Accessibility Information
The Social Security Advisory Committee website supports accessibility and is committed to ensuring everyone can access the information available.
Introduction
The layout of the site takes into account users who are visually impaired or have difficulties using a mouse. It is fully compatible with popular screen reading software, and can be navigated using just a keyboard. If you have any problems finding the information you require, try using the keyword search located near the top left of every page.
- Access Keys
- Changing text size
- Changing colours
- Help with PDF documents
- Information in other formats
Access keys
Access keys are shortcuts to provide quick and easy access to common pages without the need for a mouse and have been included to assist users with disabilities navigate around the web site.
Access keys are available for the menu at the top of the screen and several other important pages.
In Internet Explorer
They are used whilst holding down the Alt key and pressing the key shown. This should be followed by Return / Enter .
In Mozilla Firefox
They are used by holding down the Shift and Alt keys and pressing the key shown.
0 Accessibility information
1 Home page
a About us
c Consultaions
2 News
p Publications
4 Committee Vacancies
o Contact us
l Links
3 Site map
5 Crown copyright
Changing text size
Some users might find the site easier to read by changing the size at which text is displayed.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
Increasing or decreasing text size
- Whilst holding down the Alt key, press V
- Press X
- Select one of the preset text sizes by using either Up Arrow or Down Arrow key and pressing Return / Enter
Firefox
Increase text size - Whilst holding down the Control key,
press +
Decrease text size - Whilst holding down the Control key,
press -
Opera
Increase text size - Whilst holding down the Shift key,
press +
Decrease text size - Whilst holding down the Shift key,
press -
Changing colours
Changing the site's background colour can be particularly useful for users who rely on magnification technology as white can produce an uncomfortable glare. It is also possible to change the colour of body text on the site. Both can be achieved by changing preferences in your browser:
Microsoft Internet Explorer
- go to the Tools menu
- select Internet Options
- select Accessibility
- put a tick in the box next to "Ignore colors specified on web pages"
- select OK
- select Colors
- ensure no tick in the box next to "Use windows colors"
- use Text and Background colour selectors
- confirm colours OK
- confirm options OK
Firefox
- go to the Tools menu
- select Options
- within options select Content
- select Colors
- ensure no tick in the box next to "Allow pages to choose their own colors"
- ensure no tick in the box next to "Use system colors"
- use Text and Background colour selectors
- confirm colours OK
- confirm options OK
- Use function key F5 to refresh the screen
Opera
Your options are
- Tools menu, Preferences and selecting web pages or;
- View menu, Style and selecting user mode
It is recommended that users, experiment with the settings offered to obtain the neccessary effect
Help with PDF documents
You can download PDF documents using Adobe Reader- available free of charge.
PDF documents on this website are marked with this icon. 
If your screen reader software (for example an audio-enabled web browser) is not compatible with Adobe Reader, Adobe provide a free online tool to convert the content of PDF files to text - so they can be understood by most screen reader applications.
Information in other formats
Information can be provided in Braille, large font or on CD-ROM and Audiotape. For the hard of hearing, Minicom or BT Typetalk is also available. Where necessary we will arrange to visit a client in his or her home. We will provide language advisers or the facility to use Language Line when English is not the client's preferred language.
We welcome feedback on the accessibility and usability of our site. If you have any questions or suggestions, if you have difficulty using any part of our site, please contact us.