Assistive software
Naturalreader, is a piece of software that adds speech and reading to websites to help people with Dyslexia, Low Literacy, and those with mild visual impairments.
NaturalReader is a Text to Speech software with natural sounding voices. This easy to use software can convert any written text such as MS Word, Webpage, PDF files, and Emails into spoken words. NaturalReader can also convert any written text into audio files such as MP3 or WAV for your CD player or iPod.
You can download the free version of the software onto your computer and have the site read aloud to you.
How do you change the font size used on the website?
To find out how to make text larger on your computer, mobile or tablet, visit AbilityNet
How do you change the font colours used on the website?
To ignore font and background colours in Internet Explorer on a PC, choose Internet options from the Tools menu at the top of the window. On the general tab of the window that appears, click the Accessibility button. This takes you to a menu where you can choose to ignore the way the page is formatted. To set your colour and font preferences, return to the Internet options menu and use the Colours and Fonts buttons.
How do I navigate the site a keyboard?
Use your arrow keys to scroll up or down the page. You can use your Tab key to move between links, and press Return or Enter to select one. To go back to the previous page, use the Backspace key.
Video accessibility
Our videos should be available via Youtube, which gives you the option to view the video with captions. If you are interested in a video that does not have this function, please let us know by via our Contact Us page
Images
All images used in this site include descriptive alternative text. This means that if the person using this website has a visual impairment and is using software that reads the site content to them it will include a description of any image on that page.
Browser compatibility
This site has been developed and tested in several desktop and mobile device internet browsers using Responsive Web Design techniques. This means that you should be able to comfortably view the site on either a computer screen, smartphone or tablet. Certain aspects of this site will not work in browsers more than 3-4 years old. We very much recommend upgrading your internet browser to a more recent release.
Other languages
Visitors to our site who wish to access information in other languages may use the Google Translate service powered by Google Translate® which is available on every page on our website from a box at the bottom centre of the page, in a blue box labelled ‘Select Your Language’. Google Translator is a third party service and any use of its translation services is subject to its rules or requirements.
The translations are made through an automated process which may not result in accurate or precise translations. Anyone using the Google Translate does so at his or her own risk and the user accepts the legal implications of any shortcomings or differences in the translation.
Accessing Further Help to Improve Website Accessibility
The BBC website includes a section My Web My Way (http://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/best_practice/about.shtml)
This provides advice and helps on how to get the most out of the accessibility features and assistive technologies available for your computer so that you can view BBC Online and the rest of the web in a more accessible way.
The heart of the site is the How to guides section, which shows you how to customise the accessibility features of your computer setup or web browser. It also includes guides and factsheets that introduce the range of assistive technologies that are available.
