This statement explains the accessibility features we have implemented to help you use our website. They help to improve navigation for screen readers, keyboard navigation and text-only browsers among other things.

General information

We’ve designed this site with accessibility in mind. Some of the general features include:

  • The use of clear, simple language which is easy to understand

  • The use of common web conventions

  • Avoiding the use of blinking or flickering elements

  • The use of validated HTML and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)

 

Standards Compliance

We have strived to ensure our website conforms to level A compliance as specified by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). In some cases, the website provides enhanced features via JavaScript. Our goal is to provide equivalent functionality for users who are not able to use JavaScript and we are working hard to achieve this.

We use a number of tools to perform automated accessibility tests, but this is just one aspect of our testing procedure. Being automated, these tools are not as reliable as expert evaluation. Pages are also tested in a variety of screen reading applications.

Background, text and color

Careful use of text colors, size and background colors can help people with a range of visual impairments. Here’s what we’ve done:

Colors

Our site is usable by anyone with color deficient vision. We’ve checked the site’s font and background color to ensure there are no combinations against the different color blindness conditions and ensured that all information is still clear.

We’ve designed all pages on our website so that all information that is conveyed with color is also available without color.

Font and text size

We’ve used clear, legible font for all text and headings. In the Firefox browser, select View, then Text Size, and then choose increase, or decrease.

Style sheets

This site uses cascading style sheets (CSS) for visual layout.

Non-text elements

Providing alternatives for non-text elements gives visually impaired and screen-reader users wider access to our website.

Images, videos and other non-text elements

We’ve made it possible to use our site without having to view graphics or images. All non-text elements, such as images, animations, symbols, audio, video and multimedia have text equivalents. We’ve done this by providing descriptive alt attributes for them. Purely decorative graphics or formatting images have empty alt attributes.

Links and navigation


Structuring a website so it is simple and streamlined to use helps to improve the experience for all. For example, placing page items in a logical order and making the website easy to navigate helps people with visual impairments, motor deficiencies and cognitive disabilities.

Navigation

We’ve made navigation links consistent between pages throughout the site. The site is also fully accessible using only the keyboard and can be navigated with scripting disabled.

Pop-up windows

Our website does not use pop-up windows.

Forms and tables

Clearly labelled tables help readers to understand the content on a page and to fill in content into correct form fields.

Tables

We do occasionally use tables for layout but we ensure we follow WCAG guidelines. This means tables do not have any structural mark-up for visual purposes and they make sense when presented in a linear way.

Please let us know if you have any questions or feedback regarding the accessibility of this site or if you experience any difficulty using it. Alternatively, you can contact us.