Accessibility

How do I get around the site?
If you want to go to another area of the site, click with your mouse when your cursor is over a link. Whenever your cursor looks like a hand rather than an arrow, it means you can click and go to another page.
You can go to any of the main sections, e.g. Services, by clicking on the buttons in the main navigation menu. These appear on every page.
Underlined text indicates a link that you can click on to go to a new page.

I find using a mouse difficult - how else can I get around?
Arrow keys and tab
First, try using the arrow keys on your keyboard. The up and down arrow keys will help with scrolling. You can also jump to the top and bottom of the page uisng the page up and page down keys.
To move through the site, try using your tab key, followed by the return key.

The text is too small for me to read - how can I change it?
The quickest way to change text size is to click on the AAA graphic on the top left of the page. The biggest A will give you the biggest text size, and so on.
You can also customise your browser (Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator or similar programme) to make the text larger.
If you are using Internet Explorer, choose View then Text size and select Medium, Larger or Largest.
Similarly in Netscape, choose View then Increase text size.

How can I find what I need on your site?
Search
Each page has a search box. Type a key word or phrase, e.g. complementary therapies, into the search box and click the arrow. A list of links to pages containing your search word will come up.
Site map
Our site map shows you a list of all the pages on the site. You can click directly to the pages that interest you.

How do I get back to your site if I leave it?
The address of our site is
http://www.sbhg.co.uk
If you want to come back to this site at any time, type in the address in the browser address bar, press enter and then follow the link on the page to the Shepherds Bush Housing Association website.
To save you doing this more than once, add this page to your Favourites (in Internet Explorer click on Favourites >Add to favourites > and then name the page something that you will remember like "Shepherds Bush Housing website").
If you are using Netscape Navigator - go to Bookmarks . This works like Favourites.

How do I change my screen resolution?
This site looks best with a screen resolution (the size of what is shown on your screen) of 800 x 600.
To change this on a PC, go to Start >Settings >Control Panel >Display >Settings and change the desktop area using the sliding bar.
On an Apple Macintosh, you can use the Monitor & Sound Control Panel to change the resolution.

My browser is out of date - how can I get a new one?
This site is designed to be used with version 5 and above of Internet Explorer and Netscape browsers.
The latest versions of these browsers can be downloaded free of charge from:
Internet Explorer
www.microsoft.com
Netscape
www.netscape.com
Many internet and computer magazines for sale in newsagents include giveaway CDs with copies of the latest browsers. This can be quicker and easier than downloading new browsers from the web, especially if you have a slow Internet connection.

Where can I learn more about using the Internet?
For more online help, visit the BBC's site at:
www.bbc.co.uk/education/webwise/

Accessibility
The Shepherds Bush Housing Group is committed to making its web site as accessible as possible to users with disabilities, including users who may be blind or partially sighted.
The design of our website includes a number of accessibility features including:

Text Size Increaser/Decreaser facility
Changing Text Size for Browser Internet Explorer Version 5 and above
Changing Text Size for Netscape Communicator Version 4.7
Changing Colour Specification
ALT Tags
Frames
Downloadable Documents
Further information about Accessibility
Contact us

Text Size Increaser/Decreaser facility
We have chosen a simple design throughout rather than providing text only pages for visually impaired users. However, we have introduced a text size increaser/decreaser facility below the banner, leaving the user fully in control.
Just click on the smaller 'A' image to decrease the text size or the larger ones to increase.
The instructions here are for Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 5 and above Netscape Communicator version 4.7.

Please note the procedure may differ slightly across browser versions.

Internet Explorer Version 5 and above
How to make your text size bigger
Users are able to change the size of the text on the web page
• Click on the VIEW tab, at the very top on your browser window.
• Select TEXT SIZE from the drop down menu,
• Another small box will appear alongside, where you can select various sizes.

Ignore Page Formatting Specifications
The selectable option is available to turn off specified Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). CSS font, size, color and positioning information that would be ignored in the rendering of the web page. The page would render using the default browser options.
Users can also adjust the highlight foreground and background colors used by the browser.
• Open your browser and click on the TOOLS tab, on the very top off your browser window.
• Select from the drop down menu, INTERNET OPTIONS.
• Under the GENERAL tab, select the ACCESSIBILTY button.
• The ACCESSIBILITY box will display FORMATTING and USER STYLE SHEET options.
• Under FORMATTING, tick either colours , font styles, font sizes or under USER STYLE SHEET use your own customised preferences.

Netscape Communicator Version 4.7
Browser formatting Specification
To change browser settings, first open the "Preferences" box by clicking on "Edit" and selecting "Preferences". You may then choose to make any of the changes that are listed below:

How to make your text size bigger
• Click on "Appearance"
• Click "Font"
• Choose the variable-width font and fixed-width you want to use
• Click "OK"

Changing Colour Specification
Users are able to change the size of the text on the web page
• Click on "Appearance"
• Click on "Colours"
• Select the Box next to "Text" and choose a colour
• Click OK
• Select the box next to "Background" and choose a colour
• Click OK
• Click Ok to close "Preferences"

ALT Tags
We have ensured that all images used in our site are given appropriate alternative text descriptions ('ALT texts'), as required by internationally recognised web accessibility guidelines, which can be found at www.w3.org/WAI . All graphical navigation buttons are similarly ALT-tagged.

Frames
We strictly avoid the use of frames throughout the main SBHG web site.

Downloadable Documents
This site uses PDF (Adobe Acrobat) file format for the publication of large and complex documents. Please note that Adobe Acrobat documents can be converted back to plain text using Adobe's Web-based conversion service at www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/access_simple_form.html
To view and print PDF files, you must have Adobe® Acrobat® Reader installed: click the link below to download the software
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readsetp2.html
Our site also publishes documents in Microsoft Word format.
To view and print Microsoft Word files, you must either have Word installed on your PC or you can download Microsoft Word Viewer software

Further information about Accessibility
There is a wealth of information available on the Internet about website access guidance and general standards. We hope the following will be useful:
www.abilitynet.org.uk
Helping to create accessibility for all
http://access.adobe.com/
Contains tools for reading PDF files
http://www.nlb-online.info/
National Library for the Blind links site for blind and partially sighted people who use screen readers and other adaptive technology
http://visdesign.nlbuk.org/mod.php?mod=userpage&menu=10&page_id=3
Gives top ten website design tips
www.cast.org/bobby
Bobby is an online tool for testing websites for accessibility for the disabled
www.disability.gov.uk
Helping disabled people to find out about their civil rights and to see more clearly how useful the Internet can be as a source for information
www.e-accessibility.com
A free independent monthly email newsletter on IT issues for people with visual impairment and blindness
www.drc-gb.org/newsroom/website.asp
The Disability Rights Commission site gives an inaccessible website demonstration
www.itcanhelp.org.uk/
Free computer help for people with disabilities all over the UK
www-3.ibm.com/able/guidelines/web/accessweb.html
Gives detailed advice on web accessibility
www.rnib.org.uk
Royal National Institute for the Blind - guidelines, links to accessibility checkers
www.spac.es.com
Specialist programmes and Community employment strategies
www.w3.org/WAI
Extensive W3C site with guidelines, links etc

Contact us
We are working to improve the accessibility features of www.sbhg.co.uk and welcome your suggestions and comments.
If you encounter any accessibility or technical problems when using this site, please e-mail the Web Development staff member tom.flynn@sbhg.co.uk or complete the online feedback form.