Accessibility

This site has been designed to be as usable as possible for all visitors. The site has been built with support for specific usability and accessibility features and functions recommended by the international Web standards-setting body, the World Wide Web Consortium.

Text Size

All text on this site, including menus, may be resized to suit the needs of the visitor. All modern browsers will change the text size on this site via the "view / text size" menu choice. Most also allow resizing of the text by holding down the "Ctrl" key and rolling the wheel on a mouse that has one, or holding down the Ctrl key and tapping the + or - key.

The site also provides three convenient pre-sized versions of the above resizing technique via the icons found in the upper right corner of the screen.

Device Independence

The site has been designed so that it may be readily used with a variety of devices and software, including software programs such as "screen readers." Each page in the site will automatically reformat itself when printed to remove redundant information that is unnecessary in print. Further, each page will automatically reformat into a "small screen" format when accessed by devices like "smart phones" and personal digital assistants (PDA).

Tab Key Navigation

The tab key will move the cursor from link (or menu choice) to link on the page. When a desired link has been reached, tapping the "enter" key will act as would a mouse click on that link.

"Access Keys"

A number of shortcut "access keys" have been defined (see list at right) to speed keyboard access to select areas of a page or to access certain pages within the site. The most popular Web browser programs listed implement access keys somewhat differently:

  • Windows Internet Explorer: Hold down "Alt" & tap the access key, release the keys, then tap "enter"
  • Windows Firefox (versions earlier than 2): Hold down Alt & tap the access key
  • Windows Firefox version 2.0.0.1 and later: Hold down both Alt and "Shift" & tap the access key
  • Macintosh browsers: Hold down "Ctrl" and tap the access key.

Ancillary Content & Functionality

The site has been constructed in a way that allows it to fully convey its content without the use of images, JavaScript, and browser add-in's such as Flash. If any page does make use of those technologies, the technology is used to add to the browsing experience, not to replace content; all important content is accessible without such technology.

Standards Compliance

In order to best provide full accessibility and usability, this site was built to conform to a number of international standards promulgated by the World Wide Web Consortium:

  • XHTML 1.0 Strict
  • CSS 2.0
  • Web Content Accessibility Guidelines - Priority 1 & 2

Shortcuts

This site uses the following "access key" shortcuts (see text at left to learn how to use)

  • S: Skip menus
  • 1: Home page
  • 2: News page
  • 3: Site map
  • 4: Search box
  • 8: Privacy page
  • 0: This page