Default text size for this website.
Larger text size, 150 percent of default.
Largest text size, 200 percent of default.
For more text sizing options, you can also change your text size preferences in your Internet browser.
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Default Contrast | High Contrast | Soft Contrast
We live our values. As such, the Global Learning website was designed to be accessible to the widest possible audience. It is compatible with most popular screen reading software and was designed for those who may not be able to use a mouse. This website can be navigated using the keyboard on your computer or using other assistive devices.
You can change the look of this site to make it easier for you to read by making the text bigger and/or changing the page contrast. This section gives you instructions on how to do this:
To make viewing easier, we offer three different text sizes (outside of offerings from your web browser). They are indicated by the three different sized letter “A’s” at the top of this page and just before this paragraph. You can click on the different sized letter “A’s” to change the text size of a page. The smallest size “A” is the default text size for the website.
When you do this, our site will place a cookie on your computer's web browser in order to remember your text size preference the next time you visit the site.
For more text sizing options, you can also change your text size preferences in your Internet browser. For more information, please use the online Help feature of your Internet browser and/or visit the Web Accessibility Initiative website at this link (link will open in a separate window): http://www.w3.org/WAI/changedesign
Default Contrast | High Contrast | Soft Contrast
You can also change the contrast of this website's pages by selecting either soft contrast or high contrast colour schemes.
Select the High Contrast option to switch to a black background with white text, light-coloured headings, and light blue rollover links.
Select the Soft Contrast option for a toned-down version of the site, using a light blue background with black text, dark-coloured headings, and blue rollover links.
Default Contrast is automatic. However, select the Default Contrast option to return to Default Contrast when using either the Soft Contrast or High Contrast options. The Default Contrast setting is a white background with black text, dark-coloured headings, and blue rollover links.
This feature allows you to skip over the repeated content at the beginning of each page (i.e. the logo, masthead graphics, navigation menu, and left side panel) and go straight to the main content of the page. This is especially useful if you use a screen reader because it gives you a way to avoid listening through lengthy menus every time you go to a new page. It is also helpful if you must tab through pages rather than use a mouse.
To try it, navigate to a new page, then press the Tab key to select the "Skip to main content" link. Press the Enter key to activate the link.
The "Skip to navigation" link allows you to skip over the the logo and masthead graphics at the top of the page and go straight to the navigation menu. Like the "Skip to main content" link, this feature is useful to those with screen readers and who use the Tab key rather than a mouse; because it gives you a way to quickly navigate around the site or to access the Accessibility page to change your text size or contrast settings.
NOTE: The first item on the menu is a link to this Accessibility page.
To try it, navigate to a new page, then press the Tab key until the "Skip to navigation " link is selected. Press the Enter key to activate the link.
Some documents on this website are available in Adobe PDF format. Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed to open these files. There is no charge to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. For more information about Adobe Acrobat Reader or to download this free software, please visit this link (link will open in a separate window): Get Acrobat
NOTE: The download itself may be quite large for some (between 8MB to 16MB), so check to see if it is already available on your computer.
Images on our site have alternative text attributes, often known as "Alt Text." This means that when an image is used on a web page to convey information, its content is also described in a way that can be understood by text browsers and assistive technologies such as screen readers.
This feature is also helpful for those who wish to turn off images in their Internet browser in order to improve page download speed (i.e. bandwidth). In this case, the Alt Text will appear on the page instead of the image.
If an image is used for simply decorative purposes, the text attribute for the image is left empty in line with accepted best practices.
Links on our website have Title tags. These tags work similarly to alternative text attributes and provide more information for someone using a screen reader or when someone hovers over a link with their mouse.
The Global Learning website was created using only standard web technologies. The website requires no special scripting languages or plug-in software to navigate or use. Where Javascript has been used for enhanced features, those features are hidden when a visitor has Javascript disabled or does not have a reasonably up-to-date version.
On pages that include tabs, if Javascript is disabled, the tabs are hidden and all content panels are displayed from top to bottom on the page.
NOTE: Our navigation menu uses Javascript to show sub-topics under certain menu items. If you have Javascript disabled, visit our site map page to find links to all pages in this website.
"Device independence" simply refers to the idea that our website does not require the use of any specific browser software or operating system. The site can even be navigated using a wireless device (i.e. Blackberry or Palm).
In most cases, tables are used for tabular data only. Where tables are used for layout purposes, they are clearly marked as "layout table" within the table summary, readable by screen readers. Tables are created using best practices for accessibility including the use of header markings.
Global Learning wishes to acknowledge the resources of the Job Opportunity Information Network, the Web Accessibility Initiative, and the CNIB in establishing the accessibility standards for our website. (All of these links will open in separate windows.)
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Default Contrast | High Contrast | Soft Contrast
Default contrast is a white background with dark text.
High contrast is a black background with light text.
Soft contrast is a light blue background with dark text.
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