Accessibility
Accessibility and usability statement
ALGA is committed to ensuring universal access to its web site and online services, consistent with the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and recognised usability principles for ease of use. From 2005 all new and updated content will conform with W3C WCAG Level AAA and existing content will be progresively upgraded to the same high level of accessibility. Our focus is on keeping it simple, so that people can quickly find and use the information they require. To help us in this task, we would value your comments and feedback on how usable and accessible you find this web site.
Keyboard access and shortcuts
ALGA's web site supports keyboard interaction as well as other input devices such as speech. Keyboard shortcuts include:
Content link
A 'content' link is located in the top left corner of every page. This link will skip all the header images, primary navigation, breadcrumb (you are here) links and any section navigation, taking the user directly to the start of the main content.
Access keys
The following shortcut keys can be used on ALGAs web site for quick access to frequently used links:
- Access key 1 - Home
- Access key 2 - Search
- Access key 3 - Site map
- Access key 4 - Contact
- Access key 5 - Newsroom
- Access key 9 - Top of page
- Access key 0 - Accessibility information
Browser support for access keys is growing, and is currently available in Internet Explorer (IE) 5.5+, Netscape 6+, and Mozilla. Instructions for using access keys vary depending on the operating system and browser in use.
- For a Windows operating system
- hold down the ALT key plus the relevant access key number or letter eg ALT + 1 to go to ALGA's home page.
- For a Mac operating system
- hold down the CONTROL key plus the relevant access key number or letter eg CONTROL + 1 to go to ALGA's home page.
- Browser variations
- Some browsers will also automatically activate the related link while others, such as Microsoft's Internet Explorer, give focus to the link element only and require the user to hit the Enter key to activate the link.
Tabbing
The default tabbing order of links has been reordered to make access to primary content links more efficient. The revised order is:
- content
- search box
- site map
- accessibility
- page content
- top
- next page
- previous page
- section naviagtion
- site navigation
- breadcrumb trail (pathway)
- footer
Technical information and customisation
ALGA's site has been coded using semantic HTML markup, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and server side scripting. Font sizes are relative and will appear larger or smaller depending on the user's personal preferences. These preferences can be adjusted on the user's computer by changing the browser accessibility options or using a personal style sheet.
Groups of related links, such as the main navigation, section navigation have been marked up using the HTML 'map' element. While this is not well supported by the main browsers it is available to users who can benefit from this feature.
File formats
Where more than one file format is available, the most universal formats are given first (eg RTF followed by PDF).
At present many of the downloadable publications on our web site are only available in PDF format. This will be changing in the near future, with a choice of formats being provided. In the meantime, please contact us if you are experiencing difficulty accessing information.
Page layout and navigation
A consistent page structure is maintained across all content on ALGA's web site. Each page is formatted using a standard design template that divides information into logical blocks of content. The sequential flow of information from top of page is:
- Skip links provide quick access to important parts of the site, such as jumping directly to the main content on the current page, search box, site map and accessibility tips
- Banner includes logo/branding for ALGA web site and a link to ALGA's primary sponsor, Optus
- Global navigation links to the main top level areas on the web site
- "You are here" links provide orientation to your current location within the site structure via the most direct path from ALGA's home page
- Section navigation includes links to other related pages in the same section (if available). Visually the appear as buttons on the right side of the main content.
- Main content usually begin with H3
- In page navigation includes a return link to top of page and next/back (if relevant)
- Footer with AlGA's address and email contacts for general enquiries and web site feedback, copyright and date page was last modified
Archived content
Archived information can also be accessed on the site, and this may use a different page layout and navigation design.
What is on this web site
The site map provides a good overall view of the scope of ALGA's web site and content available.
