settings for Netscape, Firefox or Mozilla on a
PC
These instructions are based on Netscape 7.
Font Size and Style
Select the 'Edit' menu within your Netscape browser.
Select 'Preferences' from the Edit menu.
Click on 'Appearance' in the 'Category' box on the left of the
pop-up. Then select 'Fonts' from the Appearance menu.
Change your font's size using the 'Size (pixels)' drop down on the
right of the screen.
Change your font face using one of the dropdown menus under the
'Typeface' title. In general Sans-serif fonts tend to be easier to
read than Serif fonts. If you wish to choose a Serif font you need
to set the 'Proportional' dropdown to 'Sans serif' before making
your choice.
Finally, uncheck the box entitled 'Allow documents to use other
fonts'. This will force your browser to display pages in the style
you have chosen.
NB - you can use Netscape to ensure that fonts are never displayed
in a size smaller than the minimum you can see. To do so, choose a
font size from the 'Minimum font size' dropdown.
Click OK within the pop-up and your page will change to reflect
your settings.
Netscape also allows you to choose your font size using the
'View' menu. To use this facility follow these steps
Select the 'View' menu within your Netscape browser.
Select 'Text Zoom' from the View menu.
The menu that appears allows you to select a percentage text size
from a list, or simply to make your text smaller or larger. Choose
your required option from those displayed.
Keyboard shortcuts to increase or decrease text size
Smaller : Ctrl and -
Larger : Ctrl and +
Font and Background Colours
Select the 'Edit' menu within your Netscape browser.
Select 'Preferences' from the Edit menu.
Click on 'Appearance' in the 'Category' box on the left of the
pop-up. Then select 'Colors' from the Appearance menu.
Choose the colours that you require from the 'Text and Background'
and 'Link Colors' options by clicking on the colour boxes and
choosing one of the available colours.
Ensure that the 'Use system colors' box is unchecked.
If you want your links to appear underlined then check the
'Underline links' box.
Click on the radio button next to 'Use my chosen colors, ignoring
the colors and background image specified'. This will force all
pages to be displayed using your settings.
Click OK within the pop-up and your page will change to reflect
your settings.
Images
Select the 'Edit' menu within your Netscape browser.
Select 'Preferences' from the Edit menu.
Click on 'Privacy & Security' in the 'Category' box on the
left of the pop-up. Then select 'Images' from the Privacy and
Security menu.
To turn images off, click on the radio button next to 'Do not load
any images'. To turn them on, click on 'Accept all images'
Click OK within the pop-up and your page will change to reflect
your settings.
Change your settings for Netscape or Mozilla on an Apple
Mac
Font Size and Style
Select the 'Edit' menu within your Netscape browser.
Select 'Preferences' from the Edit menu.
Click on 'Appearance' in the 'Category' box on the left of the
pop-up. Then select 'Fonts' from the Appearance menu.
Change your font size using the 'Size (pixels)' drop down on the
right of the screen.
Change your font face using one of the dropdown menus under the
'Typeface' title. In general Sans-serif fonts tend to be easier to
read than Serif fonts. If you wish to choose a Serif font you need
to set the 'Proportional' dropdown to 'Sans serif' before making
your choice.
Finally, uncheck the box entitled 'Allow documents to use other
fonts'. This will force your browser to display pages in the style
you have chosen.
Click OK within the pop-up and your page will change to reflect
your settings.
Netscape also allows you to choose your font size using the
'View' menu. To use this facility follow these steps
Select the 'View' menu within your Netscape browser.
Select 'Text Size' from the View menu.
The menu that appears allows you to select a percentage text size
from a list, or simply to make your text smaller or larger. Choose
your required option from those displayed.
Keyboard shortcuts to increase or decrease text size
Smaller : Ctrl and -
Larger : Ctrl and +
Font and Background Colours
Select the 'Edit' menu within your Netscape browser.
Select 'Preferences' from the Edit menu.
