Accessibility
The Metropolitan Housing Partnership is committed to providing accessible content. The Partnership websites have been built using XHTML and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets). We strive to comply with W3C-WAI Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0, Level A conformance.
Enhanced Navigation
The Partnership websites strive to make content more accessible by providing enhanced website navigation through the use of:
- Access Keys
- Tab enabled selections
- Skip Navigation links.
Access Keys
Access Keys allow you to navigate to key pages within the Partnership websites. If you are using Windows on a PC, press ALT + access key, then Enter/Return. If you are using a Macintosh press Control + access key, then Enter/Return.
The access keys are:
- Sitemap - s
- Accessibility - a
- Translations - t
- Home - h
Each of the links on the main navigation bar can be accessed using the following access keys:
- First link - 1
- Second link - 2
- Third links - 3
- Etc.
The logos within each of the websites also links back to the website's homepage.
Tab Enabled Selections
Tab + Enter can be used to move through all links on a page. Use Shift + Tab to move backwards through the links.
Skip Navigation Links
The Skip Navigation link allows users using screen readers to skip past navigation bars and go directly to the main content.
Text Reader
The website is speech-enabled with Browsealoud software that reads our website aloud to you. This is particularly helpful for people who have a good understanding of the English language but do not find reading it easy. It is, however, not specifically designed for use by the visually impaired.
Browsealoud is free and easy to download. Once you have installed it, all you need to do is scroll your mouse over the text and Browsealoud will begin speaking. It also works on the website's menu and links, so you can navigate your way around easily. Many other websites have this facility, including Google and the BBC.
Download and install Browsealoud.
Text Sizing
The websites have been designed to allow users to resize text according to their preference. To change text size:
Internet Explorer: View > Text size
Netscape/FireFox: Edit > Preferences > Appearance > Fonts OR View > Text Zoom
Opera: File > Preferences > Fonts > Minimum font size (pixels) OR View > Zoom
Alternatively, scroll with the wheel of your mouse whilst holding down the control key.
Changing the Style Sheets The webpages within these sites have been designed using Cascading Style Sheets. Users with particular accessibility requirements can customise the formatting of pages by enabling the use of their own style sheets. This can be done as follows:
Internet Explorer: Tools > Internet Options > General > Accessibility > Tick 'Format documents using my style sheet' > Browse (to your style sheet)
Opera: File > Preferences > Page Style > My Style Sheet > Browse (to your style sheet).
Browser Compatibility
The websites have been tested and provide full functionality on all major browsers and platforms.
The following browsers may not display content or provide functionality as intended:
- Netscape 6.2 - Windows 2000
- Opera 6.0 - Macintosh
- IE 4 and below
- Netscape 4 and below.
Since a very small percentage of our website users continue to use these browser and for the sake of providing more accessible websites to the vast majority of our users, we have decided not to support these browsers. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
If you would like to upgrade your Netscape browser please visit:
http://get.netscape.com/get/
http://www.opera.com/download/