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Ontario Centre of Innovation

Accessibility

Accessibility Policy Statement

Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) is committed to customer service excellence. Our programs and services are delivered in a way that reflects the principles of dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity. Through these key principles, OCI strives to provide our programs and services in a respectful manner that is accessible to all of our customers.

In compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA, 2005) Customer Service Standard, OCI’s policies, practices and procedures governing the provision of programs and services to persons with disabilities are available on request.

Feedback

Feedback about the delivery of services to persons with disabilities is welcomed, as it may identify areas that require change and assist in continuous service improvement. Such feedback may be offered by telephone, in writing, or by email.

Where possible, feedback will be addressed immediately. Some feedback may, however, require more effort to address and may need to be reviewed before an action is taken. OCI will respond within 21 business days.

Feedback may be provided to the accessibility coordinator:

Kristine Persaud
Graphic Design Manager and Creative Lead
Ontario Centre of Innovation
325 Front Street West, Suite 300
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5V 2Y1

Telephone: 416 861 1092/ 866 759 6014
Email: kpersaud@oc-innovation.ca

Availability and Format of Documents (Alternative Formats)

When possible, OCI will accommodate requests for documents in alternative formats such as large print and transcription. To request documents in alternative formats, please contact Deanna Tosto at the contact information above.

Website Accessibility

Access Keys

Most browsers support jumping to specific links by typing keys defined on the web site. On Windows, you can press ALT + an access key; on Macintosh, you can press Control + an access key.

All pages on this site define the following access keys:

  • Access key 1 – Homepage
  • Access key 2 – Sitemap
  • Access key 3 – Search
  • Access key 4 – Contact Us
  • Access key 5 – Privacy Policy
  • Access key 6 – Terms of Use
  • Access key 0 – Accessibility Statement

Navigation Aids

  • All pages rel=”home” links to aid navigation in text-only browsers.
  • All pages also include a search box (access key 3).

Standards Compliance

  • All pages on this site are Government of Ontario Accessibility Standard for Information and Communications compliant. This is always a judgement call; many accessibility features can be measured, but some may not. OCI has reviewed all the guidelines and believes that all oc-innovation.ca pages are in compliance.
  • All pages on this site are HTML5 and CSS2 compliant, and use structured semantic markup. H1 tags are used for main titles, H2, H3 and H4 tags for subtitles.

Tips for Enhancing the Accessibility of this Website

This section provides suggestions for modifications you can make in your operating system and browser to help access Ontario.ca. We currently have complete step-by-step accessibility modifications for the following.

Browsers:

  • Internet Explorer 6
  • Internet Explorer 7
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Apple Safari

Operating Systems:

  • Microsoft Windows
  • Apple Mac OS X

Step-by-Step Instructions

Change text size: Make oc-innovation.ca easier to view by making text larger and more readable.

Windows XP

  1. Click the Start button or press the Windows logo key on your keyboard.
  2. Open the Control Panel. Click on Control Panel or press C on your keyboard and it will pop up.
  3. Open the Display. Double-click the Display icon or press D until the Display icon is highlighted and press Enter. The Display Properties window will pop up.
  4. Click on the Appearance tab or press Ctrl and Tab until the Appearance tab comes to the front.
  5. Change the font size. Under Font Size choose large or extra large font from the drop-down menu, or press Alt and F on your keyboard and use the up/down arrows to select a font size. Press Enter.

Internet Explorer 6

  1. Open the View menu. Use your mouse or press Alt and V on your keyboard.
  2. Select the Text Size tab. Use your mouse or press Alt and X on your keyboard. Choose your preferred text size (largest to smallest).
  3. Click with your mouse or use the arrow keys and press Enter on your keyboard.

Internet Explorer 7

To change the whole browser window

  1. Zoom in: on your keyboard, press Ctrl and + (plus sign) at the same time.
  2. Zoom out: on your keyboard, press Ctrl and – (minus sign) at the same time.

To just enlarge text

  1. Open the Page menu. Use your mouse or press Alt and P on your keyboard.
  2. Select the Text Size tab. Use your mouse or press Alt and X on your keyboard. Choose your preferred text size (largest to smallest).
  3. Click with your mouse or use the arrow keys and press Enter on your keyboard.

Mozilla Firefox for Mac OS X

To change the whole browser window

  1. Using your mouse: open the View menu, Choose Zoom and select Zoom In or Zoom Out as required.
  2. Using your keyboard: press Command and “+” to zoom in, Command and “-“ to zoom out. Press Command and 0 to return to standard zoom.

To just enlarge text

  1. Using your mouse: open the View menu, choose Zoom and select Zoom Text Only. Once selected, open the View menu, choose Zoom and select Zoom In or Zoom Out as required.
  2. Using your keyboard: press Control and F2 and navigate through the menu using your arrow keys to select View, press Return. Navigate using your arrow keys to Zoom, press Return. Navigate using your arrow keys to Zoom Text Only and press return to select. Once Zoom Text Only is selected press Command and “+” to zoom text in, Command and “-“ to zoom text out. Press Command and 0 to return to standard zoom.

Apple Safari

  1. Using your mouse: open the View menu. Select Make Text Bigger or Make Text Smaller (or Make Text Normal Sized) as required.
  2. Using your keyboard: press Command and “+” to Make Text Bigger, Command and “-“ to Make Text Smaller. Press Command and 0 to return to Make Text Normal Sized.

Change fonts: Change the font style for web pages you visit to make them more readable.

Windows XP

  1. Click the Start button or press the Windows logo key on your keyboard.
  2. Open the Control Panel. Click on Control Panel or press C on your keyboard and it will pop up.
  3. Open the Display. Double-click the Display icon or press D on your keyboard until the Display icon is highlighted and press Enter. The Display Properties window will pop up.
  4. Click on the Appearance tab or press Ctrl and Tab on your keyboard until it comes to the front.
  5. Click Advanced or press the Tab key until Advanced is highlighted and press Enter. This will display the Advanced Appearance box.
  6. Click the drop-down box below Item or press Alt and I on your keyboard. Navigate through list items using your mouse or the up/down arrow keys. Navigate until Menu is highlighted.
  7. Click in the Font drop-down box or press Alt and F on your keyboard to select (or press Tab on your keyboard). Use your mouse or the up/down arrow keys to select a font.
  8. Click in the Size drop-down box or press Alt and E on your keyboard (or press Tab on your keyboard). Use your mouse or the up/down arrows to select a size. Alternatively, type a size using your keyboard’s number pad and press Enter.

Note: Look at the menu to see the changes you have made. These same font modifications can be made for any of the options in the Item drop-down menu from step 5.

Internet Explorer 6

  1. Open the Tools menu. Use your mouse or press Alt and T on your keyboard.
  2. Select Internet Options. Use your mouse or press Alt and O on your keyboard.
  3. Select the Accessibility button. Use your mouse or press Alt and E on your keyboard.
  4. Check the box “Ignore font styles specified on web page”. Use your mouse or press Alt and S. This overrides font settings of any web page you view with the settings you will define.
  5. Click OK or press Enter on your keyboard to return to the Internet Options box.
  6. Click Fonts or press Alt and N on your keyboard to bring up the Font dialogue box.
  7. Click on the heading “Web Page Fonts” or press Alt and W on your keyboard. Use either your mouse or up/down arrow keys to scroll through the list of fonts, and choose one you like.
  8. Use your mouse to click OK or press Enter on your keyboard to return to Internet Options.
  9. Use your mouse to click OK or press Enter again on your keyboard to return to the browser.

Internet Explorer 7

  1. Open the Tools menu. Use your mouse or press Alt and T on your keyboard.
  2. Select Internet Options. Use your mouse or press Alt and O on your keyboard.
  3. Select the Accessibility button. Use your mouse or press Alt and E on your keyboard.
  4. Check the box “Ignore font styles specified on web page”. Use your mouse or press Alt and S on your keyboard. This overrides font settings of any web page you view with the settings you will define.
  5. Click OK or press Enter on your keyboard to return to the Internet Options box.
  6. Click Fonts or press Alt and N on your keyboard to bring up the font dialogue box.
  7. Click on the heading “Web Page Fonts” or press Alt and W on your keyboard. Use either your mouse or up/down arrow keys to scroll through the list of fonts, and choose one you like.
  8. Use your mouse to click OK or press Enter on your keyboard to return to Internet Options.
  9. Use your mouse to click OK or press Enter again on your keyboard to return to the browser.

