Website Accessibility

Surrey Heath Borough Council have designed this site to be as accessible as possible to all our citizens.

The website has recently undergone a thorough accessibility assessment by the Shaw Trust Opens in a new window and has been awarded the Shaw Trust Web Accreditation Opens in a new window. Any web site carrying this mark has been tested by people with a wide range of disabilities and found to be accessible.

The Surrey Heath web site is also compliant with Level AA of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Opens in a new window of the Web Accessibility Initiative.

The following accessibility features are intended to make the site easy to use for all visitors.

Listen to the site through Browsealoud
Browsealoud is a program that reads text out to you and highlights words on web pages. This is a stand alone program that is not part of this website but can be used to read aloud all websites on your browser.

The software is available for both personal computers (PCs) and Apple Macs. PC users can also download a variety of voices.

Download Browsealoud Opens in a new window

Changing text size
Some users with certain visual impairments may find that the default text size of websites make them difficult to read. All of the text elements of the Surrey Heath site can be expanded by making use of browser functionality, as set out below.

Alternatively, you can use the three 'Larger Text' options on the top menu navigation. This function will automatically increase the size of your browser font. To return to your original size, click on the smallest 'A' option.

How to change your font size in different web browsers
You can use the Large Text option on the top navigation bar of this site or alternatively, depending on your internet browser, you can following the instructions below.

Internet Explorer

• Select "View" from the menu at the top of your browser.
• From the drop-down menu, select "Text Size".
• (Alternatively, press Alt - V - X in succession). 
• Select the required size.

Mozilla Firefox

• Select "View" from the menu at the top of your browser.
• From the drop-down menu, select "Text Size".
• Select "Increase" or "Decrease" as required.
• (Alternatively, simultaneously press 'Ctrl' and '+', or 'Ctrl' and '-' )

Netscape

• Select "View" from the menu at the top of your browser.
• From the drop-down menu, select "Text Zoom".
• Select "Larger", "Smaller" or a percentage, as required.
• (Alternatively, simultaneously press 'Ctrl' and '+', or 'Ctrl' and '-' )

Opera

• You can easily make both text and graphics larger or smaller using the number pad ' + ' and ' - ' keys. Each press will increase or decrease the size by 10%.

Other browser software will make use of similar functionality, most likely available from the "View" option or equivalent.

For more detailed information on changing your text size options permanently and for other accessibility settings available, please visit the BBCs accessibility pages Opens in a new window.

Changing text contrast
Certain users may need to alter the default combination of black text on a white or light green background that is used on the Surrey Heath website. If necessary, the combination of background and text colour can be controlled in the following way:

Internet Explorer

• Select "Tools" then "Internet Options" from the menu at the top of your browser.
• Press the "Accessibility" button and check the box marked "Ignore Colours Specified on Web Pages". Press "OK".
• From the "Internet Options" box, press the "Colours" button
• Select the required colour scheme, press "OK" here, and then again on the "Internet Options" box.

Mozilla Firefox 1.0

• Select "Tools" then "Options" from the menu at the top of your browser
• Click the "Font and Colours" button and uncheck the box marked "Use system colours"
• Select the required colour scheme and press "OK"

Netscape 7.1

• Select "Edit" then "Preferences" from the menu at the top of your browser
• Expand the "Appearance" category in the left hand section of the dialog box
• Check the box marked "Use my chosen colours...."
• Select the required colour scheme and click "OK"

Access Keys
Surrey Heath Council website uses the UK Government access keys system, to enable keyboard navigation to specific areas of the site. The following keys have been employed:

If you are using Microsoft Internet Explorer, hold down the Alt key, hit the appropriate access key and then hit the Return key.

If you are using Netscape or Mozilla Firefox, hold down the Alt key and hit the appropriate access key.

Plain English
We aim to use plain language throughout the site and try to avoid using unnecessary jargon and acronyms. Some text documents such as Committee agendas and minutes may contain more complex or technical language.

Languages and Translation
You can translate areas of the Surrey Heath website into a number of different languages by using a free translation facility provided by Yahoo! - Babelfish Language Translation Opens in a new window.

If you would like to talk to council staff by using your first language, then ask about Language Line in the Contact Centre.
Find out more information about our quick and easy translation services.

Images
We provide a text alternative for all images on the website.

Opening and downloading Adobe Acrobat documents
Downloadable documents on the site are in Portable Document Format (PDF). Throughout the site we have provided a link to the Adobe Acrobat website so that you can download the free Adobe Reader needed to open a PDF. The current version of Acrobat Reader (version 7) has improved accessibility features and includes the facility to read the text out loud.

Interactive maps
Whilst every effort has been made, it is not currently possible to make Geographic Information System (GIS maps) completely accessible to all users (for instance Javascript and style sheets must be enabled).

You can access a wide range of the information available in these maps in text format within the My Surrey Heath application.
If you require help with the interactive maps call James Rutter, GIS Manager on 01276 707200.