Accessibility

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We have made every effort to make our website accessible and easy to use for everyone. 

Maintaining an accessible website is an ongoing process and we are continually working to offer a user friendly experience. If you have any problems using this website please contact us by email.

To assist with website accessibility we offer:

ReachDeck

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Need help reading our website? 

We have added the world-leading digital inclusion software, ReachDeck, to our website - making our content more accessible with reading and translation support.

Try it out - it’s free!

Click on the ReachDeck launchpad that appears on the top right handside of your screen to launch the support toolbar. Then simply click on any text to hear it read out loud.

How does ReachDeck help?

ReachDeck offers a host of reading and translation support - helping you to access and understand our website better. 

  • text-to-speech: click on or select any text to hear it read aloud

  • translation: written and spoken translations in multiple languages

  • text magnification: enlarges text and reads it out loud

  • mp3 generation: converts selected text into an MP3 audio file

  • screen mask: blocks distractions on screen with a tinted mask

  • web page simplifer: removes clutter from the screen, displaying only the main text

  • settings: customise options to suit individual needs or preferences

All the features are accessed from an easy-to-use, floating toolbar - allowing you to drag and drop it anywhere on screen. 

Watch the ReachDeck Features video to see ReachDeck in action or read  ReachDeck's Quick Reference Guide.

ReachDeck is a free speech enabler download that enables you to listen to rather than read our website content. It can be useful for people who may:

  · have reading or literacy difficulties.
  · not be fluent in English as it is not their first language.
  · have Dyslexia.
  · have mild visual impairment.
  · just find it easier to listen, rather than read.

Need support? Visit support.texthelp.com, the dedicated support portal from Texthelp - the makers of ReachDeck.

Google written translation

As an alternative to ReachDeck's written translation, we also provide Google Translate which is a free service and can translate any of our pages into over 100 different languages.

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Live Chat translation

We provide Live Chat, an instant chat messaging service on our website. This is a free service which has the option to translate responses received from our agents into the top languages spoken, simply by clicking on the globe in the top right hand corner of the response received. Live Chat also provides the facility for our agents to convert chats into English, if received in another language, ensuring an effective two way communication channel can be sustained. 

Contrast 

In the top header of every page we display three contrast settings enabling you to change the appearance of our website to better suit your preferences and make our website easier to read. The ReachDeck service we also provide offers this feature too whilst enabling you to customise it exactly to suit your individual needs. 

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Navigation assistance: keyboard or mouse?

If you have restricted mobility or wish to avoid repetitive strain injury, you may find it useful to use your keyboard instead of your mouse to navigate our website. By using Tab and Enter on your keyboard, it is possible to navigate and access all areas of our website. The Tab key allows you to move and browse amongst the menus and links displayed on each page, and pressing Enter will activate your request for a particular menu or link. The arrow keys on the keyboard will enable you to move up or down the page or from left to right.

Useful tips for accessing information

Throughout our website we use PDF (Portable Document Format) documents which are accessed by clicking on appropriate document links. To view a PDF, you may need to download Acrobat Reader first. This is a free software package.


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