DEAN - Disability Education Association NSW/ACT Inc.

Introduction - Files of the Portable Document Format (PDF), developed by Adobe, can be made accessible but it very much depends on how the original source document is designed. If it is a poster created in a publishing application, scanned or saved from a Word document and locked for copyright reasons and then saved as PDF, it is liable to act in the same way as a picture. This means the text cannot be read by a screen reader or adapted for easier reading. It is appreciated that the concept of the PDF is to ensure that printed or saved versions of a document remain as the author intends, but there are ways to help the reader who uses assistive technologies or requires different formats of the text and graphics.

Introduction - Good use of Microsoft Word Styles, headings and specific formatting rather than frequent tab characters, spaces and carriage returns to present a document make it much easier for a screen reader user or someone requiring Braille to work with your learning materials. Text-to-speech and careful use of colour can also help those with specific learning difficulties and colour deficiencies. All this can also make it easier for you to convert documents into accessible PDFs or Web Pages. If you are using Office 2007, ensure your files are backward-compatible with previous versions of Word by saving as Word 97-2003 Document.

This NDCO brochure aims to highlight services and information that might be helpful when your world is affected by your mental health to assist with finding help and information.

Introduction - There are many presentation tools available both on-line, such as Google Docs, and for the PC, such as Microsoft PowerPoint or the freely downloadable OpenOffice Impress. The points to consider mentioned in this document apply to most presentation applications.

Introduction - Files of the Portable Document Format (PDF), developed by Adobe, can be easier to read if they have the correct tags for graphics and a structured layout as well as reading areas that flow in a way that makes sense when they are read with a screen reader or text to speech. Sadly there are times when PDFs are totally inaccessible so a work around is required.

The Youth Mental Health: Building an e-health toolbox resource was provided by Jeanne GeHue, Director, Education Youth Services, Brain Mind Research Institute, University of SydneyMental Health Tool Box.

Resources provided courtesy of the Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK.

Resources provided courtesy of the Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK.

Resources provided courtesy of the Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK.

Resources provided courtesy of the Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK.