To use the 'Text only' versions of these sections, ensure you have installed a copy of the full version of Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 onto your computer.
The full version contains a built-in screen reader, known as the "Read Out Loud option" as one of its accessibility features.
Use; "Control"; "Alt"; "B" to hear the text read to you.
Get one now: Download Acrobat 6.0 Reader full version - text only page 
Using screen readers with PDFs
Text only version with screen reader option
Using Adobe Acrobat's built-in screen reader
Once you have downloaded Acrobat 6.0 Reader and opened a P.D.F, use these keyboard shortcuts to access the "Read Out Loud" option:
- To read page only: "Shift"; "Control"; "V"
- To read whole document: "Shift"; "Control"; "B"
- To pause: "Shift"; "Control"; "C"
- To stop: "Shift"; "Control"; "E"
Getting help with text size
Text version with screen reader
To make the text on this website easier to read, you can change its size.
In Internet Explorer, click the "View" menu, select "text size" and choose your desired text size setting (e.g. larger, smaller). This can also be achieved using the keyboard. Hold down the "Alt" key and press "V", then without releasing the "Alt" key press "X". Now you can increase or decrease the text size by using the arrow keys on your keyboard. Press the "Enter" key to select the text size.
In Netscape browsers go to "View"; then; "Text Size"; then select a larger or smaller percentage or click on "larger" (or "smaller"). For Mozilla users go to "View"; then; "Increase Text Size" or "View"; then; "Decrease Text Size". "Mozilla or Nescape" users can also use keyboard shortcuts. Hold down the "Control" key and press "+" to increase the text size or "-" to decrease the text size.
How to stop images from being shown
Text version with screen reader
Most internet browsers allow web users to prevent images being displayed. This can allow webpages to appear on the screen faster. Follow the instructions below.
"Internet Explorer"
- From the main menu, go to the "Tools" menu and select "Internet Options".
- Go to the "Advanced tab".
- Scroll down the settings until you reach "Multimedia".
- deselect the "Show Pictures" option.
- Click "O.K." to close the "Internet Options" box.
"Mozilla FireFox"
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In your browser window, go to the "Tools" menu and select "Options".
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In the "Options dialogue box", deselect "Load Images".
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Click "O.K."
Changing text and background colours
Text version with screen reader
If you have trouble reading text online, various features on your computer can help you change the colour of the text and background. These can be changed either
- within your internet browser; e.g. "Internet Explorer" or "Mozilla" to change the colours of the internet pages that you view; and/or
- within your computer's operating system eg "Windows" to change your overall computer colour scheme
Follow the instructions on here to find out how.
"Internet Explorer"
In your browser window, go to "Tools"; then; "Internet options".
Click on "Accessibility"and tick; "Ignore Colours Specified on Web Pages" to stop the different colours on webpages from showing.
If you use the internet a lot, you might like to create your own style sheet which uses your preferred colour scheme. To apply this style sheet, click "Format Documents Using My Style Sheet" and browse to the place where the style sheet is stored on your computer.
Again in your Internet Options box, click on "Colours". Click on the various coloured boxes to select a different colour for the text, background, hyperlinks which have not yet been visited ("Unvisited") and hyperlinks which have already been visited ("Visited").
Tick "Use Windows Colours" if you wish to use the same colour scheme that you have specified in your Windows operating system (instructions on how to change these are below).
"Mozilla Firefox"
In your browser window, go to "Tools"; then; "Options".
Click on "Fonts & Colours". Under the "Text and Background" heading, click on the relevant coloured boxes to change the text and background colours.
Under the Link Colours heading, click on the relevant coloured boxes to change the colour of hyperlinks which have not yet been visited ("Unvisited") and hyperlinks which have already been visited ("Visited").
Tick "Use System Colours" if you wish to use the same colour scheme that you have specified in your Windows operating system.
Changing Windows colours
Text version with screen reader
You can change the colours throughout Windows on your computer (including on the internet) to a high-contrast setting - this changes the text and the background colour at the same time.
Click on your computer's "Start menu". Click on "Control Panel" (sometimes accessed via Settings). Click on "Accessibility Options" and choose "Display". Tick "Use High Contrast" and then click on "Settings", which allows you to choose from a variety of colour schemes.
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