Documentation : Help & Accessibility
Updated July 2009
This page provides important information on the accessibility features of this website. If you don't know what accessibility in web design means, please read this article for some background information.
If you're here looking for our site map, please click here, otherwise scroll on down for our accessibility statement.
1.0 Accessibility Statement
We are committed to ensuring that our website is accessible to everyone with the ability to connect to the Internet, across as wide a range of platforms and devices as possible.
In short, we have designed this website so that it can be viewed on-screen, in print, using a mobile device; and via screen readers or text browsers.
We are continually striving to improve the experience for all of our visitors, so if you have any questions or suggestions regarding the accessibility of this site, please use our contact form to get in touch with the team.
2.0 Standards compliance
1. All pages on this site follow Priorities 1 & 2 guidelines of the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.
2. All pages on this site validate as XHTML 1.0 Strict.
3. All pages on this site use structured semantic markup. <H1> (Heading 1) tags are used for main titles, <H2> (Heading 2) tags for subtitles, and so forth.
3.0 Structural Markup
Web pages on www.comnetsols.co.uk include 4 different areas:
- A header bar that includes the main navigation
- A left-aligned "side bar" with additional content
- A main content area
- A right-aligned "side bar" with our submenu
- A footer with additional navigation elements
When CSS (Cascading Styles Sheet) are not applied to a document (or when using a screen reader), the 4 areas are read in the above order.
4.0 Access Keys
This site uses the HTML "accesskey" attribute. Which allows it's readers to jump to specific content and pages without the use of a mouse. Most browsers support jumping to specific links by typing keys defined on the web site.
Generally, on Windows, you can press ALT + an access key; on Macintosh, you can press Control + an access key.
4.1 Available Access Keys
To see this list at any time, use the access key "k"
To see the site map, use the access key "m"
4.2 Using Access Keys:
For Internet Explorer, press ALT + an access key + Enter to access linked documents.
(for example "ALT+1+Enter" at the same time to jump to the home page)
For Firefox 1.0 and above, press ALT + SHIFT + and access key to access linked documents.
(for example "ALT+1+SHIFT" at the same time to jump to the home page)
5.0 Images & Javascript
1. Unless they are purely decorative items, all images used on this web site have suitable "alt" attributes, where text is provided to help you navigate the page if you have images disabled.
2. Content should be usable/accessible with images "off" (disabled).
3. The main navigation bar on this site uses an Image Replacement technique that makes the links accessible to non-visual browsers.
6.0 Links
1. All relevant links have title attributes which describe the link in greater detail, unless the text of the link already fully describes the target.
2. Links are written to make sense when out of context.
3. URLs are permanent whenever possible.
7.0 Forms
1. All form controls are appropriately and explicitly labeled.
2. We provide an email address as an alternative form of access for our online forms.
3. Form validation routine does not rely on client-side script.
8.0 Javascript
1. Where possible, we are using non obtrusive client-side scripts to enhance our user experience.
2. Content of this web site is usable without JavaScript support.
3. For instructions on how to enable javascript in your web browser, click here.
9.0 Pop up Windows
1. All external links on this website use Javascript to open a Modal Window within the current browser window or tab. The modal window can be easily closed using the buttons provided, or by hitting the "escape" key on your keyboard. If your browser has Javascript disabled, or does not support it, you may still click on the link, which will load in your current window or tab.
2. Browsers with Popup Blockers should be able to access all external links, if the software is configured to allow www.comnetsols.co.uk to open pop-up windows.
10.0 Visual design
1. This site uses cascading style sheets (CSS) for visual layout.
2. This site uses only relative font sizes, compatible with the user-specified "text size" option in visual browsers.
3. If your browser or browsing device does not support style sheets at all, the content of each page is still readable.
4. Any information conveyed through the use of colour is also available without colour (i.e. text based).
11.0 How to modify this site
These links explain the many ways you can make the web more accessible to you.
Windows users
Mac users
Linux Users
12.0 Accessibility references
1. W3 accessibility guidelines, which explains the reasons behind each guideline.
2. W3 accessibility techniques, which explains how to implement each guideline.
3. W3 accessibility checklist, a busy developer's guide to accessibility.
13.0 Accessibility software
1. JAWS, a screen reader for Windows. A time-limited, downloadable demo is available.
2. Lynx, a free text-only web browser for blind users with refreshable Braille displays.
3. Links, a free text-only web browser for visual users with low bandwidth.
4. Firefox, a visual browser with many accessibility-related features, including text zooming, user style sheets, image toggle.
5. Opera, a visual browser with many accessibility-related features, including text zooming, user style sheets, image toggle.
6. Safari, a visual browser with many accessibility-related features, including text zooming, user style sheets, image toggle.
7. Internet Explorer, a visual browser with many accessibility-related features, including text zooming, user style sheets, image toggle.
14.0 Accessibility services
1. Bobby, a free service to analyse web pages for compliance to accessibility guidelines. A full-featured commercial version is also available.
2. HTML Validator, a free service for checking that web pages conform to published HTML standards. A link to the HTML validator, which includes automatic submission of this website for testing can be found under the copyright notice at the bottom left of every page of this website.
3. Web Page Backward Compatibility Viewer, a tool for viewing your web pages without a variety of modern browser features.
4. Lynx Viewer, a free service for viewing what your web pages would look like in Lynx.
15.0 Related resources
1. WebAIM, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving accessibility to online learning materials.
2. Designing More Usable Web Sites, a large list of additional resources.
Please contact us for further information, or to raise a query regarding the accessibility of this website.
16.0 Site Map
Welcome to our site map. If you're having difficulty finding a page on our website, you can use the list provided below to find what you want.
Get in touch
Our experience, range of services and many happy clients make us the ideal partner for you next telecommunications project.
Get in touch with the team, we'd be happy to hear from you.
