Accessibility
Access Keys
Access keys are key stroke combinations (alt + one other) that can be used to navigate quickly through this website. We have based our keys on the NZ e-government guidelines.
Please note that access keys only work on recent browsers such as IE 5.x or 6 and Netscape 6. The method for using the keys is different for each browser type:
- Internet Explorer (IE)
Hold down the alt key and press the number or letter. Then press enter. You will be sent to the new page. - Netscape / Mozilla
Hold down the alt key and press the number or letter. You will be sent directly to the new page.
Navigation Access keys are used within this website as follows:
- Access key 0 is provided for List of Access Keys.
- Access key 1 is provided for Home.
- Access key 2 is provided for Site Map.
- Access key 3 is provided for Search.
- Access key 9 is provided for Contact Us.
- Access key [ is provided for beginning of main content. This is known as a Skip Link.
- Access key / is provided for re-directing to the all-of-government portal (http://newzealand.govt.nz/)
Keyboard shortcuts
To assist with accessibility this website provides keyboard shortcuts to important links as well as a logical tab order through links, form controls, and objects.
Ability to skip links
To enable customers to skip over long lists of unwanted links, this website provides "skip links" above main navigation links.
Alt text for non-text elements
This website provides a text equivalent for every non-text element e.g. description for images.
Java-script
Some parts of this website use Java-script but the site is completely functional without Java-script. Check the help instructions in your web browser to find out how to disable Java-script.
Font re-sizing
To help you control the display of our website and make it as user-friendly as possible we have provided a text re-size tool (insert icon) which you can use to control the text size during your visit to our website. Please note this tool uses java-script and will not work if you have disabled java-script in your website browser.
We have also specified site-wide font sizes in relative terms so that they will follow the size you have chosen within your website browser.
You can change the default font size in your website browser as follows:
- Internet Explorer (IE)
Click the View menu at the top of IE and select Text Size. Users of IE 6 who also use a wheel mouse can hold down the Control (ctrl) key on the keyboard and use the wheel to change size. - Netscape / Mozilla
Click on the View menu and select Text Zoom. You can also hold down the Ctrl key and use the + and - keys to change the font size.
Compliance with Web Standards
We used the New Zealand e-government guidelines in developing this website. The Far North District Council is a Local Government Entity and so full compliance with the guidelines is optional. However we support the initiative and have followed it as closely as possible.
Explicit in e-govt is the use of Web Standard coding methods recommended by the World Wide Web Consortium.
Specifically, these are XHTML 1.0 Strict and CSS 2.1. All pages on this website have been coded to meet these standards where possible.
All pages can be read by any web browser, but some elements of the contemporary design of the site will only be displayed in modern visual browsers.
Other resources for Online Accessibility
Some useful websites include:
- Adaptive Technology Solutions
Solutions for screen reading, screen magnification, low vision and speech recognition software. - Assistive Technology Alliance New Zealand (ATANZ) Trust
The Alliance aims to promote Assistive Technology by ensuring quality assistive technology service provision through the establishment and monitoring of best practice assistive technology standards - BrowseAloud
BrowseAloud reads web pages aloud for people who find it difficult to read online. Reading large amounts of text on screen can be difficult for those with literacy and visual impairments. - JAWS screen Reading Software
Freedom Scientific provide a range of technology-based products that provide equal access to information and computing for those with vision impairments or learning disabilities. - New Zealand Relay
This site provides services to a broad range of users or potential users including Deaf, hearing impaired, Deafblind and speech impaired. - Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind
Article about a range of adaptive technology options
The links featured above have been provided for customer convenience. The Far North District Council does not have control over and is not liable for the policies, content or material on other public or government websites.
If you have a product or service targeted to assist people with website accessibility and would like to have it added to this page, please contact us using our website feedback form.
Page created/updated: 1 March 2010 at 10:45 am