Mozilla Firefox for Mac OS X

  1. Use your mouse to click on the Firefox menu or press Control and F2 and then press Enter.
  2. Use your mouse to click on Preferences or use the down arrow key to highlight Preferences and then press Enter.
  3. Use your mouse to click on the Content tab or press Control and F7 and then the right arrow key to highlight the Content tab and then press Enter.
  4. Find the Fonts & Colors section of the window towards the bottom. Use your mouse to click on the Advanced button in that section or use the tab key repeatedly to highlight the Advanced button in that section and press the spacebar.
  5. You can choose to use your Mac OS system colors by using your mouse to click on the Use System Colors checkbox or by using the tab key to highlight the Use System Colors checkbox and pressing the spacebar.
  6. Use your mouse to click on the dropdown lists next to Proportional, Serif, Sans Serif and Monospace to select a new font for each. Alternately, use the tab key to highlight the dropdown lists next to Proportional, Serif, Sans Serif and Monospace and then use the arrow keys to highlight a new font for each. Press the spacebar to select that font.
  7. Use your mouse to click on the Allow pages to choose their own fonts checkbox so that the checkmark disappears, or by using the tab key to highlight the Allow pages to choose their own fonts checkbox and pressing the spacebar until the checkmark disappears.
  8. Use your mouse to click on the OK button or press enter to close the Advanced Fonts dialog and return to Firefox.

Apple Safari

  1. Use your mouse to click on the b or press Control and F2 and then press Enter.
  2. Use your mouse to click on Preferences or use the down arrow key to highlight Preferences and then press Enter.
  3. Use your mouse to click on the Appearance icon or press Control and F5 and then the right arrow key to highlight the Appearance tab and then press the spacebar.
  4. Use your mouse to click on the Select button next to Standard Font — or press the tab key repeatedly to highlight the Select button next to Standard Font and then press the spacebar — to open the font selection dialog box.
  5. In the font selection dialog box, use your mouse to select the font and font size you wish to use. Alternately, press Control and F7 to highlight the font selection dialog box and use the arrow keys to select a new font and font size.
  6. When you have selected your font, use your mouse to click the red Close button at the top right of the font selection dialog box or press Escape to close the box.
  7. Use your mouse to click on the Select button next to Fixed Width Font — or press the tab key repeatedly to highlight the Select button next to Fixed Width Font and then press the spacebar — to open the font selection dialog box.
  8. In the font selection dialog box, use your mouse to select the font and font size you wish to use. Alternately, press Control and F7 to highlight the font selection dialog box and use the arrow keys to select a new font and font size.
  9. When you have selected your font, use your mouse to click the red Close button at the top right of the font selection dialog box or press Escape to close the box.
  10. When you are happy with your font choices, use your mouse to click the red Close button at the top left of the Preferences window or press Escape to close the window.

Mouse pointer visibility: Helpful if you have trouble viewing the mouse pointer.

Windows XP

Find the pointer

  1. Click the Start button or press the Windows logo key on your keyboard.
  2. Open the Control Panel. Click on Control Panel or press C on your keyboard and it will pop up.
  3. Open the Mouse Properties. Double-click the Mouse icon or press M until the Mouse icon is highlighted and press Enter. The Mouse window will pop up.
  4. Click the Pointer Options tab, or press Ctrl and Tab until the Pointer Options tab comes to the front.
  5. Click the checkbox that says “Show location of pointer when I press the CTRL key” or press Alt and S on the keyboard to check the box.
  6. To confirm your choice and exit Mouse Properties press Enter on your keyboard or click the OK icon.
  7. Going forward, press CTRL on the keyboard when you cannot find the mouse pointer. This will surround it with circles to make it easier to find.

