Accessibility Policy
We hope that you're not having any problems using this website. This site has been designed to be viewed by as many people as possible and Shiloh Computers have made reasonable efforts to ensure that it does not include features that would exclude any section of society from using the information.
Why have we done this?
There are two reasons why we have chosen to provide an accessible website. The first is simply that they produce cleaner, more accurate and more useable websites. This allow them to be updated more easily; the second is our desire to act responsibly.
Since 1995 there has been legal protection for those with disabilities in the UK. The 1995 Disability Discrimination Act aimed to end the discrimination that many disabled people face. In relation to web sites, this Act gave disabled people rights in the area of access to goods, facilities and services. In April 2005, a new Disability Discrimination Act was passed by Parliament, which amends or extends existing provisions in the DDA 1995, ensuring that discrimination law covers all the activities of the public sector.
So while we believe that our sites comply with the letter of the law, we have embraced it as we agree with the spirit of the law. As a compnay, we are therfore committed to continuing to provide accessible web sites, and will update all websites under our control should any further legal requirements by written.
How is this done?
The World Wide Web Consortium (or W3C) develop web standards and guidelines. Just like you get building regulations in the UK under British Standards, the W3C maintain current standards with regard to web based technology.
One relevant development was the Web Accesibility Initiative (or WAI) which W3C setup in 1999. This group has created a number of guidelines that are collectively called the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0. Although a v 2.0 is currently being discussed, it is not yet a ratified standard. In essence, the document provides a detailed outline of how to make websites more accessible. They have outlined various essential requirements that are Priority 1, requirements that should be satisfied are classed as Priority 2, requirements that are simply helpful are classed as Priority 3.
For a website to be considered accessible, the site needs to meet ALL of the Priorty 1 requirements. A site that meets this level of compliance will often display this logo:
Site that meet AA (or double A) and AAA (or triple A) are allowed to display the relevant logos:
Each of these levels of compliance encompass more of the specification. All websites are meant to meet minimum standards and are classed a A. These sites meet only Priority 1 criteria.
& Priority 2. Along with this document there are various resources that allow you to test any webpage.
The main ways that this has been done is to adhere to globally recognised standards. The World Wide Web Consortium (or W3C) develop web standards and guidelines. The W3C have set standards for modern web pages xhtml and for their styling & layout using CSS. The benefit of using these standards is that it means that the pages are well formed, easier to update and perhaps most importantly, they can be externally validated. The following logos are a sign of conforming to the appropriate standards and link to the appropriate validation site.
As well as standards for web pages, there are also guidelines for good practice. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 outline the key methods to use to improve the accessibility of a web page.
Use of Appropriate Methods
Access Keys
Access keys are a navigation device enabling you to get around this web site using your keyboard. However, this site uses only a bare minimum to remove all potential conflicts with a reserved keystroke combination in an adaptive technology.
More in depth information about access keys can be found at W3C Accessibility Guidelines. Available Access Keys.
- 0 - Show Keys available (this page)
- 7 - Skip navigation (non visual browsers)
How to use Access Keys
For Windows systems, Microsoft Internet Explorer, hold down the "Alt" key and press the shortcut key.
Note: For Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 5 and 6, you also then need to press the "enter" key."
For Macintosh systems, you need to press the ‘Ctrl key’ and the accesskey.
Link Element
Although Access Keys is one method of providing a quick way of accessing other pages for non-visual browsers, the LINK element has been used for this site to provide links to information about the Accessibility, Feedback and Home page.