Accessibility Tips

Tips for everyone

Text size

  • Press Ctrl+ to increase the size
  • Press Ctrl- to decrease the size
  • Press Ctrl0 to go back to the default size

Accessibility preferences

The Accessibility preferences menu allows you to adjust the contrast, text size, font, and text spacing.

Skip to content

Use the Skip to content link to move from the top of the page to the beginning of the main content on any page. Usually the main content begins with the Search box.

Tips for people using screen readers

JAWS tips

Find the search box in a single keystroke

  • The Search box is a form edit field. By pressing E, you can cycle through all of the edit fields on a page. On most pages, the only edit field is the Search box, so pressing E will get you to it in a single keystroke

Navigate a page using headings

  • Insert+F6 to open a list of headings on a page
  • H to move from heading to heading
  • Shift+H to move backwards through headings

Navigate the search results page using headings, links and landmarks

  • H to navigate to the Search results heading
  • H again to skip past the Jump to filters link and other options and get to the first item in your results list
  • The title of each item is a heading level 2. Continue to H to move from title to title
  • When you find the title you want, Tab to skip past the summary information and get to the Get it! options menu to select your format and then select Get it! to download it
  • Options is a complementary region. Press R to exit the results list and get to this area quickly

Navigate forms

  • Insert+F5 to open up a list of forms on a page
  • F to move from field to field
  • Spacebar to activate a field. For edit fields, you may need to Spacebar before you can type in the field

Navigate a page using regions

To navigate by region:

  • Ctrl+Insert+R to find a list of regions on a page
  • R to move from region to region

Regions on pages throughout the site include:

  • Banner - includes our logo and links to main content, accessibility tips and sign in
  • Navigation - links to major sections of the site
  • Search - includes a simple search box and links to advanced search and browse by category
  • Main - main content of the page
  • Complementary - only on the Search results page, this landmark takes you to Filter results. 
  • Content info - links to acceptable use and privacy statements, information about us and how to contact us

NVDA tips

Find the search box in a single keystroke

  • The Search box is a form edit field. By pressing E, you can cycle through all of the edit fields on a page. On most pages, the first edit field is the Search box, so pressing E will get you to it in a single keystroke

Navigate a page using headings

  • NVDA+F7 to open a list of navigation elements on the page. Select Headings to view all of the headings.
  • H to move from heading to heading
  • Shift+H to move backwards through headings

Navigate the search results page using headings, links and landmarks

  • H to navigate to the Search results heading
  • H again to skip past Sort and other options and get to the first item in your results list
  • The title of each item is a heading. Continue to H to move from title to title
  • When you find the title you want, Tab to skip past the summary information and get to the Get it! options  quickly. Then move to the Get it! button and select it to complete the action.

Navigate forms

  • NVDA+F7 to open a list of navigation elements on the page. Select forms to view the list of form fields.
  • F to move from field to field
  • Spacebar to activate a field. For edit fields, you may need to Spacebar before you can type in the field

Navigate a page using landmarks

To navigate by landmarks:

  • NVDA+F7 to open a list of navigation elements on the page. Select landmarks to view the list of landmarks.
  • NVDA+D to move from landmark to landmark

Landmarks on pages throughout the site include:

  • Site header - includes our logo and links to main content, accessibility tips and sign in
  • Accessibility toolbar - sets accessibility preferences for the site such as colour contrast
  • Navigation - includes main sections of the site such as newspapers
  • Search - includes a simple search box and links to advanced search and browse by category
  • Complementary - only on the Search results page, this landmark takes you to Filter results. 

Voiceover tips

Navigate a page using headings

  • Press VO keys + U to open the Voiceover rotor and press the right arrow key to move to the headings list and the down arrow to view the list of headings on the page. 
  • VO keys + Command + H to move from heading to heading

Navigate the search results page using headings, links and landmarks

  • VO keys + Command + H to navigate to the Search results heading.
  • The title of each item in the search results is a heading level 2. Continue to VO keys + Command + H to move from title to title
  • If you wish to use the filters to narrow your search results, select the Jump to filters link. 
  • When you find the title you want, Tab to skip past the summary information and get to the Get it options menu quickly. Tab again to select the Get it! button. 

Navigate forms

  • Press VO keys + U to open the Voiceover rotor and press the right arrow key to move to the form controls list. Then use the down arrow to view the list of form controls on the page.
  • VO keys + Command + J to move from one form control field to another
  • Spacebar to activate a field. 

Navigate a page using landmarks

To navigate by landmarks:

  • Press VO keys + U to open the Voiceover rotor and press the right arrow key to move to the landmarks list. Then use the down arrow to view the list of landmarks on the page.

Landmarks on pages throughout the site include:

  • Site header - includes our logo and links to main content, accessibility tips and sign in
  • Accessibility toolbar -  sets accessibility preferences for the site such as colour contrast
  • Navigation - includes main sections of the site such as newspapers
  • Search - includes a simple search box and links to advanced search and browse by category
  • Complementary - only on the Search results page, this landmark takes you to Filter results. 

Navigating the menu on a mobile device

To use the rotor on your iPhone or iPad, rotate two fingers on your iOS device's screen as if you're turning a dial. Voiceover will say the first rotor option. Turn until you get to the Links rotor option.

To search for books:
  • Swipe right with one finger until you get to the Skip to search button. Enter your keywords into the search bar. Swipe right to find the Search button and double-tap to execute your search.
To log in:
  • Swipe right with one finger until you get to the Account menu. Double-tap to open the Account menu. Flick right with one finger until you reach the Log in option and double-tap to open it.
To register:
  • Swipe right with one finger until you get to the Account menu. Double-tap to open the Account menu. Flick right until you reach the Register option and double-tap to open it.
To access newspapers, magazines and recommended books:
  • Swipe right with one finger until you get to the main menu. Double-tap to open the main menu. Flick right until you reach the option you want and double-tap to open it.