Accessibility
At the Home Office we are committed to providing relevant information and services to everyone. This means that no matter where you are located, how you use the internet and what impairments you might have, you should still be able to access the information you need.
With this in mind we have been very careful to make this website as accessible as we can. There are a number of facilities that we have built into the site to make this possible and this page explains what they are.
Access keys
We have used the relevant Government standard access keys to help you to navigate through the main areas of this web site using keyboard shortcuts. The ones we have used are:
- S - Skip to content
- 1 - Home page
- 2 - Skip to navigation
- 3 - Site map
- 7 - Complaints procedure
- 8 - Terms and conditions
- 0 - Accessibility
- I - Freedom of Information
Access keys in Internet Explorer 5+ for PC:
Hold down the Alt key, press the number or letter of the access key, release both keys and then press Enter
Access keys in Internet Explorer 4 for PC:
Hold down the Alt key, press the number or letter of the access key
Access keys in Firefox, Mozilla and Netscape 7 for PC:
Hold down the Alt key, press the number or letter of the access key
Access keys in Internet Explorer 5+ for Mac:
Hold down the CTRL key, press the number or letter of the access key
Access keys in Firefox and Mozilla for Mac:
Hold down the CTRL key, press the number or letter of the access key
Access keys in Safari for Mac:
Hold down the CTRL key, press the number or letter of the access key
Please note that some assistive technologies already make use of the Alt + number or letter access key combination, such access keys will be overridden by those listed above.
Design
We have tried to use combinations of colours that provide sufficient contrast between foreground and background across the site. If you spot any that give you problems we would like to know.
Navigation
The site navigation is present on every page of the site. We’ve tried to make the categories easy to understand but if you are in any doubt, click on one and the page that appears should tell you whether it's what you need. When you go into the 'What happens' and 'Where can I be stopped' sections, sub-pages will appear under those links.
Features used to ease site navigation
The navigational links are placed early in the flow of the document in order to make navigation as simple as possible. In case you do not wish to wade through a list of links on every new page before getting to the content we have provided a 'skip to content' link before the navigation, which will take you straight to the content of the page you are on.
We have tried to reduce the amount of scrolling you will have to do by making what we are saying more concise. This isn't always possible, but if you come across a page that you think is really too long we'd like to hear from you.
All links to external sites have been signposted so that you know what to expect when you click on them - expect them to open in a new window.
We have also provided a sitemap, which lists every page on the site in navigational order.
Changing text size, font colour and turning off images
If you wish to increase or decrease the size of the text on a page, you can do so using your browser's built in controls as follows:
Changing your settings for Internet Explorer on a PC:
Font size
- Select the 'Tools' menu within your Internet Explorer browser.
- Select 'Internet Options' from the Tools menu.
- Click on the 'General' tab.
- Click on the 'Accessibility…' button.
- To change your font size, check the box marked 'Ignore font sizes specified on Web pages'.
- Click on the 'OK' button on this tab and then on the 'OK' button on the Internet Options tab.
- Select the 'View' menu within your Internet Explorer browser.
- Select 'Text Size' from the menu – another menu listing possible sizes will appear. Select the option that you require.
Font style
- Select the 'Tools' menu within your Internet Explorer browser.
- Select 'Internet Options' from the Tools menu.
- Click on the 'General' tab.
- Click on the 'Fonts…' button.
- Change your font using the 'Web page font' drop down.
- Click on the 'OK' button on this tab and then on the 'OK' button on the Internet Options tab.
Font and background colour
- Select the 'Tools' menu within your Internet Explorer browser.
- Select 'Internet Options' from the Tools menu.
- Click on the 'General' tab.
- Click on the 'Colors…' button.
- Check the box next to 'Use Windows colors', allowing you access to change the colours yourself.
- Select your own Text, Background and Link colours from those available.
- Click on the 'OK' button on this tab and then on the 'OK' button on the Internet Options tab.
Disable images
- Select the 'Tools' menu within your Internet Explorer browser.
- Select 'Internet Options' from the Tools menu.
- Click on the 'Advanced' tab.
- Scroll down the page until you reach the Multimedia category.
- Uncheck the box next to 'Show pictures'
- Click on the 'OK' button.
Changing your settings for Internet Explorer for Apple Mac:
Font size and style
- Select the 'Edit' menu within your Internet Explorer browser.
- Select 'Preferences' from the menu.
- Click on 'web content', under 'Web Browser', in the left-hand pane.
- Deselect the button marked 'show style sheets'.
- Select 'Language/Fonts', under 'Web Browser', in the left-hand pane.
- Select the font size and style you require.
- Click on 'OK' to close the popup.
