Accessibility

Back on the Map understands the importance of providing a Website that is accessible to all user groups in order to ensure that no one is excluded from the opportunity to benefit from the information we provide.

We have implemented a range of accessibility features on this website to make it easier to use. These features, along with the accessibility features in your browser, should make the experience of visiting this site equal to all.

Please let us know if you have any questions or feedback regarding the accessibility of this site, or if you experience any difficulty using the site.

Accessibility features on this website

The following features improve navigation for screen reader users, keyboard navigation and users of text-only browsers

Navigation shortcuts

At the start of every page is a "skip navigation" link that allows you to jump directly to the content of the page.

Sighted users who use the keyboard to navigate will see these links appear on screen when using the Tab key to navigate through the page.

Access keys

Access keys are keyboard shortcuts that replace the need to use the mouse for navigation in browsers that support them. In Internet Explorer on Windows, you can press ALT + an access key; on Macintosh, you can press Control + an access key. Then press Enter to activate the link.

On Firefox 2.0 and above, use ALT + SHIFT + access key (use numbers at the top of the keyboard)

The following access keys are available thoughout the website:

0: Accessibility Statement (this page)
1: Home page
3: Sitemap
4: Search
9: Contact Us
s: Skip to content / Skip navigation

These access keys have been chosen to follow the UK Government website guidelines where applicable, in order to support the adoption of a useful standard. Wherever possible, they also avoid conflicting with commonly-used screen reader keyboard shortcuts.

Structured, semantic markup

HTML heading tags are used to convey document structure. H1 tags are used for main titles, H2 tags for subtitles, and so on.
Navigation menus are marked up as HTML lists. This ensures that the number of links in the list is read out at the start and it can be skipped easily.

Images

All content images used in this site include descriptive alt attributes. Purely decorative graphics include empty alt attributes.

Colours

We have checked the site's font and background colour combinations against the different colour blindness conditions and ensured that all information is still clear.

You can change the settings using the uppermost menu; this allows you to apply a contrast style or no style at all.

If you wish to override the site's colours, you can import your own style sheet.

Font sizes

You may change the font size of this site using the A|A+|A++ feature on the top menu. Alternatively you can change to your preference through your browser:

In Internet Explorer, select View, then Text Size, and then your preferred size.
In Netscape select View, then Text Zoom, and then your preferred percentage size.

If you wish to override the site's font settings, you can import your own style sheet.

Style sheets

This site uses cascading style sheets for visual layout. If your browser or browsing device does not support style sheets at all, the use of structured semantic markup ensures that the content of each page is still readable and clearly structured.

You may import your own style sheet into this website:

In Internet Explorer select Tools, then Internet Options, and then Accessibility. Next click on any or all 3 checkboxes to ignore colours, font styles or font sizes. In the same window you can change your style sheet by clicking the checkbox that says, 'format document using my style sheet' then simply browse to your style sheet and click OK.
In Netscape select Edit, then Preferences and then Appearance. You will be given the choice to specify your own colours and fonts.

Forms

All forms follow a logical Tab sequence. Labels are associated with fields using HTML label tags.

Scripting

Java script is used on the website to improve usability and is required for online shopping. However it is possible to browse the website without Java script.

Links

Linking text has been written to make sense out of context. Where appropriate, links have title attributes which describe the link in greater detail, for example to advise you if the link will open in a new window.

Search

A search facility is available throughout the site to help you find products. The access key ALT+4 will take you straight to the search field.

Navigation aids

Where pages follow a linear sequence, they have previous, next, up, and home links to aid navigation in text-only browsers. Netscape 6 and Mozilla users can also take advantage of this feature by selecting the View menu, Show/Hide, Site Navigation Bar, Show Only As Needed (or Show Always). Opera 7 has similar functionality.

General Accessibility features in your browser

Internet Explorer

Choose Help: Contents: Accessibility

Netscape Navigator

http://help.netscape.com/netscape7/shortcuts.html
http://www.mozilla.org/projects/ui/accessibility/
See also how to specify your own colours and fonts in Netscape

Standards compliance

The pages on our website conform at a minimum to level A compliance as specified by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and endorsed by the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB). The majority of pages on our website meet level AA and AAA requirements.
All pages validate as XHTML 1 Transitional and use structured semantic markup. The CSS also validates.
We strive to obey the spirit of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) of 1995 with respect to the provision of services online, as required by the Disability Rights Commission (DRC). http://www.disability.gov.uk/dda/