This site was designed and is maintained by I.T. Services at
Barrow Borough Council. Content is maintained by individual users
on a service led basis. There are relevant contact details at the
bottom of every page.
Barrow Borough Council aim to make this web site as widely
accessible as possible. Our pages use a standard template with
consistent layout and navigation, and much consideration has been
given to the use of colour, text and images. However, the way each
page is created by individual users may cause some inconsistencies.
If you have any problems viewing this site please
let us
know, and if the page cannot be corrected we will arrange for
the information to be sent to you in another format.
This incorporated testing by experienced users of
adaptive technology for access by people who have:
- no vision
- low vision
- colour blindness
- dyslexia
- deafness
- impaired mobility
- learning difficulties.
Enhancements were made to the site based upon their
recommendations.
In May 2008 we re-launched the site based on a new
design incorporating lessons learnt to date.
The home page and most content pages now conform to WCAG 1.0
AA accessibility standards. We are working hard to ensure all
content conform to the highest standards, including web pages
produced by supplier systems.
Most pages are also WAI XHTML 1.0
Transitional compliant meaning that they are coded to accepted
standards as required by many forms of assistive technology
used by people with various forms of disability.
Do you need help in making your computer easier to
use?
Ability Net looks at the many ways you can make your keyboard and
mouse, Windows, the internet and your favourite applications suit
you and your needs:
http://www.abilitynet.org.uk/myway/.
The BBC web site provides advice and help to all those people
who would benefit from making changes to their browser, operating
system, or computer to be able to view bbc.co.uk and the rest of
the web in a more accessible way:
www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/index.shtml.
GIS - Geographical Information Systems
Barrow Borough Council strives to meet the needs of computer
users with visual impairment or other conditions that limit
accessibility. Unfortunately, due to the graphics-intensive nature
of GIS, this information cannot all be presented in an
accessible format. If you would like assistance with access to this
information please contact
gis@barrowbc.gov.uk.
Usability
Usability describes the navigation,
design and page structure of the site.
Navigation
- Hyperlinks (links) within content are
highlighted in a contrasting colour or underlined, and will
change colour and/or be underlined when hovered over or focused on
- Example One - - Example Two -
- Title attributes (descriptions that can
be read by screen readers , or viewed by hovering the mouse over
the link) are used on many of our links, unless the
text of the link already fully describes the target.
- Images used as links will have a
descriptive tag on the image as well as a text link.
- Pop Up Windows. We will usually warn you when
an external site will open in a new window. New windows are only
opened for Web Forms, Word and PDF files, our "Printer Friendly"
page and areas that do not include our standard navigation
menus.
- Browsing to External sites. Please note that,
once you have browsed to an external site, links (such as a Home
Button) will relate to their site pages, and you will need to
use the Back button on your browser to return to the Barrow BC
site.
There are keyboard shortcuts for navigating around longer
pages:
- Tab - most browsers will cycle through
links on a page by using Tab (two opposing arrows, above Caps Lock
on a standard keyboard).
- End - will take you to the bottom of a
page.
- Home - will take you to the top of the
page.
- Page Down - will scroll the page
down one screen.
- Page Up - will scroll the page up one
screen.
Content
The content on this site is categorised using a list of
standard terms for local authority services and information. There
are nine categories in the navigation on the left of every
page, and these categories can be selected for a general page on
that topic. The menu will then show all pages within that
section:
- Business & Regeneration - for
all existing and future businesses, with information on
development, planning, licensing and regeneration.
- Community & Living - broader
community and neighbourhood information including local
partnerships, community centres, events, clubs and
societies.
- Council & Democracy - how your
council works and is elected, contact details for departments and
councillors, strategy and policy, Parish Councils and adjacent
authorities.
- Environment & Waste - contacts and
information for cleansing, refuse, noise and animal nuisance,
planning, environmental health and local development.
- Housing - issues and advice on
council housing and private housing. Plus details of Council Tax
Benefit and Housing Benefit
- Leisure & Culture - cultural and
heritage, sporting and community events, local venues and
facilities, information for visitors and residents on how to spend
leisure time in the area.
- Planning - Planning and Development
Control Services and details of planning applications.
- Transport & Streets
- information and contacts for travel
enquiries, abandoned cars, concessionary fares and parking in the
area.
By clicking on the link to one of these pages you will be
presented with a page containing further information and links to
pages within this category. You will need to navigate back to the
Home Page to get the full range of topics once more.
Search
If you are not sure where to find the page you are looking for
try typing a word or phrase into our "Search" box, available in the
top right of every page. Select the GO button and a list of
relevant pages will be displayed. Select the title to view the
page.
Popular Tasks
On the Home page and each of the nine main
category pages a list of Popular Tasks appear on the top
left-hand side of the page. These have been identified as being
popular by considering the most frequently visited web pages, the
most popular requested services via our Customer Services staff
and, if appropriate, services that are of public
interest at particular times.
Select a page link to view that page.
Site Map
The
site
map lists all content pages by navigation structure.
Select a page link to view that page.
A to Z of Services
The
A to Z of
services lists the services available within the
borough regardless of whether they are provided by Barrow
Borough Council, Cumbria County Council or another agency.
Services are listed alphabetically with a link to the
appropriate web page, either on this web site, the Cumbria County
Council web site or other agency's web site.
The most popular services have been drawn so that they appear
at the top of the A to Z listing.
If you cannot find what you want here, there is also an
A to Z of
Pages which lists the content pages of this web site by listing
them alphabetically using their page title.
A "Breadcrumb trail"
in the main content area (e.g. Home > Planning
Applications > Planning Applications Guidance) will show your
place in the navigation structure. This can be used to navigate
back through the categories by selecting each part of the
trail.
