Accessibility
- On this page:
- Text Size
- Access keys
- Javascript and Flash Player
- High Contrast
- Tables
- Tabbing and document flow
- Links to external websites
This website is accessible to all users, including those who have disabilities. An Accessible website means that it is designed and built to the meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. The Accessibility standards are specified by the Worldwide Web Consortium (W3C), a body who govern web standards and guidelines.
Accessiblity doesn't just provide better access for those who have disabilities. It also allows those who might have trouble using technology, may not have certain technologies available (such as Javascript), and those viewing websites using different devices (such as iPhones) to access the information.
This website has been tested automatically and manually and meets the requirements of Priority 3, as laid out by the W3C. The underlying HTML and CSS used to build this site have also been fully tested and both validate to W3C standards, which makes the site truely accessible. Listed below are several features of the site that enable accessibility.
Text Size
You are able to change the text size of this website using your web browser. Browsers vary in their methods of changing text size, so below are instructions to help.
In Internet Explorer you will need to use the menu and select Text size to change just the size of the text.
For most other browsers including Safari, Firefox, Google Chrome, and Flock you can hold down the Control Key (labelled CTRL in Windows and Linux) and either scroll the mouse wheel or press the plus or minus keys. Alternatively you can go to the View menu item and select Zoom.
Access keys
To make it easier for those who have trouble using a mouse, access keys are provided which allow the keyboard to be used to go to the main sections of the website. To use access keys, press the ALT key (Control key on Mac) and press the number of the access key. On Internet Explorer you will have to press Enter after pressing ALT+Access key. In Firefox, you would need to hold down Shift, press ALT and the access key. In Opera, the method is quite different, hold down the Shift key and press Escape, release both keys (a list of available access keys will usually pop up) and then press the required access key.
| Page of Website | Access key |
|---|---|
| Accessibility | 0 (zero) |
| Home Page | 1 |
| Getting Information | 2 |
| Open Day | 3 |
| Applying | 4 |
| Auditions | 5 |
| The Course | 6 |
| Sitemap | 7 |
Javascript and Flash Player
The website uses both Javascript and Flash Player, however the site will work perfectly well should either of these not be available. Javascript is used for enhancement of site, and to play videos requires both Javascript and Flash Player. If Javascript is available, the site will detect whether you have the minimum required version of Flash Player installed, and if not will present a link from which you can install the latest version.
High Contrast
An alternative style sheet is available to use which offers a high contrast colour scheme for the website. This option, unfortunately, is only available in certain web browsers, namely Firefox, Flock, Opera, and only version 8 of Internet Explorer. To change to the High Contrast style sheet using these browsers, go to the View menu, and select Page styles.
Tables
Tables have only been used on this website where absolutely necessary, to present tabular data. No tables have been used for layout or design purposes. This helps users of assistive software considerably, such as blind or partially sighted users.
Tabbing and document flow
The website has been designed to use a logical tab order which follows the natural flow of the document, and all pages are designed to make sense with no style sheets applied.
Links to external websites
Links to external websites will open the website in a new window, and will indicate that this will happen prior to clicking on the link, by the use of text and an icon next to the external link. Links to other pages of this website will all open in the same browser window. Should Javascript be unavailable, then all links will open in the same browser window.