Font, background colour and images
- Select the 'Edit' menu within your Internet Explorer browser.
- Select 'Preferences' from the Edit menu.
- Click on 'web content', under 'Web Browser', in the left-hand pane.
- Ensure that the button marked 'show style sheets' is deselected.
- Select your own Text, Background and Link colours from those available in the 'Page & Link' section.
- If you want your links to appear underlined then check the 'Underline links' box.
- To turn off pictures uncheck the box marked 'Show pictures' under 'Page Content'.
- Click on 'OK' to close the popup.
Change your settings for Netscape, Firefox or Mozilla on a PC:
These instructions are based on Netscape 7.
Font size and style
- Select the 'Edit' menu within your Netscape browser.
- Select 'Preferences' from the Edit menu.* Click on 'Appearance' in the 'Category' box on the left of the pop-up. Then select 'Fonts' from the Appearance menu.
- Change your font's size using the 'Size (pixels)' drop down on the right of the screen.
- Change your font face using one of the dropdown menus under the 'Typeface' title. In general Sans-serif fonts tend to be easier to read than Serif fonts. If you wish to choose a Serif font you need to set the 'Proportional' dropdown to 'Sans serif' before making your choice.
- Finally, uncheck the box entitled 'Allow documents to use other fonts'. This will force your browser to display pages in the style you have chosen.
NB – you can use Netscape to ensure that fonts are never displayed in a size smaller than the minimum you can see. To do so, choose a font size from the 'Minimum font size' dropdown. - Click OK within the pop-up and your page will change to reflect your settings.
Netscape also allows you to alter font size using the 'View' menu. To use this facility follow these steps:
- Select the 'View' menu within your Netscape browser.
- Select 'Text Zoom' from the View menu.
- The menu that appears allows you to select a percentage text size from a list, or simply to make your text smaller or larger. Choose your required option from those displayed.
Keyboard shortcuts to increase or decrease text size
- Larger : Ctrl and +
- Smaller : Ctrl and –
Font and background colours
- Select the 'Edit' menu within your Netscape browser.
- Select 'Preferences' from the Edit menu.
- Click on 'Appearance' in the 'Category' box on the left of the pop-up. Then select 'Colors' from the Appearance menu.
- Choose the colours that you require from the 'Text and Background' and 'Link Colors' options by clicking on the colour boxes and choosing one of the available colours.
- Ensure that the 'Use system colors' box is unchecked.
- If you want your links to appear underlined then check the 'Underline links' box.
- Click on the radio button next to 'Use my chosen colors, ignoring the colors and background image specified'. This will force all pages to be displayed using your settings.
- Click OK within the pop-up and your page will change to reflect your settings.
Disable images
- Select the 'Edit' menu within your Netscape browser.
- Select 'Preferences' from the Edit menu.
- Click on 'Privacy & Security' in the 'Category' box on the left of the pop-up. Then select 'Images' from the Privacy and Security menu.
- To turn images off, click on the radio button next to 'Do not load any images'. To turn them on, click on 'Accept all images'
- Click OK within the pop-up and your page will change to reflect your settings.
Change your settings for Netscape or Mozilla on a Mac:
Font size and style
- Select the 'Edit' menu within your Netscape browser.
- Select 'Preferences' from the Edit menu.
- Click on 'Appearance' in the 'Category' box on the left of the pop-up. Then select 'Fonts' from the Appearance menu.
- Change your font size using the 'Size (pixels)' drop down on the right of the screen.
- Change your font face using one of the dropdown menus under the 'Typeface' title. In general Sans-serif fonts tend to be easier to read than Serif fonts. If you wish to choose a Serif font you need to set the 'Proportional' dropdown to 'Sans serif' before making your choice.
- Finally, uncheck the box entitled 'Allow documents to use other fonts'. This will force your browser to display pages in the style you have chosen.
- Click OK within the pop-up and your page will change to reflect your settings.
Netscape also allows you to choose your font size using the 'View' menu. To use this facility follow these steps:
- Select the 'View' menu within your Netscape browser.
- Select 'Text Size' from the View menu.
- The menu that appears allows you to select a percentage text size from a list, or simply to make your text smaller or larger. Choose your required option from those displayed.
Keyboard shortcuts to increase or decrease text size
- Smaller : Ctrl and –
- Larger : Ctrl and +
Font and background colours
- Select the 'Edit' menu within your Netscape browser.
- Select 'Preferences' from the Edit menu.
- Click on 'Appearance' in the 'Category' box on the left of the pop-up. Then select 'Colors' from the Appearance menu.
- Choose the colours that you require from the 'Text and Background' and 'Link Colors' options by clicking on the colour boxes and choosing one of the available colours.
- Ensure that the 'Use system colors' box is unchecked.
