This website was designed with both usability and accessibility principles in mind. Consequently, the site can be used with a variety of adaptive technologies used by people with disabilities, such as screen readers.
In addition to this, the site can be adapted further by using the font resizing facility, amending the stylesheet colours and using the access keys on the keyboard.
This facility is located at the top of each page and allows you to alter the size of all the text featured on the Loop website. Three size options are available: small (used by default), medium and large.
There is an alternative method to change the font size. Open an Internet Explorer browser window, select the View option, then Text Size and then your preferred size. Or if using Netscape, select the View option, then Text Zoom, followed by your preferred percentage size option.
It is possible to import your own stylesheet into this website. Once again there are two methods, depending upon which browser type you possess.
In Internet Explorer select the Tools option, then Internet options and then Accessibility. Click on any (or all) of three checkboxes to ignore colours, font styles or font sizes. You can also change your stylesheet by clicking the checkbox titled Format document using my style sheet. Now browse to your stylesheet on your computer and click OK.
In Netscape, select the Edit option, then Preferences and then Appearance. You will then be given the choice to specify your own colours and fonts.
The access keys (keyboard shortcuts), that replace the need to use a mouse for navigation, are as follows. Please note that your browser may not support access keys.
ALT - H (press enter) homepage
ALT - S (type search phrase and press enter) search box
ALT - M (press enter) top item in the main menu, tab to make selection
ALT - T (press enter) first item in tool menu in the top right, tab to make selection
ALT - P (press enter) print page
ALT - U (press enter) left hand sub menu, tab to make selection
ALT - C (press enter) page contacts
ALT - Z (press enter) font size changer
Find your way through this website by using the main menu along the top of the page and the sub menu on the left hand side of each page. If you are using a screen reader, you can use the access key ALT - M (then press enter), this will take you to the main menu. From there you can use the tab key to navigate through the links.
If you have any suggestions about improving accessibility and usability of this website, please, please contact us using the details provided.