Accessibility
ODI accessibility statement and help
Accessibility Statement
This website is run by the Office for Disability Issues.
The Office for Disability Issues is committed to making this website as easy to use for as many people as possible. We want you to access all information regardless of ways you use the internet.
The website has been designed to provide you with an enjoyable interactive experience, as well as being inclusive and accessible to all users.
The website's objective is to conform to the guidelines for UK government websites, which support the W3C's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0, Level AA, to ensure a Web accessibility standards have been achieved and are maintained.
Accessibility help
Read about:
- navigation aids
- accessible formats
- links
- images
- visual design
- changes you can make to this website
- further help
Navigation aids
Many features on the ODI website are designed to make it easier for you to find what you want:
- Access keys have been set up to make it easy to jump directly to frequently used pages
- Search box. The homepage has a search box and an advanced search options
- Breadcrumb trails. Breadcrumb trails have been used on the website so that you always know where you are and can easily navigate back to the homepage or a specific page
- `Forward by email'. All pages have an `forward by email' option. Clicking on this will let you send a link of the page. The address of the page (URL) is already filled in: all you have to do is fill in the email address and click the button to send it
- `Print this page'. All pages have a `print this page' option. Using this option will open a `print-friendly' version of the page. Clicking the print icon will also open the print menu for your installed printer.
Accessible formats
On the homepage, you can access information in a range of alternative formats. Information is available in British Sign language (BSL), audio and easy read.
Links
Links have `title' attributes which describe the destination of the link in greater detail. Title attributes are not included if the link already fully describes the where the link goes to; for example, the headline of a news story.
Wherever possible links are written to make sense out of context, so that you do not have to read the surrounding text to understand where the link will take you.
You will always be warned if clicking on a link opens a file or website in a new browser window. The warning is either contained in the link itself, the title attribute or in the text immediately after the link.
Images
All graphics and images on the website have an alternative text attribute that describes the contents or function of the image. This description will be displayed when images are turned off, on a text-only browser or as a `tool tip' in certain browsers when the mouse pointer is moved over the image.
Visual design
A number of elements have been included in the design of the website to make it easier for everyone to use:
- Our website uses font 14. Text can be resized using the `text size' function on the homepage top task bar or in your browser
- Where colours are used we have tried to make sure there is maximum contrast between foreground and background items. You can change colour contrasts using options on the homepage top task bar.
- Active hyperlinks always appear blue and underlined. No other text is ever underlined.
- If your browser or reading device does not support stylesheets, all content will still be readable.
Changes you can make to this website
- How to change the size of the text on this website
- Accessibility advice for Apple Mac users
- Other ways of using PDF documents
- Access keys
If you have more specialised needs read more help with accessibility. This page tells you how to change the colour of the text, change the colour of the background and how to remove images.
How to change the size of the text
To change the text size:
- Text can be resized using the `text size' function on the homepage top task bar. Or otherwise:
- Select Text Size from the View menu. (In some browsers Text Size may be called Text Zoom or Zoom)
- Choose the size that you want from the Text Size menu.
Accessibility advice for Apple Mac users
The Apple Mac operating system includes many accessibility options including resizing text, text-to-speech and keyboard alternatives to mouse functions.
For full details visit the Apple website's section on accessibility.
Other ways of using PDF documents
This site uses PDF files to display certain documents. If your screenreader software (for example an audio-enabled web browser) is not compatible with the free Adobe Reader, Adobe provides a free online tool which converts the content of PDF files to a format which can be understood by most screen reader applications.
For more information, and full details of how to use this tool, visit: the Adobe website (links to Adobe website).
Access keys
We have used government standard access keys, where they apply to this site. These are to help you navigate through the main areas of a website using keyboard shortcuts.
With Windows-based systems
Press the Alt key and the access key number or letter below. Then press Enter.
With Apple Mac-based systems
Press the Ctrl key and the access key number or letter below.
Access keys on this website:
- S - skip navigation
- 1 - homepage
- 9 - contact us
- 0 - accessibility (this page)
Further help
If you are having technical difficulties while using our website, the site does not appear to working properly or you find broken links, please email office-for-disability-issues@dwp.gsi.gov.uk with a description of the problem, thank you.
Page last reviewed: 11 August 2008
