Accessibility
Use the ReciteMe accessibility toolbar to let you customise how the Childline website looks and make it easier to use.
This page is also available in Welsh.
Turn on the accessibility toolbar
Turn on the accessibility toolbar using the button below:
There’s a link to the bar at the bottom of every page on the site.
The toolbar will automatically turn on text-to-speech. If you don’t want this, press the settings button, then turn off autoplay. You can turn off the toolbar anytime by pressing the “X”.
How to use the toolbar
Tap below or use ReciteMe’s guide to see different ways of using the toolbar:
Change the text size or style
Choose the font you want to use.
Use the + and – buttons to change the size of text.
Set a reading ruler or mask to help you focus
Press the ruler to turn on the reading ruler.
The screen mask will create a letterbox that only shows part of the page.
Translate text or get definitions of words
Translate any page on the website, remember that this is automatic so might not always be accurate.
Highlight any word and select the dictionary button to get a definition.
Read text out loud
Press Play to read the text out loud.
Use the forward and back buttons to skip ahead or repeat a paragraph. You can also highlight text for the tool to read out loud for you.
View any page as text only
Select plain text mode to remove images and view the page in plain text. You can also adjust the text margins.
Use a magnifying glass
Select the magnifying glass to make any text or images bigger.
Can I use the toolbar for 1-2-1 chats?
Unfortunately, the accessibility toolbar won’t work with our 1-2-1 chats. But you can still use other ways to contact us:
- send a message from your Childline account and get a reply from a counsellor within 24 hours
- call for free on 0800 1111 to speak to someone
- sign to a counsellor using SignVideo.
Screen readers and keyboard shortcuts
The Childline website has special access keys:
- press Alt and 1 to go to the homepage
- press Alt and 0 to go to our accessibility information.
If you're using a screen reader, you can press Alt and S to skip navigation on our pages.
Using Childline when you’re deaf or hard of hearing
There are lots of ways to get support when you’re deaf:
- sign to a counsellor using SignVideo
- send a message from your Childline account
- have a 1-2-1 chat online.
Get more support from our Deaf Zone.
