This feature called a breadcrumb bar indicates where you are on the website. You are here :
- Home .
- How to use this Website .
Welcome to disAbilityNavigator! Thanks for visiting. Here are a few tips about how to best use this website.
How to use disAbilityNavigator: The Basics
Home Page: You always can get back to the home page of our website by clicking on the "disAbilityNavigator" image at the top right of each page:
You are Here: In the middle section of the website, we’ve included what is called a breadcrumb bar because it traces the path you’ve taken through the website. If you get lost, check the breadcrumb and if you need to, click into one of the hyperlinks to get back. Here is an example of how a breadcrumb bar works:
You are here :
Accessibility: disAbilityNavigator.org website is designed to be accessible to as many people as possible, no matter what technology they use. We’ve worked closely with a special design agency to follow the World Wide Web Consortium (WC3) and Section 508 guidelines. We work to keep this site accessible on a daily basis. If you experience difficulty using this website, we want to know so we can make the website better for you. Please let us know by telling us what you think.
Skip to content: On the top most right side of every page there is a skip to content link 
. This link allow the user to skip directly to the main content, bypassing the navigation and the bread crumb trail. This is recommended for people who use screen readers, and also for text-browsers.
To Change Text Size: Find the "Change Text Size link at the top of every page, then Select the best text size for you by clicking the hyper link.
Site Map: 
This is a list of all the pages on the site. The Site Map is another way of organizing the website and showing you how each page relates to the others. Every page on the Site Map is clickable, so the Site Map is another way of moving through the website.
To hear the page: Find the "Listen" icon 
at the top of every page and click it. The entire page will begin to read itself to you. If you would like to hear only a portion of a page, use your cursor to highlight part of the text of a page, then click the "Listen" icon to hear the selected text. This feature is made possible by a software called ReadSpeaker.
What do You Think? disAbilityNavigator was created from conversations with people with disabilities and their families. We enjoy hearing from you! If you want to send us comments or questions, click the 
on the right-hand side of each page.
How to use disAbilityNavigator: Searching
The two main types of information available on this site are:
- local services - searchable by topic and locality AND
- articles and links
There are three ways to find information about local services and articles on disAbilityNavigator.org.
- Main Topic Buttons by Category or Topic Index, for articles only.
- Advanced Search by Word(s) or by Organization, for articles and services.
- Quick Search by Topic and Zip Code or City/County, for articles and services.
1. Main Topic Buttons - At the right side of every page you’ll always find six broad topics
- Living a Healthy Life
- Making A Home
- Connecting With Others
- Planning My Future
- Knowing My Rights
- Getting Out and About
2. Advanced Search - On the right side of every page we also offer an Advanced Search called "Help Me Find Services". If you want more search options, try this search.
3. Quick Search – On the right side bottom part of every page we provide a Quick Search box. If you already know which information you want to find, try the Quick Search.
Use the Quick Search boxes to search by Topic and ZIP code, or City, or County. The results will give you local services, articles, and related links.
To get the most out of this search type short words, or phrases, in the TOPIC box. Here are some popular examples: transportation, employment, peer support, autism, brain injury, or depression. In the LOCATION box type in a ZIP code such as: 22033. Then, click search now link. If you used ZIP code: 22033, a listing of services that serve Fairfax County would appear, along with related articles and links.
How to use disAbilityNavigator: Helpful Search Hints
Not finding what you need? Are you finding too much? Try these tips:
- Type in fewer words if you used a long phrase
- Change the drop-down list from "partial word" to "exact phrase" if you used the Advanced Search
- Try using the county name instead of a ZIP code
What is the difference between Exact Phrase, Partial Word, Any Word and All Words?
The complete phrase is considered as one, and the order of words matters. If you ask for ‘caregiver support’, that is what will return exactly. When searching with a word or phrase, ‘exact phrase’ is the default setting because we’ve found the results are best when using this logic.
The word typed in is considered as the first part of a word. If you type in the word ‘Car’, the search will find ‘Caregiver Support’, "Cardiac Care", "Arthritis Care", and ‘Personal Care’, among other listings. Partial Word searches might be best used if you cannot recall the spelling of a term or name.
This finds any single word you have typed, if you used "Caregiver Support", then any listing that matches either "Caregiver", or "Support" will return. Any words an either /OR situation.
With All Words, if you typed "caregiver support", then any listings would result that included ‘caregiver’ AND ‘support’, but not necessarily next to each other (as would be the case with Exact Phrase). In an ‘all words’ search, the order of the words does not matter. Or, if you have three words, all three words need to be there, but the order does not matter. When searching for an organization or program, ‘all words’ is the default setting because we’ve found that this logic brings back the most accurate results when searching for names and titles, if you’re not sure of an exact name.