Make pointer larger

  1. Click the Start button or press the Windows logo key on your keyboard.
  2. Open the Control Panel. Click on Control Panel or press C on your keyboard and it will pop up.
  3. Open the Mouse Properties. Double-click the Mouse icon or press M until the Mouse icon is highlighted and press Enter. The Mouse window will pop up.
  4. Click the Pointer tab, or press Ctrl and Tab until the Pointer tab comes to the front.
  5. Click the Scheme box, or press Tab until its drop-down menu is highlighted.
  6. Use the up/down arrows on the keyboard to move through the list. The preview images will change to reflect the chosen scheme.
  7. Choose a scheme. The best sets for visibility are labelled as Large, Extra Large or Inverted. Press Enter on your keyboard if it is already highlighted, or click on it with your mouse.
  8. To exit the Mouse Properties press Enter on your keyboard or click the OK icon.

Add trails to your pointer

  1. Click the Start button or press the Windows logo key on your keyboard.
  2. Open the Control Panel. Click on Control Panel or press C on your keyboard and it will pop up.
  3. Open the Mouse Properties. Double-click the Mouse icon or press M until the Mouse icon is highlighted and press Enter. The Mouse window will pop up.
  4. Click the Pointer Options tab, or press Ctrl and Tab until the Pointer Options tab comes to the front.
  5. Click the checkbox that says Display pointer trails or press Alt and D on the keyboard.
  6. To adjust the size of the pointer trails, drag the slider under Display pointer trails or press Tab until the slider bar is highlighted and use the left/right arrow keys to adjust.
  7. To select this option and exit Mouse Properties press Enter on your keyboard or click the OK icon.

Apple OS X

Make Pointer Larger

  1. Use your mouse to click on the Apple menu or press Control and F2 and then press Enter.
  2. Use your mouse to click on System Preferences or use the down arrow key to highlight System Preferences and then press Enter.
  3. Use your mouse to click on the Universal Access icon or use the tab key repeatedly to highlight the Universal Access icon and then press the spacebar.
  4. Use your mouse to click on the Mouse tab or press Control and F7 and then the right arrow key to highlight the Mouse tab and then press the spacebar.
  5. Use your mouse to click on the Cursor Size bar and move the bar to the right or left in order to change the size of the mouse pointer. Alternately, use the tab key repeatedly to highlight the Cursor Size bar and then the right and left arrow keys to increase or decrease the pointer size.
  6. When you are happy with your pointer size, use your mouse to click the red Close button at the top left of the Universal Access window or press Command and W to close the window.

Slow down pointer speed

  1. Use your mouse to click on the Apple menu or press Control and F2 and then press Enter.
  2. Use your mouse to click on System Preferences or use the down arrow key to highlight System Preferences and then press Enter.
  3. Use your mouse to click on the Keyboard & Mouse icon or use the tab key repeatedly to highlight the Keyboard & Mouse icon and then press the spacebar.
  4. Use your mouse to click on the Mouse tab or press Control and F7 and then the right arrow key to highlight the Mouse tab and then press the spacebar.
  5. Use your mouse to click on the Tracking Speed bar and move the bar to the right or left in order to change the speed of the mouse pointer. Alternately, use the tab key repeatedly to highlight the Tracking Speed bar and then the right and left arrow keys to change the speed of the pointer.
  6. When you are happy with your pointer speed, use your mouse to click the red Close button at the top left of the Keyboard & Mouse window or press Command and W to close the window.

Change colours: Learn how to change the text and background colours for web pages you visit to make them more readable.

Windows XP

  1. Click the Start button or press the Windows logo key on your keyboard.
  2. Open the Control Panel. Click on Control Panel or press C on your keyboard and it will pop up.
  3. Open the Display. Double-click the Display icon or press D on your keyboard until the Display icon is highlighted and press Enter. The Display Properties window will pop up.
  4. Click on the Appearance tab or press Ctrl and Tab on your keyboard until the Appearance tab comes to the front.
  5. Select the drop-down box below the Colour Scheme heading, or press Alt and C on your keyboard to jump to the box. Browse through the list using your mouse, or use the up/down arrows. Click on a scheme or press Enter on your keyboard to select it. To select this option and exit Display Properties press Enter on your keyboard or click the OK icon.

