Introduction
Fairfax Media is committed to improving the accessibility of its digital network for users with disabilities.
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has released a set of guidelines called Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These guidelines presently comprise the international standard for web accessibility. There are three levels of conformance (A, AA and AAA).
Fairfax Media recognises the importance of providing web accessible content to all users of our digital network and it is our aim is to meet conformance level A for all Fairfax Media content published on our network. In many areas, our network already conforms to a higher accessibility standard.
This page is intended to provide tips and useful information to assist users with disabilities to access Fairfax Media's websites. We have also included information about the standards we expect of third parties supplying services to the Fairfax Media network, how to provide Fairfax Media with feedback and a complaints handling process.
Contact us
We invite you to provide feedback of your experience with our sites. We take all feedback into consideration and will endeavour to respond to you within a timely manner.
Please contact
Accessibility Team
Fairfax Media
1 Darling Island Road
Pyrmont NSW 2009
Email: accessibility@fairfaxdigital.com.au
How to use our accessibility features
Fairfax Media has implemented a range of accessibility features, which have been developed in consultation with industry experts and disabled users.
Listing headings and links
In most of our pages the most important content is at the beginning of the page and we structured all content with headings and meaningful HTML code. This allows you to create lists of headings or links to skim the page if you use a screen reader, but it also helps assistive devices to understand and process the content.
Using the keyboard
When you press the Tab key after a page has loaded we provide skip links to the main navigation and content area. Most elements which are clickable are outlined when you access them using the Tab key.
We do not define any access keys as assistive devices already define many key combinations. We want to avoid that access keys interfere with such key combinations.
Explaining content
Our editors strive to attach descriptions to each image which briefly describe it if you use a screen reader or have turned off images.
When your screen reader comes across content which is visually grouped together, or content which uses icons or other images, we try to insert additional text available to screen readers to explain the content or images.
Interactive components
Some components of our pages are interactive, for example tabs or content that changes automatically. We attempt to provide you with a pause or stop control for such content to view it in your own time.
If interactive content is partly hidden, as with tabs or popup elements, all content will be shown if you disable interactivity, for example by turning off Javascript.
Enlarging the page
You can enlarge the page using your browser. On PCs press the 'CTRL' and '+' keys together to zoom into the page, on a Mac press the command key and '+'. Press 'CTRL' (or command key on the Mac) and '–' to zoom out.
Known barriers
Not every page on our network will have the accessibility features we strive to offer. This is because it takes time to improve our entire network and help third parties comply with the W3C guidelines.
For example, some pages of our websites use video or audio. We are currently seeking a viable accessibility option for this content, but in the meantime please contact us if you require assistance with particular content.
If you find a page or section inaccessible do not hesitate to contact us so we can help you and review those pages.
Please let us know too if you encounter inaccessible documents such as PDFs. Adobe offers a free online conversion tool for PDF documents.
It is Fairfax Media's policy to require any third party software developers (who assist us with the building and maintenance of our digital network) to comply with the W3C guidelines to at least conformance level A when supplying their services. An exception to this policy would be where compliance with this standard would cause Fairfax Media or the developer an unjustifiable hardship.
Please remember that our efforts to provide a fully accessible digital network need to be balanced against the impact that this has on Fairfax Media's business and the nature of the service being offered. We are constantly working to review our digital network and, wherever practical, will improve the accessibility of our sites.
Technical information
We test our sites in the browsers most of our visitors use. The current release for the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines is version 2.0.
Complaints
If you are having trouble accessing a particular page within the Fairfax Media network or you would like to lodge a complaint, please contact:
Accessibility Team
Fairfax Media
1 Darling Island Road
Pyrmont NSW 2009
Email: accessibility@fairfaxdigital.com.au
When lodging a complaint, the Accessibility Team would be grateful if you could be specific about the nature of your complaint, including the location of the page you are having trouble accessing.
We take your feedback seriously and will promptly investigate and respond to all genuine complaints.
Currency
This policy is current as at November 2012.
