MEF

Ministry of Economy and Finance

Search Form As you type the text of your search, the engine provides a real-time list of suggestions. For example if you type "tax" would as a hint "International Taxation" and "local taxes". Not all browsers, screen readers, text reader, supporting the techniques used, but the functionality of the suggestion is preserved even if different graphic mode. In these cases, to obtain the same list of suggestions, simply select the button "Submit" (accesskey 2) after you type the keywords. The search engine can be used in classic mode by typing words to search and then selecting the 'Search' button
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Accessibility

Declaration of accessibility of the MEF site

Further information

The site was produced in compliance with the 22 requirements set down by the so-called Manca Law (Law 4 of 9 January 2004).

The passing of the technical testing (D.M. 8 July 2005) as well as the utilisation of widely diffused best practices in terms of usability and accessibility, have made the new MEF Portal fully accessible and utilisable for all users.

The entire site was constructed in full compliance with the public sector formats currently in use. To optimise page layout, special attention was given to the semantics of the Xhtml code and to the structuring of the headings.

The exclusive utilisation of CSS level 2 as well as the absence of format tables have led to the complete separation between content and presentation, making the site flexible and independent from the devise utilised by the user.

The site was tested on all the principal visual browsers that are currently present in the market. In addition, we also sought the help of a blind person who, with the aid of the Jaws screen reader, carried out tests aimed at improving navigation that is accessible from the web pages.

Fast navigation menus (visible exclusively with screen readers) have been added so that the main areas can be accessed directly, thereby facilitating navigation also for visually impaired users.

Links that are of little significance if taken out from their context, now come with explicatory titles and hidden texts that are only visible with the screen reader so as to clarify both meaning and destination.

The opening of new windows, though occurring very rarely, is signalled both in the link title and in specific hidden texts.

The presence of a navigation chart allows users to understand their exact location within the site.

The colours in the layout are not aggressive and ensure an adequate contrast between the background and foreground, thereby enhancing legibility even for the visually impaired.

Character size may be enlarged with one’s own browser without causing loss of information.

To optimise usability, additional functions have been created as an alternative to those managed by specific scripts, should these not be supported by all browsers.

To avoid disturbance, no fluttering, moving or flashing scripts or objects are present on the site.

Audio and video PodCasts in the specific section are available in alternative textual and technological versions (flash, mp4, mp3).

A few extra words:

Since quite some time, the Ministry for the economy and finance (MEF) has been working on the accessibility of its sites, rigorously applying the requirements set down by the so-called Manca Law (Law 4 of 9 January, 2004) but without neglecting technological innovation. The latter being, in fact, a key element in facilitating quick access to information on the part of users.

For this reason, the MEF portal relies on new IT, as long as it is in line with the requirements set down by the Manca Law.

The underlying rationale is to combine the experimentation of new functionalities arising from the latest innovations within the framework of web 2.0, with optimised usability for the benefit of all users. Thus, alongside the pleasant and attractive graphic layout, the site offers a degree of flexibility that allows it to be utilised also by disadvantaged and disabled individuals. A clear example, in this light, is represented by the tag clouds on the homepage – the web 2 symbol – that are nevertheless perfectly accessible even to the visually impaired both through significant and comprehensive textual comments and though the graphic layout.

Also significant is the search suggest option provided to users as they digit the first letters regarding the information they are seeking.

Based on complex scripts and designed to provide in real time valid alternatives or hints as to what is being searched, the tool is fully accessible and thus constitutes a new application of the Stanca Law requirements.

The podcast section is endowed with a double format video (mp3 and mp4). Each video, in addition, comes with a textual version so that the information provided is also accessible to the blind and the deaf. And, to conclude, the layout has been designed to be intuitive and user-friendly.

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