Internet Explorer 6

  1. Open the Tools menu. Use your mouse or press Alt and T on your keyboard.
  2. Select Internet Options. Use your mouse or press Alt and O on your keyboard.
  3. Select the Accessibility button. Use your mouse or press Alt and E on your keyboard.
  4. Check the box “Ignore colours specified on web page”. Use your mouse or press Alt and C on your keyboard.
  5. To confirm your choice and return to Internet Options press Enter on your keyboard or click the OK icon. The text and backgrounds on websites will now display the colour scheme set on your computer. If you are satisfied with this colour scheme, press OK or hit Enter on your keyboard to return to the browser.

If you prefer a personalized colour scheme:

  1. In the still-open Internet Options box, use your mouse to select the Colours button or press Alt and O on your keyboard. Uncheck the default “Use Windows Colours” option.
  2. Use your mouse or press Alt and W on your keyboard to de-select the check mark.
  3. Select the Text button. Use your mouse or press Alt and T on your keyboard. You must de-select “Use Windows Colours” before this will work.
  4. Use your mouse or the arrow keys on your keyboard to select your preferred text colour. Repeat Step 3 for the background colour.
  5. Press OK twice or hit Enter twice on your keyboard to return to the browser.

Internet Explorer 7

  1. Open the Tools menu. Use your mouse or press Alt and T on your keyboard.
  2. Select Internet Options. Use your mouse or press Alt and O on your keyboard.
  3. Select the Accessibility button. Use your mouse or press Alt and E on your keyboard.
  4. Check the box “Ignore colours specified on web page”. Use your mouse or press Alt and C on your keyboard.
  5. To confirm your choice and return to Internet Options press Enter on your keyboard or click the OK icon. The text and backgrounds on websites will now display the colour scheme set on your computer. If you are satisfied with this colour scheme, press OK or hit Enter on your keyboard to return to the browser.

If you prefer a personalized colour scheme:

  1. In the still-open Internet Options box, use your mouse to select the Colours button or press Alt and O.
  2. Uncheck the default “Use Windows Colours” option. Use your mouse or press Alt and W on your keyboard to de-select the check mark.
  3. Select the Text button. Use your mouse or press Alt and T on your keyboard. You must de-select “Use Windows Colours” before this will work.
  4. Use the mouse or use the arrow keys on your keyboard to select your preferred text colour and press the Spacebar to select. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 for the background colour (Alt and B), visited links (Alt and I) and unvisited links (Alt and N), if desired.
  5. Use your mouse to click OK or hit Enter on your keyboard to return to Internet Options.
  6. Use your mouse to click OK or hit Tab on your keyboard until OK is selected, and press Enter on your keyboard to return to the browser.

Macintosh OS X

  1. Use your mouse to click on the Apple menu or press Control and F2 and then press Enter.
  2. Use your mouse to click on System Preferences or use the down arrow key to highlight System Preferences and then press Enter.
  3. Use your mouse to click on the Universal Access icon or use the tab key repeatedly to highlight the Universal Access icon and then press the spacebar.
  4. Use your mouse to click on the Seeing tab or press Control and F7 and then the right arrow key to highlight the Seeing tab and then press the spacebar.
  5. To remove all colours from your display, use your mouse to click on the Set Display to Grayscale button or use the tab key repeatedly to highlight the Set Display to Grayscale button and press the spacebar.
  6. When you are happy with your colour scheme, use your mouse to click the red Close button at the top left of the Universal Access window or press Command and W to close the window.

Mozilla Firefox for Mac OS X

  1. Use your mouse to click on the Firefox menu or press Control and F2 and then press Enter.
  2. Use your mouse to click on Preferences or use the down arrow key to highlight Preferences and then press Enter.
  3. Use your mouse to click on the Content tab or press Control and F7 and then the right arrow key to highlight the Content tab and then press Enter.
  4. Use your mouse to click on the Colours button or use the tab key repeatedly to highlight the Colours button and press the spacebar.
  5. You can choose to use your Mac OS system colors by using your mouse to click on the Use System Colors checkbox or by using the tab key to highlight the Use System Colors checkbox and pressing the spacebar.
  6. If you do not want to use the Mac OS system colours, use your mouse to click on the coloured boxes next to Text, Background, Unvisited Links and Visited Links to select a new color for each. Alternately, use the tab key to highlight the coloured boxes next to Text, Background, Unvisited Links and Visited Links and then use the arrow keys to highlight a new color for each. Press the spacebar to select that color.
  7. Use your mouse to click on the Allow pages to choose their own colours checkbox so that the checkmark disappears, or by using the tab key to highlight the Allow pages to choose their own colours checkbox and pressing the spacebar until the checkmark disappears.
  8. Use your mouse to click on the OK button or press Enter to close the Colours dialogue box and return to Firefox.