- If you want your links to appear underlined then check the 'Underline links' box.
- Click on the radio button next to 'Use my chosen colors, ignoring the colors specified'. This will force all pages to be displayed using your settings.
- Click OK within the pop-up and your page will change to reflect your settings.
Disable images
- Select the 'Edit' menu within your Netscape browser.
- Select 'Preferences' from the Edit menu.
- Click on 'Privacy & Security' in the 'Category' box on the left of the pop-up. Then select 'Images' from the Privacy and Security menu.
- To turn images off, click on the radio button next to 'Do not load any images'. To turn them on, click on 'Accept all images'
- Click OK within the pop-up and your page will change to reflect your settings.
Change your settings for Opera on a PC:
These instructions are based on Opera 7.
Font size, face, colour, style and background colour
- Select the 'File' menu within your Opera browser.
- Select 'Preferences' from the File menu.
- Click on 'Fonts and colors' in the box on the left of the pop-up.
- Opera gives you very detailed facilities for changing the appearance of each type of text on your page. The most used styles are 'Normal' and 'Heading 1'. To change these, click on their entry in the 'My fonts and colors' scrolling box, and then click on the 'Choose' button to the right of the scrolling box. Select a font face, style, size and colour from the options available and click on 'OK'.
- NB – you can use Opera to ensure that fonts are never displayed in a size smaller than the minimum you can see. To do so, enter a font size into the 'Minimum font size [pixels]' box.
- To change the background colour of your page click on the 'Choose' button to the right of the 'Background color' text. Choose a colour from those available and click on 'OK'.
- If you want to change how links appear within your page then click on the 'My link style…' button and make a selection from those available.
- When you are happy with all of your settings, click on 'Apply'. Review your page and if it appears as required click on 'OK'
Page size
- Opera offers an unusual feature that allows you to enlarge the size of your page as a whole. To use this facility, follow these steps:
- Select the 'View' menu within your Opera browser.
- Select 'Zoom' from the File menu.
- Select your required zoom ratio from those offered.
Disable images
- Select the 'File' menu within your Opera browser.
- Select 'Preferences' from the File menu.
- Click on 'Multimedia' in the box on the left of the pop-up.
- To turn images off, click on the radio button next to 'Show no images'. To turn images on, click on 'Show images'.
Change your settings for Opera on a Mac
Font size, face, colour, style and background colour
- Select the 'Edit' menu within your Opera browser.
- Select 'Preferences' from the Edit menu.
- Click on 'Fonts and colors' in the box on the left of the pop-up.
- Opera gives you very detailed facilities for changing the appearance of each type of text on your page. The most used styles are 'Normal' and 'Heading 1'. To change these, click on their entry in the 'My fonts and colors' scrolling box, and then click on the 'Choose' button at the bottom of the scrolling box. Select a font face, style, size and colour from the options available and click on 'OK'.
- NB – you can use Opera to ensure that fonts are never displayed in a size smaller than the minimum you can see. To do so, enter a font size into the 'Minimum font size [pixels]' box.
- To change the background colour of your page click on the 'Background colour' box. Choose a colour from those available and click on 'OK'.
- If you want to change how links appear within your page then click on the 'My link style…' button and make a selection from those available.
- When you are happy with all of your settings, click on 'Apply'. Review your page and if it appears as required click on 'OK'
Disable images
- Select the 'File' menu within your Opera browser.
- Select 'Preferences' from the File menu.
- Click on 'Multimedia' in the box on the left of the pop-up.
- To turn images off, click on the radio button next to 'Show no images'. To turn images on, click on 'Show images'.
Plain English
One of the main criticisms of government websites is that the language used can be difficult to understand. This website has been written in plain English to ensure users can understand the website's content and purpose.
Writing in plain English means conveying meaning clearly and concisely to the intended audience in the appropriate tone of voice.
Plain English is not about 'dumbing down' content - it is about presenting it as clearly as possible so that we are understood by our audience.
The features and techniques of plain English that we used include:
- short sentences and paragraphs
- everyday language
- active not passive verbs ('We announced a new community initiative today' rather than 'A community initiative was today announced'.)
- getting to the point quickly and ordering information logically
The pitfalls we avoided were:
- long sentences and paragraphs
- jargon, acronyms and abbreviations
- pompous and verbose language
- repetition and 'waffle'
The new Home Office website has achieved the Crystal Mark accreditation from the Plain English Campaign.
This site has been carefully laid out and designed with straight forward navigation in mind and for as many users as possible - whether you are using a mouse, keyboard, tab key or a switch device and whether using visual browsers or other technologies. However if you are still having difficulties or have any suggestions for improvements - please contact us.