Accessibility

World Book Online Reference Center aims to provide maximum accessibility for all users. Part of this is work to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Another part is to ensure that the Online Reference Center content and design can be accessed equally by users of most ages, locations, and origins.

This Accessibility feature is designed to provide information on World Book accessibility, and to explain how some users can adapt the Reference Center to meet their individual accessibility needs. For example, some users may prefer to see spellings, usage, and content presented in a form that is familiar for users of British (or International) English. Others may find that accessibility can be improved by changes in the screen display such as enlarging the size of the text.

Accessibility Statement

World Book Online Reference Center has been adapted for maximum accessibility. This accessibility work was based on the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) of the World Wide Web Consortium. WAI is supported in part by: the U.S. Department of Education's National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research; European Commission's Information Society Technologies Programme; and Canada's Assistive Devices Industry Office.

Enlarging the size of text

You can make the text, or font, appear larger if this makes it easier for you to read. The way of changing text size varies according to the browser you are using. To change the text size, look for your browser and version number in the list below, and follow the steps given underneath your browser name.

Note: if you visit other Web sites after you have enlarged the text size, then the other sites will also show a larger size of text. You can reduce the text size by following the procedure for changing the type size, and choosing the option to make the text smaller

Other browser versions may have different ways of changing text size, or may not have the facility to change it. If you have an older browser, use the browser Help file to find out more information.

Internet Explorer Version 5.5--Windows

Step One: Find the word Tools at the top of the browser window, and click the mouse on it. A menu will appear. Go down to Internet Options and click on that. A new window, called Internet options, will appear. Click on the General tab at the top left. Look for the Accessibility button near the bottom right, and click on that. An Accessibility window will appear. Near the middle is the text "Ignore font sizes specified on Web pages". Clicking on the text will make a check mark appear in the box on the left. Close the Accessibility and Internet option windows by clicking on the X at top right.

Step Two: Click on the word View at the top of the browser window. Go down to Text size and click on that. Finally click on the next larger size. This step can be taken at any time to make the text larger or smaller.

Netscape Version 4.7 Windows

Step One: Find the word View at the top of the browser window, and click the mouse on it. A menu will appear. When you see Increase font near the top of the menu, click on it. This will enlarge the text size by one step. To enlarge the text more, repeat Step One.

Changing the style of text

You can make the text, or font, appear in a different style if this makes it easier for you to read. To change the text style, look for your browser and version number in the list below, and follow the steps given underneath your browser name.

Note: if you visit other Web sites after you have changed the text style, then the other sites may show your chosen text style or font. You can stop using your own choice of type style by using the first part of the procedure below, and making a choice that enables your browser to use the text style specified by each Web site.

Other browser versions may have different ways of changing text size, or may not have the facility to change it. If you have an older browser, use the browser Help file to find out more information.

Internet Explorer Version 5.5 Windows--Changing font style

Step One: Find the word Tools at the top of the browser window, and click the mouse on it. A menu will appear. Go down to Internet Options and click on that. A new window, called Internet options, will appear. Click on the General tab at the top left. Look for the Accessibility button near the bottom right, and click on that. An Accessibility window will appear. Near the middle are the words "Ignore font styles specified on Web pages". Clicking on those words will make a check mark appear in the box on the left. Close the Accessibility window by clicking on the X at top right.

Step Two: Click on Fonts toward the bottom left of the Internet Options Window. A Fonts window will appear. A window on the left shows the available typefaces. Choose the type you prefer from that list. Close the Fonts and Internet Options window by clicking on the X at top right.

This step can be taken at any time to change the text style.

Netscape

Version 4.7 Windows --Changing font style

Step One: Find the word Edit at the top of the browser window, and click the mouse on it. A menu will appear. Look for the word Preferences at the bottom, and click on it. A preferences box will appear, with a list of items at the left. Click on Fonts. A Fonts display will appear at the right.

Step Two: Toward the bottom of the Fonts display, click on the words "Use my default fonts, overriding document-specified fonts." Then look for the words "Variable Width Font" near the top, and click on the first arrow to the right of those words. A list of fonts will appear, showing what each font looks like. From this list choose one that you like by clicking on it. You can also change its size by clicking on the arrow to the right of the Size, and choosing a size.

Step Three: Click on OK at the bottom, and the Fonts display will close, revealing your browser window with the text style and size according to your choices.