Accessibility
Speech Enabling Our Website
This website is now speech-enabled, which means that you can download free software onto your personal computer and have the site read aloud to you. The free software is called Browsealoud, and is used on over 2000 websites in the UK and USA. Browsealoud is a Windows browser plug-in designed for use with Internet Explorer 4 upwards or Netscape Navigator. If you install the Browsealoud plugin onto your PC, you can have the web pages on this website (and any other Browsealoud enabled website) read to you.
Why speech enable our website?
Speech enabling our website provides an additional way of accessing our content for people who find it hard to read. This includes those with dyslexia or learning difficulties, those for whom English is not their first language, or anyone with a mild visual impairment. It is not designed to replace other screen readers.
What is Browsealoud?
Browsealoud is a solution that allows you to have website content read to you. As you move the cursor over text, it is spoken aloud. Browsealoud is free to download and you have control over the voice, word pronunciations and speech highlighting.
How does it work?
You download a free, small browser plug-in. Once the plug-in has been installed, content on this site can be spoken aloud.
Can I customise Browsealoud?
Yes. Once plugged in, look for the Browsealoud icon in your system tray, which is usually at the bottom right hand corner of your screen (beside the system clock). Right click on the icon and choose 'open Browsealoud settings' from the menu. The speech tab on the settings window enables you to choose a male or female voice, and change the speed, pitch and volume of the reader. To read the entire page from where your cursor points, check the 'Continue reading from pointer' box. Otherwise Browsealoud will only read the individual sentences you point to.
Downloading Browsealoud
Click on the image below and you will be taken to an external site where you will find full instructions to carry out the download and installation. A browsealoud icon will be placed in your system tray which is at the bottom right of your browser.
Accesskeys
The accesskey system provides keyboard shortcuts as an alternative form of navigation. This allows users with limited physical capabilities to navigate some key areas of our site more easily.
The table below shows which shortcuts are available, to use them press (and hold) the 'Alt' key with the access key you want, then press return. e.g. for the home page press 'Alt' and 1 then return.
- *Note* This system is only supported by MS Internet Explorer 4 and above and by Netscape 6 and above.
*Mac users* Use the 'Ctrl' key with the access key.
Key | Action |
|---|---|
1 | Back to Home page |
2 | What's New |
3 | Site Index |
4 | Search the site |
5 | A -Z of services |
6 | Help |
7 | Complaints procedure |
8 | Disclaimer |
9 | Contact us - Feedback form |
0 | Access key details (this page) |
Text Size
Some users with certain visual impairments may find that the default text size of websites make them difficult to read. All of the text elements of the Hambleton site can be expanded by making use of browser functionality, as set out below:
Internet Explorer 6
- Select "View" from the menu at the top of your browser.
- From the drop-down menu, select "Text Size".
- (Alternatively, press Alt - V - X in succession).
- Select the required size.
Mozilla Firefox 1.0
- Select "View" from the menu at the top of your browser.
- From the drop-down menu, select "Text Size".
- Select "Increase" or "Decrease" as required.
- (Alternatively, simultaneously press 'Ctrl' and '+', or 'Ctrl' and '-' )
Netscape 7.1
- Select "View" from the menu at the top of your browser.
- From the drop-down menu, select "Text Zoom".
- Select "Larger", "Smaller" or a percentage, as required.
- (Alternatively, simultaneously press 'Ctrl' and '+', or 'Ctrl' and '-' )
Other browser software will make use of similar functionality, most likely available from the "View" option or equivalent.
Text Contrast
Certain users may need to alter the default combination of black text on a white or light green background that is used on the Hambleton website. If necessary, the combination of background and text colour can be controlled in the following way:
Internet Explorer
- Select "Tools" then "Internet Options" from the menu at the top of your browser.
- Press the "Accessibility" button and check the box marked "Ignore Colours Specified on Web Pages". Press "OK".
- From the "Internet Options" box, press the "Colours" button
- Select the required colour scheme, press "OK" here, and then again on the "Internet Options" box.
Mozilla Firefox 1.0
- Select "Tools" then "Options" from the menu at the top of your browser
- Click the "Font and Colours" button and uncheck the box marked "Use system colours"
- Select the required colour scheme and press "OK"
Netscape 7.1
- Select "Edit" then "Preferences" from the menu at the top of your browser
- Expand the "Appearance" category in the left hand section of the dialog box
- Check the box marked "Use my chosen colours...."
- Select the required colour scheme and click "OK"
Contact us if you have any queries regarding accessibility
www.aidis.org Opens in a new window
lets Disabled People know how to maintain and adapt their computer; tells them about a huge range of adaptations with installation and user guides; has reviews by end users; and has a shop giving significant discounts on adaptations and computers for people who get DLA or AA.
www.listening-books.org.uk Opens in a new window
Listening Books provides a postal and internet based audiobook library service to anyone who finds it difficult to access printed books.
Bookmark this page using:
Find out more about social bookmarking.
These sites allow you to store, tag and share links across the internet. You can share these links both with friends and people with similar interests. You can also access your links from any computer you happen to be using.
If you come across a page on our site that you find interesting and want to save for future reference or share it with other people, simply click on one of these links to add to your list.
All of these sites are free to use but do require you to register. Once you have registered you can begin bookmarking. Each of the sites works slightly differently so use the links below to find out which service best suits your needs.
Find out more about social bookmarking at Wikipedia.
Hide this information.