Accessibility features of this web site
This page highlights some of the accessibility features in the University of Melbourne web site, including:
- changing the text size
- using 'jump' links to skip navigation or content blocks
- using access keys to navigate
- other design and programming features
These features are built into the University's web design templates, and should work on any University subsite that uses the templates.
If you encounter an accessibility problem on a University web page, please contact the web team and let us know: telephone +(61 3) 8344 2865 or email web-info@unimelb.edu.au.
You can change the size of text on this site by following the instructions provided below.
Use the 'jump' links to skip navigation or content blocks.
Use the access keys to navigate by shortcuts. To use the access keys on a Windows computer, hold down the alt key and press the relevant letter key. On a Macintosh, hold down the control key while you type the relevant letter. (Access keys are not available in all web browsers.) Here is a list of access keys for this web site:
- Alt a is a shortcut to this accessibility page
- Alt h is a shortcut to the University's home page
- Alt s is a shortcut to the search facility
- Alt o is a shortcut to contact the University of Melbourne
- Alt g is a shortcut to the selected jump menu option
- Alt t is a shortcut to the top of the page
- Alt c is a shortcut to the content part of the page
- Alt d is a shortcut to the disclaimer and copyright page
This shortcut will not work in Internet Explorer 7 due to a conflict with a built in command. - Alt p is a shortcut to the privacy page
- Alt m is a shortcut to the page maintainer's email link
- Alt i is a shortcut to information about student visas, work visas, extensions and course transfers
- Alt e is a shortcut to information about course enquiries, admissions, course search, courses and programs
Changing the size of text
Instructions for Windows PC users with Internet Explorer
- Select Internet Options from the View or the Tools menu, depending on your browser
- Click on the Accessibility button
- Click the Ignore fonts now showing on web pages box so that it now shows a tick
- Click OK
- Click OK again to close Internet Options
- Select the View option from the Menu bar
- Select the Text Size option
- Choose the text size you prefer
Instructions for Windows PC users with Netscape 4 or later
- Select Edit from the Menu Bar
- Select Preferences. You now have the option to either Select Appearance or Select Font
Instructions for Macintosh users with Internet Explorer
- Select the View option from the Menu bar.
- Select the Text Size option
- Choose the text size you prefer
Instructions for Macintosh users with Netscape 4 or later
- Select the View option from the Menu bar.
- Select the Text Size option
- Choose the text size you prefer
Other design and programming features
The following features are standard parts of the University's web publishing templates:
- Validated XHTML 1.0 Transitional code is used for the all templates.
- Cascading style sheets (CSS) are used for presentation and layout of content.
- Text is used for headings and links.
- Relative text sizes are used. The user can resize fonts if required. Content text is black against a white background for improved readability. No italics are used.
- Links behave consistently (rollover, visited links). Links are not identified by colour alone: underline, rollover behaviour and layout provide additional visual cues.
- Platform- and language-neutral W3CDom scripting to allow programs and scripts to dynamically access and update the content, structure and style of documents.
- Navigation menus and forms work properly with or without javascript.
When creating web pages based on the templates, University staff are expected to:
- Use standard XML-based structural markup to denote content changes, such as lists and headings
- Add alt text and captions to all images.
- Insert titles to provide additional information about links. Use acronym, abbreviation and other tags to explain language and concepts.
- Ensure the page uses validated code and style sheets.
- Include table headers and summaries for tables that display data.
- Label all forms, use explicitly associations with input elements and provide instructional text to help with searching and submitting data.
- Check all web content for compliance with World Wide Web Consortium guidelines.