Accessibility

Accessibility Information

We believe that it is important to make our website accessible to all potential users. With this in mind we have worked hard to improve the ease of use for visually impaired users. We hope that the website is accessible to as many visually impaired users as possible but we recognise the need to continue to improve in this area.

Text Only:
The South Ayrshire Council web site pages can viewed in Text Only mode. Please note that this does not include the information from some graphic intensive pages and links to other websites.

Once in text-only mode, you can change the text settings with a link at the bottom of the pages or return to graphics mode.

Speech Enabled:
Speech enabling our website provides an additional way of accessing information 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, older people or anyone with a mild visual impairment. It is not designed to replace other screen readers.

Browser Font Styles and Font Sizes:

Not all browsers support all possible font, size and colour combinations. Most browsers allow you to specify your own font, size and colour combinations, overriding any given by the current page. You may find that route more flexible than the options allowed by the text-only facility. Consult your browser documentation for details.

Change the size of the text:

• Select Internet Options from the View OR the Tools menu depending on your browser.
• Click on the Accessibility button.
• Click the Ignore fonts now showing on web pages box so that it now shows a tick.
• Click OK twice to close Internet Options.
• Select the View option from the Menubar.
• Select the Text Size option, Choose your preferred text size.

Change the type of text:

• Select Internet Options from the View OR the Tools menu depending on your browser.
• Click on the Fonts button, choose your font from the drop-down menu under Web page font and click the OK button. Arial is one of the easiest fonts to read.

Change the colour of the text or the background:

• Select Internet Options from the View OR the Tools menu depending on your browser.
• Click on the Colours button and untick the box next to Use Windows colours.
• To change the colour of the text, click on the button to the right of Text ,choose your colour from the palette and click OK.
• To change the colour of the background, click on the button to the right of Background, choose your colour from the palette and click OK.

Removing the images:

• Select Internet Options from the View OR the Tools menu depending on your browser.
• Select the Advanced tab at the top right hand corner of the box.
• Scroll down to the Multimedia heading.
• Untick the box next to Show Pictures.
• Click on the Apply button and then click on the OK button.

Use your own style sheet:
As our website uses a style sheet, you may want to use your own version. Contact webmaster if you would like a "Large Text" or "High Contrast" stylesheet. In order to use your own stylesheet simply follow these steps.

• Click on Tools button and Internet Options
• At the bottom of the Internet Options Panel, select the Accessibility button
• Under 'User Style Sheet', tick the 'format using my style sheet' box and enter or browse for the style sheet you wish to use.

Access Keys:
If you cannot use a Mouse then you could try access keys. Click this link for Access Key details

Use of the magnifier tool:
Windows 98 and above come with a magnifier tool which enables sections of the screen to be magnified. The tool is normally installed as part of the original Windows installation. If it has not been, it can be added via the Control panel—Add/Remove Software Windows Setup Tab and selecting the Accessibility Tools.

Assuming it is installed it can be activated as follows:

Click on Start, Programs , Accessories, Accessibility, then Magnifier. An area will appear at the top of the screen with everything around the cursor magnified 3 times. A magnifier settings box will also appear which allow you to set different levels of magnification, control the area which is magnified and set features such as inverting colours in the magnified area to assist reading.

N.B. To turn off the magnifier click on it with the RIGHT mouse button and select Exit from the menu.

Language Translation:
Our website can be translated into five different languages using the translation facilities provided by Google. Select your language of choice from the following links:

• French
• German
• Spanish
• Italian
• Portuguese

Pdf Documents:
Users with accessibility issues for Pdf files should visit: access.adobe.com

To view PDF documents you may need to download a free plugin called Acrobat Reader. The most recent version includes support for screen readers (Accessibility) via the Microsoft Active Access API (MSAA). Click here to download Acrobat Reader

You can also convert Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) documents on-line into either HTML or ASCII text, which can then be read by a number of common screen reader programs.

Web-based forms submission tool - users can type the URL (or web address) of the PDF into an electronic form and select the "Get This PDF Document as HTML" button. The document will be converted on-the-fly to HTML and will be returned immediately to the Web browser. Click here to convert your PDF via the web.

E-mail submission tool - users can submit the URL of a PDF file via e-mail to convert it to HTML or ASCII text. The converted results are returned in the body of a new mail message in a matter of minutes. Click here to convert your PDF via e-mail.

Useful Links:
The Royal National Institute of the Blind website has lots of useful information for anyone with a sight problem.

AbilityNet is a national charity and the UK's leading provider of expertise on computing and disability. They offer a one-stop shop for need assessment, technical expertise, advice and support. AbilityNet also supply adapted computer equipment for people with a wide range of disabilities. For further information about AbilityNet, click here.

Feedback:
If you have a disability and the format of any material on our website interferes with your ability to access some information contained on our site, please complete the online form or email us at webmaster@south-ayrshire.gov.uk. To enable us to respond in a manner that will be of most help to you, please indicate the nature of the accessibility problem, your preferred format (text only format, large print, etc.), the web address of the requested material and your contact information.