What is accessibility?
Accessibility is providing a space that is usable for everyone, regardless of abilities, literacy or experience.
What does accessibility mean digitally within the Scouts?
As a movement, we are constantly working to increase accessibility, and this includes providing the tools and functionality to ensure our website can be used by everyone.
Our Commitment
Tools you can use on our site
Check out the following tips you can use across our website.
Adjusting brightness
Most keyboards will have the function change the brightness on your screen. The shortcut keys allow you to increase and decrease your brightness. On most keyboards, these keys are part of the row of F-keys–that’s F1 through F12 that appear above the number row on your keyboard.
Changing text size
- To increase the text size, hold down CTRL and press + to the required size.
- To decrease the text size, hold down CTRL and press – to the required size.
- Mac users hold down the CTRL/Apple key and press + or – to adjust your text size.
- If you’re using an older browser go to File, Text Size, and select the size you need.
If you use Windows XP you can magnify the size of the screen. Press the Start menu on the Taskbar, then click on All Programs, then Accessories, then Accessibility. Once opened click on Magnifier and the top of the screen will appear much bigger.
Keyboard navigation
- The arrow keys on the keyboard will scroll up, down, left, and right.
- The space bar if pressed can make the web page jump from top to bottom.
- The tab button can help navigate to different links on the page and when you arrive on the required link you just press the enter button.
Using a screen reader
Useful Links
These links are great tools for those looking for more information on accessibility.
- AbilityNet – AbilityNet provides support for anyone with any disability to use at home, at work, and in education.
- The British Computer Association of the Blind – Encourages and supports the use of technology for all.
- The Royal National Institute of the Blind – The RNIB is a leading sight loss charity providing a full range of support
- Microsoft accessibility – Microsoft’s dedicated accessibility website
- BBC’s My Web My Way – Explains the different ways you can change your browser, computer, keyboard, and mouse settings to make the web more accessible to you.
- The W3C Web Accessibility Iniative – As well as providing support for web accessibility, WAI has developed guidelines widely regarded as the international standard.
