CommunityCentral is designed so users can easily access the features on offer. On this page you can find out how to access and find stuff on this website.

Please get in touch with any feedback about accessibility by email, online form or the phone number on the Contact us page.

On this page:

Navigate around the web site using a keyboard and access keys
Change font sizes
Find things using the site map and search
Downloading and reading documents
Other help
Future accessibility work

Navigate around the web site using a keyboard and access keys

Access keys

If you use a keyboard to navigate web sites there are access keys that you can use as shortcuts. We have provided the access keys in the government standard and added a few extra for this web site.

[ beginning of main content. This is known as a Skip Link or Skip to content.

0 - List of access keys and accessiblity
1 - Home page
2 - Site map
3 - Search
4 - Workspaces main page
5 - Networks main page
6 - Cross sector projects main page
7 - Newsletters and lists main page
9 - Contact us

] main navigation. This is known as Skip to navigation.

Note: On Windows with Internet Explorer, press ALT + an access key then press Enter. If using Firefox on Windows, press SHIFT + ALT + an access key. If you are using a Macintosh, press Ctrl + an access key. If using Opera press Shift + Escape then release both keys and press the Access Key, e.g. Shift + Escape then 1 to go to the home page

Skip to main navigation

For people using screen readers the first link on every page says "skip and go to site navigation". Following this link will skip over the pager header and go to the main site navigation menu.

The access key for skipping straight to the navigation menu is ]. You can use this shortcut on any page.

Skip to content

For people using screen readers the second link on every page says "skip to content". Following this link will skip over the pager header and skip over the navigation menu to take you straight to the content of the page. However, note that you will miss the link to the accessibility page and the main navigation menu by skipping straight to content.

The access key for skipping straight to the content is [. You can use this shortcut on any page.

Change text sizes

You may be able to increase the size of the text on screen.

Internet Explorer 7.0 (Windows)

Select the 'Page' menu, then 'Text Size', and then your chosen size (or if you have a mouse wheel simply hold down CTRL and roll the mouse wheel to alter the text size).

Internet Explorer 6.0 (Windows)

Select the 'View' menu, then 'Text Size', and then your chosen size (or if you have a mouse wheel simply hold down CTRL and roll the mouse wheel to alter the text size).

Internet Explorer 5.5 (Windows, Mac)

Select the 'View' menu, then 'Text Size', and then your chosen size (or if you have a mouse wheel simply hold down CTRL and roll the mouse wheel to alter the text size).

Firefox 1.0+, 1.5 & 2.0

Select the 'View' menu, then 'Text Size', and then select decrease or increase. Alternatively select CTRL + + or CTRL + -.

Opera 7.0+

Select the 'View' menu, then 'Zoom', and then select the percentage increase or decrease you require. Alternatively select CTRL + + or CTRL + -.

Safari 1.2+ (Mac)

Select the 'View' menu, then 'Make Text Bigger' or 'Make Text Smaller'. Alternatively select Apple + + or Apple +

Find things using the site map and search

Site map

We have provided a site map of the main headings in the web site. This is the best place to get an overview of what is available on the web site. The links in the site map take you to the main sections of the site.

The access key taking you to the site map is 2. You can use this shortcut on any page.

Search and search options

You can search the website by typing one or more keywords into the search input box at the top of any web page, or visit the search page.

If your search returns too many results you can use the Search options to refine your search. There is further help for using search in the Search tips.

The access key taking you to the search engine is 3. You can use this shortcut on any page.

Downloading and reading documents

There are many documents and media files for download on the web site. Here are some tips about how to access the documents.

Some documents are available in a variety of formats

Private workspace members may add documents in a variety of different formats. Formats for text documents include Microsoft Word (doc), Rich Text Format (RTF), Open document format (ODF), Portable Document Format (PDF), HTML for web browsers and basic Text (txt).

If you can't read a document in a workspace you've joined, then ask the organiser of that workspace to make it available to you in a format you can access.

Help with accessing PDF files

To read PDF documents you need Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. Commonly this is already on your computer, installed with your web browser. But if you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader you can download it for free from www.adobe.com. Or you might to try free, open source Sumatra PDF.

Downloading documents

You can download documents and open them to read in your web browser or save them to your computer to read offline.

To read a downloadable document in your web browser simply click the link to the document.

To save a downloadable document right-click on the download (PC) or shift+click (Mac) and select the 'Save link' or 'Save target' option.

Other help

My web, my way from the BBC (UK). This site provides advice and help to all those people who would benefit from making changes to their browser, operating system, or computer. Tips and guides for Linux, Mac and Windows users.

Future accessibility work

When the website was launched it was checked against standards set out in the NZ Government Web Standards. These standards were chosen because they are very up-to-date and well known by web developers in New Zealand. A Wellington-based company called AccEase gave advice on how to make the website accessible and ran some user tests. Testing of Private Workspaces and Discussion Networks, released in July 2009, has yet to be done.

There are some features on the website that it was not possible to make accessible at the time launched. The priorities for improving the accessibility of the website are:

• Ensure form fields for people registering for the first time comply with best practice
• Provide an alternative method to subscribe to e-newsletters
• Consider relocating the sign-in box to right hand of screen.