Printer Friendly
will generate a new window that shows only the main content
of a page in a format that will print well.
A "skip to content"
link, in the code at the top left of every page, is to
aid users of accessibility programs, such as screen readers, to
avoid listing all navigation items and go straight to the content
of a page.
The Council makes use of the ability to download documents to
your computer. There are clear advantages to this for larger
documents as they can be downloaded and read 'off-line' (without
being connected to the internet) and printed out if required.
Most downloads are in Adobe's Portable Document Format (PDF).
This document format is consistent no matter what your browser,
computer or set-up.
Adobe also has a version of this reader, Acrobat Reader 5.1
for Windows with Search and Accessibility, on their
access pages (
access.adobe.com) that includes
support for screen readers.
Accessibility
Barrow Borough Council aims to comply with accessibility
guidelines based upon the World Wide Web Consortium's Web
Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). WCAG defines three
levels of checkpoint priority.
All our pages should meet the AA standard (Double A meaning
conformance to Priority 1 and 2 checkpoints) of these
guidelines.
Most pages on this site should now validate to XHTML 1.0
Transitional, as defined by the W3C (see Related Information). This means that the
page has been designed in a way that makes it work with no
errors on most modern browsers.
A "skip to content"
link, in the code at the top left of every page, is to
aid users of accessibility programs, such as screen readers, who
wish to avoid listing all navigation items and go straight to the
content of a page.
Title attributes
(descriptions that can be read by screen readers or
viewed by hovering the mouse over the link) are used on many of our
links, unless the text of the link already fully
describes the target.
Images
used as links will have a descriptive tag on the image as well
as a text link.
We will usually warn you when an external site will
open in a new window,
but we are currently changing our site so that new windows are only
opened for Web Forms, Word and PDF files, and our "Printer
Friendly" page.
There are keyboard shortcuts for navigating around longer
pages:
- Tab - most browsers will cycle through
links on a page by using Tab (two opposing arrows, above Caps Lock
on a standard keyboard).
- End - will take you to the bottom of a
page.
- Home - will take you to the top of the
page.
- Page Down - will scroll the page
down one screen.
- Page Up - will scroll the page up one
screen.
Text Size:
We us
e relative text sizing where possible. This means
that if you are having difficulty reading the text you can increase
the size by following the appropriate instructions
below.
Users with a Scroll Wheel Mouse on Windows
Systems:
Holding down the "Ctrl" key (on the bottom
left of the keyboard) while scrolling the mouse wheel, will change
the text size.
Mac users:
You can hold down the "command" key (the one with the apple
logo on it) and press the keys '+' or '-' to increase or decrease
your font size, respectively.
Browser Type: Microsoft Internet
Explorer
Select View from the menu at the top of the window.
Choose Text size.
Another menu should appear listing Smallest to Largest.
Select appropriately.
Browser Type: Mozilla Firefox
Select View from the menu at the top of the window.
Choose Text Size.
Another menu should appear listing Increase, Decrease or
Normal.
Select appropriately.
You can also use: Ctrl++ to increase, Ctrl-- to decrease and
Ctrl 0 to reset to default text size.
Browser Type: Netscape Navigator
Select View
from the menu at the top of the window.
Click Increase Font
The text in your browser window should now appear larger.
Repeat until the text is at the desired size.
Browser Type: Opera
Select View from the menu at the top of the window.
Choose Zoom.
Select a percentage.
Repeat until the text is at the desired size.
n.b. this will increase the size of all the elements on page.
To alter only the text size use:
File > Preferences > Fonts and colours.
Change the fonts and colours of the text and links, background
colour, and minimum text size to a style that better suits
you.
Browser Type: Safari
Select View from the menu at the top of the window.
Choose "Make Text Bigger" or "Make Text Smaller".
Forms and Scripting
Wherever possible, device-independent event handlers (e.g. not
dependant on mouse clicks) have been implemented so that use of the
mouse is not required.
Contacting Us
If you are experiencing accessibility, usability or other
technical problems specific to this site please contact
itservices@barrowbc.gov.uk
with details of the problem.
Further Sources of Computing Support for Disabled
People
The Aidis Trust
gives services, advice, information and support on everything to do
with computing for disabled people so that whatever health,
condition or age they are, they can get the most from technology.
It does this through:
www.aidis.org lets disabled
people know how to maintain and adapt their computer; tells them
about a huge range of adaptations with installation and user
guides; has reviews by end users; and has a shop giving significant
discounts on adaptations and computers for people who get DLA or
AA.
A local rate telephone Help line - 0845 120 3719. The help line
is open from 9:30AM to 5PM, Monday to Friday. It gives
straightforward, non technical advice on computers and adaptations.
If disabled people are stuck, or their computer is not working
properly, the help line staff will help solve problems, either over
the ‘phone or through remote support software.
- Assessments for home use: We do this because there are a
confusing number of adaptations that change frequently, and a huge
range of prices. We always look at what low cost and free solutions
might work for disabled people first.
- Remote Training: Because some of the specialist
technology is complex and because disabled people need to know how
it works to get anything from it, and because no-one else offers
this training for home use, we do!
- Courses: Aidis runs FREE courses for local disability groups,
parent groups and anyone who wants information about no cost and
low cost ways of making computers accessible for disabled
people.
Get Safe Online Web Site Launched
Get Safe Online will help you protect yourself against
internet threats. The site is sponsored by government and leading
businesses working together to provide a free, public
service.
"To help the public educate themselves, the Get Safe Online
campaign will raise public awareness of the issues and provide
solutions through a new web site:
www.getsafeonline.org. The
web site is a one-stop-shop for reliable, up-to-date information
about online safety, to give home users and small businesses the
advice they need to use the Internet safely. "