Accessibility Statement

We are continuously updating our website, and striving to ensure that it can be accessed by people no matter what browser, computer system or access requirements they have.

We regularly assess and update the technology used on our website to make sure we comply with many points of the WAI (Web Accessibility Initiative) Guidelines. These are points of both common sense and technical use that help us to construct a website that offers you the best experience possible.

If you have any queries about accessibility on askBM, or if there are any features you would like to be added that would make it easier for you to browse our website, please send an email to info@birminghammidshires.co.uk . The email will be sent to our e-Commerce team and they will investigate ways to assist you.

Our website currently features:

• Consistent page headings and titles
• Alternative text for graphics/pictures
• Descriptive links
• Readable fonts and user changeable font sizes
• Screen reader support

Consistent page headings and titles

These are vital to help you find your way around the site. We have ensured that are pages have coherent titles so that when using the search engine or access technologies, the information that is announced at the top of the screen and in the title bar.

Alternative text for graphics/pictures

We've tried to avoid using pictures to represent text. Where it is absolutely necessary that we use a picture to represent a link we have ensured that there is a text explanation in place. This means that screen reader programs (and people who are using browsers with graphics turned off) can still use the website successfully.

Descriptive links

All links to new information are written to make sense when taken out of context.

Readable fonts and user changeable font sizes

We have used fonts sizes that you can control in your web browser.

If you are using Microsoft Internet Explorer, you can change the font size by selecting View > Text size followed by your preferred text size from 'Smallest' to 'Largest'. The default setting is 'Medium'.

If you are using Mozilla Firefox 1.5 or greater, you can change the font size by selecting View > Text size followed by 'Increase' or 'Decrease'. To return the text size to its default setting, select 'Normal'.

Our website's fonts have been chosen for their legibility on computer screens. The website's layout has been designed to stretch to fill the width of the browser, so that you can resize the browser to suit your own viewing preferences.

Microsoft have also provided further information on accessibility features that are build in to their Internet Explorer browser. You can read more on this on Microsoft's website at: www.microsoft.com/enable/training/ie6/advanced.aspx

Screen readers

We have tested our website using the JAWS for Windows. Find out more about JAWS at the author's website: www.freedomscientific.com/fs_products/software_jaws.asp