Click on 'Appearance' in the 'Category' box on the left of the
pop-up. Then select 'Colors' from the Appearance menu.
Choose the colours that you require from the 'Text and Background'
and 'Link Colors' options by clicking on the colour boxes and
choosing one of the available colours.
Ensure that the 'Use system colors' box is unchecked.
If you want your links to appear underlined then check the
'Underline links' box.
Click on the radio button next to 'Use my chosen colors, ignoring
the colors specified'. This will force all pages to be displayed
using your settings.
Click OK within the pop-up and your page will change to reflect
your settings.
Images
Select the 'Edit' menu within your Netscape browser.
Select 'Preferences' from the Edit menu.
Click on 'Privacy & Security' in the 'Category' box on the
left of the pop-up. Then select 'Images' from the Privacy and
Security menu.
To turn images off, click on the radio button next to 'Do not load
any images'. To turn them on, click on 'Accept all images'
Click OK within the pop-up and your page will change to reflect
your settings.
Change your settings
for Opera on a PC
These instructions are based on Opera 7.
Font Size, Face, Colour, Style and Background colour
Select the 'File' menu within your Opera browser.
Select 'Preferences' from the File menu.
Click on 'Fonts and colors' in the box on the left of the
pop-up.
Opera gives you very detailed facilities for changing the
appearance of each type of text on your page. The most used styles
are 'Normal' and 'Heading 1'. To change these, click on their entry
in the 'My fonts and colors' scrolling box, and then click on the
'Choose' button to the right of the scrolling box. Select a font
face, style, size and colour from the options available and click
on 'OK'.
NB - you can use Opera to ensure that fonts are never displayed in
a size smaller than the minimum you can see. To do so, enter a font
size into the 'Minimum font size [pixels]' box.
To change the background colour of your page click on the 'Choose'
button to the right of the 'Background color' text. Choose a colour
from those available and click on 'OK'.
If you want to change how links appear within your page then click
on the 'My link style...' button and make a selection from those
available.
When you are happy with all of your settings, click on 'Apply'.
Review your page and if it appears as required click on 'OK'
Page size
Opera offers an unusual feature that allows you to enlarge the
size of your page as a whole. To use this facility, follow these
steps
Select the 'View' menu within your Opera browser.
Select 'Zoom' from the File menu.
Select your required zoom ratio from those offered.
Images
Select the 'File' menu within your Opera browser.
Select 'Preferences' from the File menu.
Click on 'Multimedia' in the box on the left of the pop-up.
To turn images off, click on the radio button next to 'Show no
images'. To turn images on, click on 'Show images'.
Change your
settings for Opera on an Apple Mac
Font Size, Face, Colour, Style and Background colour
Select the 'Edit' menu within your Opera browser.
Select 'Preferences' from the Edit menu.
Click on 'Fonts and colors' in the box on the left of the
pop-up.
Opera gives you very detailed facilities for changing the
appearance of each type of text on your page. The most used styles
are 'Normal' and 'Heading 1'. To change these, click on their entry
in the 'My fonts and colors' scrolling box, and then click on the
'Choose' button at the bottom of the scrolling box. Select a font
face, style, size and colour from the options available and click
on 'OK'.
NB - you can use Opera to ensure that fonts are never displayed in
a size smaller than the minimum you can see. To do so, enter a font
size into the 'Minimum font size [pixels]' box.
To change the background colour of your page click on the
'Background colour' box. Choose a colour from those available and
click on 'OK'.
If you want to change how links appear within your page then click
on the 'My link style...' button and make a selection from those
available.
When you are happy with all of your settings, click on 'Apply'.
Review your page and if it appears as required click on 'OK'
Images
Select the 'File' menu within your Opera browser.
Select 'Preferences' from the File menu.
Click on 'Multimedia' in the box on the left of the pop-up.
To turn images off, click on the radio button next to 'Show no
images'. To turn images on, click on 'Show images'.