This website has been specifically designed to be accessible to Maryland citizens with disabilities. Striving for the highest accessibility standards, this website has been successfully validated by software provided by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and Watchfire validators. This website is entitled to display the following insignia.
Accessibility Features of this Web Site
1. Consistent navigation. Extremely important for accessibility, consistency is maintained with main navigation menu on the top of each page. Global, or statewide, links are proliferated across all page tops while contextual links related to the specific page contents are displayed at right.
2. Style Sheets. The "look" (formatting such as color, font-size, general layout) of the entire website is controlled by style sheets. As a result, users have the option to alter this website's appearance by substituting their own style sheet. For example, a person with a specific type of color blindness may substitute their own style sheet to alter this website's color scheme to accommodate their needs. Style sheets also reduce coding clutter which enhances ease of navigation when using screen reader software.
3. Relative Font Sizes Using Percentages. Unlike fixed-sized fonts, percentage fonts automatically adjust relative to their context. For example, if a user chooses to view entire page at a magnified level, each font percentage will adjust proportionately.
4. Access Keys. Access keys are provided to provide the option to navigate this website without the mouse by using keyboard combinations (such as ALT + 5). See bottom of this page for a list of this websites access keys.
5. Alt Tags. Graphics have a text description (called Alt Tag) accessible to assistive software.
6. Highest industry coding standards. All coding of website meets the highest specifications of World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) XHTML standards and priority 1 Bobby ADA compliance standards.
7. Printer Friendly. When printing from browser, all navigation menus, banners and navigation bars are removed. The resulting clutter-free page is automatically generated.
8. Specialized Guides. An invisible link (accessible using special software such as JAWS) is provided at the beginning of each web page leads to a this page providing information on this website's layout and on accessible navigation available on this website.
Using the Accessibility Features
Need to enlarge the text to make it easier to read?
- Use the enlarge feature of your browser. For example, in Internet Explorer click the VIEW menu and then choose the TEXT SIZE option from the dropdown. Then select the amount of enlargement you desire.
- The appearance of this website is controlled by a style sheet. You may substitute your own style sheet to adjust the view of this website for your own special viewing needs.
Having difficulty using a mouse? Use the access keys.
What are access keys? Access keys are keyboard shortcuts you may use to navigate this website.
How will I know which access keys to use?
- You may consult the chart below for a complete guide to access keys used in this website.
- If you are using a screen reader this access key list is also listed on each web page and can be read by activating the access link provided at the beginning of each web page.
How do I use the access keys? Usage depends on which browser you are using.
If you use Internet Explorer:
- Press and hold the ALT key
- Press the key matching the number or letter taken from the access key chart below.
- Release the keys and press the ENTER key. (note: if using MacIntosh this step is skipped)
If you use Mozilla or Netscape Navigator 6 or above:
- Press and hold the ALT key
- Press the key matching the number or letter taken from the access key chart below.
