Accessibility

How can I make the pages easier to access and view?

In most browsers there are options you can set to improve accessibility. In Internet Explorer select Tools from the menu at the top of the screen, and then select Internet Options. Click the Accessibility button and there will be a number of options you can turn on or off. For example, you can override the size settings of a web page so that you can to choose the size you require.

The size of the text can be increased in most browsers as well. In Internet Explorer select View from the menu and then Text size. Try different sizes until you find the one that matches your individual requirements (the formatting of some pages may be slightly disrupted by using very large text settings).

Access keys
We now allow visitors to define their own set of access keys to use on the Allerdale website. This means a visitor can set up unique shortcuts that don't conflict with those used by assistive technologies such as screen readers. Access keys can be easily set up on our Access keys page.

Readspeaker

The Readspeaker speech system is used on our website to enable visitors to hear the content of pages. At the bottom of each page, there is a 'Listen' link which will open Readspeaker. The web page can then be listened to in whole or part by using different controls to activate the Readspeaker speech. 

Alternative formats

We can provide translated, large print and audio CD versions of the information on our website in most cases. There is an online form to request information in alternative formats which can be accessed from the bottom of each web page using the 'Alternative formats' link.

Adobe Acrobat PDF documents

Many documents and reports within the site are published in PDF (Portable Document Format), and usually in Microsoft Word format too.

Viewers with visual difficulties may find it useful to investigate services that improve the accessibility of Acrobat documents at http://www.adobe.com/accessibility/index.html.

Accessibility tests

Our new web site design has developed in conjunction with Nomensa, recognised Web Accessibility experts. The home page and most content pages now conform to WAI AAA accessibility standards; the remainder conform to WAI AA standards. We are working hard to ensure all content conform to the highest standards, including web pages produced by supplier systems.

Online video

Each embedded video on our website has a text transcript to accompany it, available in Word and PDF format. There is a link to the video transcripts page beneath all videos.  

W3C WAI

WAI, in co-ordination with organisations around the world, pursues accessibility of the Web through five primary areas of work: technology, guidelines, tools, education and outreach, and research and development. WAI produces accessibility guidelines. Content providers can use these logos on their sites to indicate a claim of conformance to a specified level of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0. More information on the accessibility guidelines can be found at the WAI website.

RNIB - See it Right

Our electronic forms have been assessed by RNIB for their compliance with WAI AAA accessibility standards

Mapping services accessibility

Due to the graphic intensive nature of our mapping service, geographic information and the maps within the borough cannot be displayed in an accessible format, as defined by current guidelines. Further information, including details of how to request the information in an alternative format, is available on the mapping guidelines page.