Visual design
Writing
We have tried to write in clear and concise English, and have also considered guidelines for assisting readers with dyslexia and other reading problems.
Forms
We have made use of accessibility guidelines to make our forms accessible and usable.
Microformats
We are currently investigating the use of microformats . This means that contact details in certain areas of the website are formatted according to the hCard specification - which means that contact details can be exported directly to Outlook or other email clients - we are working to ensure that event details are produced in the hCalendar format so that these can be exported to Outlook, iCalendar or other calendaring clients. If you use FireFox for browsing, you can download the Tails Export add-on to export these details from the website to Outlook (or similar). If you use a different browser, you can also visit Technorati Events and Technorati Contacts to import our details.
Modern browsers
We have tested our website against Internet Explorer (v.6.0) and Mozilla Firefox (v.1.0.7). If you are experiencing difficulties in a different browser or older browser version, please let us know.
Our aim
Explore Living is committed to taking steps to ensure that this website is accessible to everyone who needs to use it. Despite our best efforts, you may encounter issues which we have not yet addressed, are in the process of addressing or have overlooked. If you do have any questions or suggestions regarding the accessibility of this site, please contact us. We can only improve with your help and feedback.
What is accessibility?
Accessibility is a term used to describe the extent to which a website can be satisfactorily accessed and used by all the people who may need to use it. Accessibility refers specifically to how well a website meets the needs of users with disabilities.
“Web accessibility means that people with disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with the Web, and that they can contribute to the Web.”
(World Wide Web Consortium Web Accessibility Initiative)
Most people using this website will be using a browser and navigating with a mouse. However, for people whose vision is impaired, or living with some other disability, this may not be the case.
If someone can’t use a browser or a mouse or a keyboard without adjustments, he or she needs a website to be made so that it can also be read or viewed as originally intended in a wide range of devices and media.
Conformance and standards
All our pages should comply with many of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines of the World Wide Web Consortium. We are currently trying to develop our website according to commonly accepted web standards, and are investigating ways to improve accessibility and usability with these.
Accessibility and usability
Web accessibility also benefits people without disabilities. For example, a key principle of Web accessibility is designing Web sites and software that are flexible to meet different user needs, preferences, and situations. This flexibility also benefits people without disabilities in certain situations, such as people using a slow Internet connection, as well as people with:
“'temporary disabilities' such as a broken arm, and people with changing abilities due to aging.”
Plug-ins
We make use of Adobe Flash files on this website, and may link out to Adobe Acrobat pdf (portable document format) documents. To fully enjoy this website it is suggested that you download the latest versions of these software plug-in items.