Magnify screen: If resizing text in your browser or operating system isn’t an option, make oc-innovation.ca easier to view through magnification.

Windows XP

  1. Click the Start button or press the Windows logo key on your keyboard.
  2. Open Programs. Click All Programs or press P on the keyboard until All Programs is highlighted and press Enter.
  3. Click Accessories or press A on the keyboard until All Programs is highlighted and press Enter.
  4. Click Accessibility. If you are using the keyboard, it will already be highlighted. Press Enter.
  5. Click Magnifier or press M on the keyboard until Magnifier is highlighted. Press Enter.
  6. This opens the Magnifier box and turns it on. In the Settings box, click the Magnification Level or use the up/down arrow keys to increase/decrease the magnification level.
  7. Minimize this box by pressing the Minimize button in the box’s top-right corner or by pressing Alt and Space on the keyboard, then pressing N.

Macintosh OS X

  1. Turn on screen zooming by pressing Option and Apple and the asterisk (*) key at the same time.
  2. Zoom in by pressing Option and Apple and the plus (+) key at the same time.
  3. Zoom out by pressing Option and Apple and the plus (-) key at the same time.
  4. Turn off screen zooming by pressing Option and Apple and the asterisk (*) key at the same time.

To select your maximum zoom level:

  1. Use your mouse to click on the Apple menu or press Control and F2 and then press enter.
  2. Use your mouse to click on System Preferences or use the down arrow key to highlight System Preferences and then press enter.
  3. Use your mouse to click on the Universal Access icon or use the tab key repeatedly to highlight the Universal Access icon and then press the spacebar.
  4. Use your mouse to click on the Seeing tab or press Control and F7 and then the right arrow key to highlight the Seeing tab and then press the spacebar.
  5. Use your mouse to click on the Zoom Options button or use the tab key repeatedly to highlight the Zoom Options button and press the spacebar.
  6. Use your mouse to move the Maximum Zoom and Minimum Zoom sliders to the right or to the left in order to increase or decrease zoom levels. Alternately, use the tab key to highlight the Maximum Zoom and Minimum Zoom slider and use the right and left arrow keys to move the slider to increase or decrease zoom levels.
  7. When you have set your zoom options, use your mouse to click on the Done button or use the tab key repeatedly to highlight the Done button and press Enter.
  8. When you are happy with your zoom options, use your mouse to click the red Close button at the top left of the Universal Access window or press Command and W to close the window.

Browse Out Loud: If you have trouble reading online, learn how to make your computer speak back to you.

Windows Narrator

Windows Narrator is a basic screen-reading program. The program gives speech feedback for menus and dialogue boxes. It does not speak out the whole web page.

  1. Click the Start button or press the Windows logo key on your keyboard.
  2. Open Programs. Click All Programs or press P on the keyboard until All Programs is highlighted and press Enter.
  3. Click Accessories or press A on the keyboard until Accessories is highlighted and press Enter.
  4. Click Accessibility. If you are using the keyboard, it will already be highlighted, press Enter.
  5. Click Narrator or press N on the keyboard until Narrator is highlighted, press Enter.
  6. This opens the Microsoft Narrator box. The Narrator immediately begins to read instructions on how to use the feature.
  7. Click OK or press Enter on the keyboard. Another window will appear with various options. Click the checkbox or press the spacebar on your keyboard to customize your options. You can also adjust voice settings by clicking the Voice button or pressing V on the keyboard.

Macintosh VoiceOver Utility

VoiceOver Utility is a screen-reading program built into the latest versions (OS 10.4 and 10.5) of Apple Macintosh Operating Systems. It provides speech feedback for menus and dialogue boxes and can speak out whole web pages once configured.

  1. Visit the VoiceOver website for more information about VoiceOver utility
  2. Visit the VoiceOver download section for an accessible PDF manual or audio recordings of the “Getting Started” manual for VoiceOver Utility.
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