Accessibility Options
This page provides accessibility help, enabling computer users to make the most of the internet whatever their ability or disability. A comprehensive guide to getting the most from accessibility features and assistive technologies built into your computer can be found on the BBC
My web my way website.
Listen to this website with BrowseAloud
Visitors can listen to this website with BrowseAloud, which is
free to website visitors and can be easily downloaded from the
BrowseAloud Website.
What is BrowseAloud?
BrowseAloud makes websites accessible to those who require online
reading support, which is 20% of the UK population. It works by
reading web pages aloud in a human-sounding voice. The user simply
hovers their mouse pointer over the text to hear it read
aloud.
The BrowseAloud toolbar is shown below.
BrowseAloud features and options are accessed from an easy to use,
floating toolbar (see above). You can position this toolbar
anywhere on your screen or hide from view, as you prefer.
What will BrowseAloud do for me?
- Reads web pages aloud in a human-sounding voice (Includes
websites, intranets, extranets, html, accessible Flash, alt
tags)
- Reads secure web pages
- Reads PDF and Word documents in their original format
- Highlights each word as it is spoken to show you where you are
on the page
- Magnifies text to your chosen font size and font style
- Translates word-for-word between English, French, German,
Italian and Spanish
- Looks up accurate dictionary definitions
- Converts text to MP3
- Masks information on the screen to help you focus on a
particular area
Who does BrowseAloud help?
BrowseAloud helps any website visitor who requires online reading
support. This includes those with learning difficulties such as
dyslexia, mild visual impairments and those with English as a
second language.
How do I download BrowseAloud?
Download BrowseAloud from the BrowseAloud website:
We may change the advice we give from time to time by updating
this page. You should check this page from time to time to ensure
you are up to date with any changes.
Altering Text Size
To alter your text size you can use either the mouse or the
keyboard. If you hold down the control key (Ctrl) on your keyboard
and then press the + key the text will increase in size. Holding
down the control key and pressing - will reduce the text size.
In many browsers you can also do this by holding down the
control key and moving the scroll wheel of your mouse. Scrolling
forward one click will increase the text size and scrolling back
decreases the etext size.
Altering Text Colours
Some people find certain text and background colour combinations
difficult to read, while others prefer to always have a specific
colour such as white text on a black background. In either case it
is easy to set your own colours.
Move your mouse pointer over the word 'Tools' that is displayed at
the top of the browser window and click the mouse button once. This
will display a list dropdown list of options. Move the mouse
pointer over the option labelled 'Internet Options' and click the
mouse button once. This will open up a new window. Move the mouse
pointer over the button labelled 'Accessibility' and click the
mouse button once. A further window will now open. Move your mouse
pointer to the box beside 'Ignore colours specified on web page'
and click the mouse button once this will tick the box. Move your
mouse pointer over the button labelled 'Ok' and click the mouse
button once and repeat on the remaining window. The web site will
now be using the same colour scheme as on your computer.
If you need to change the text or background colours on the web
page within 'Internet Options' move the mouse pointer over the
button labelled 'Colors' and click the mouse button once. The
default setting is to have the 'Use Windows colors' option
selected, to use your own colours move your mouse pointer to the
ticked box and click the mouse button once. Now move your mouse
pointer to the block of colour beside either 'Text' or 'Background'
and click the mouse button once. Move your mouse pointer to the
colour you wish to use and click the mouse button once. When
finished move the mouse pointer over the button labelled 'Ok' and
repeat on the remaining window.
Trouble with scrolling?
Some people with mobility problems have difficulty with long,
scrolling pages.
First, try using the arrow keys on your keyboard. The 'Up' and
'Down' arrow keys will help with scrolling. You can also jump a
screen at a time by using the 'Page Up' and 'Page Down' keys. You
can also jump to the top and bottom of the page by using the 'Home'
and 'End' keys.
To move through the site, try using your tab key, followed by the
return key.
Difficulty with the mouse?
Using a mouse can be very hard if you have stiff fingers or
limited use of your hands.
You might find it easier to use a 'roller' or 'trackball' mouse,
or one of the mice designed for children. Abilitynet
has lots of information about alternatives, as well as other useful
hints to make using your computer less of a strain.
We have tried to make this website easy for everyone to use. If
you have any comments about how we could improve it, please let us
know.
User Help