Accessible online services

We want our website to be as accessible as possible.

There are some very simple changes that you can make to your computer that can make it easier to see, hear, understand or use websites on the internet as well as other programmes on your computer. You can change the text size, colours, use a magnifier, use your keyboard instead of the mouse or make your mouse easier to use.

A few simple instructions are listed below, but much more information and detailed instructions can be found on the BBC website: My Web My Way www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility which also lists links to other information that may be helpful.

Quick tips

  • To increase the text size of a website, press both Ctrl and + (plus) keys (or Apple Key and + (plus) for apple mac computers users)
  • To quickly decrease the text size of a website press both Ctrl and - (minus) keys (or Apple Key and - (minus) for apple mac computers users)
  • To move the page down without using the mouse, press the downward arrow key
  • To move the page up without using the mouse, press the upward arrow key

Viewing text in larger size

Follow the instructions below for your browser to change the text size on the screen. Alternatively, your browser may have a magnification option that will increase the display size of the whole page.

The instructions below are for the browser versions listed, but may also work with other versions of the same browser.

Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.2.3, 5.5, 6.0 and 7.0

  1. Open the browser
  2. Choose View option
  3. Select Text Size from options list
  4. From next options list select Small, Medium, Large or Largest to set text to size you want

Microsoft Internet Explorer 8.0, 9.0

  1. Open Internet Explorer by clicking the Start button
  2. In the search box, type Internet Explorer, and then, in the list of results, click Internet Explorer.
  3. Click the Tools button, and then click Internet options.
  4. Click the General tab, and then, under Appearance, click Fonts.
  5. Select the fonts you want to use, click OK, and then click OK again.

Mozilla Firefox 1.5, 2.0

  1. Open the browser
  2. Hold down Ctrl button on keyboard and press + (plus) key
  3. This will enlarge text, to enlarge again repeat procedure
  4. Repeat until text is set to size you want
  5. To make text smaller press Ctrl on keyboard and - (minus) key

Google Chrome 0.4

  1. Open the browser
  2. To make text larger press Ctrl++
  3. To make text smaller press Ctrl --
  4. To return text to normal size press Ctrl + 0

Opera 9.0

  1. Open the browser
  2. Press + (in some versions you might need to press the Shift key as well) to increase size and - to decrease text size. Each press will increase or decrease the size by 10%.
  3. Alternatively press Alt + V to bring up the view menu and then press Z to bring up the zoom options. Then use the up and down arrow keys to select the option you want followed by Enter.

Netscape 6.2, 7.0, 8.1 and 9.0

  1. Open the browser
  2. Hold down Ctrl button on keyboard and press + (plus) key
  3. This will enlarge text, to enlarge again repeat procedure
  4. Repeat until text is set to size you want
  5. To make text smaller press Ctrl on keyboard and - (minus) key

Apple Safari 1.2, 2.0 and 3.0

  1. Open the browser
  2. Hold down Apple Key and press + (plus) key
  3. This will enlarge text, to enlarge again repeat procedure
  4. Repeat until text is set to size you want
  5. To make text smaller press Apple Key on keyboard and press - (minus) key

If your browser isn’t listed on this page, the BBC My Web My Way site has further, illustrated, instructions for changing text size - visit www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility.