Site Guide

How to Use This Site

The site allows you to access main topic areas through menu buttons, links in topic boxes, the scrolling marquee, or index pages. The menu buttons will show up everywhere you go on the site (unless you leave the site through a link that takes you to another site).

Menu Buttons

One menu button is for ombudsmen only, the "Ombudsman Login" button. It requires a unique i.d. and password. Ombudsmen should log in using this menu button when they first reach the site. This will allow ombudsmen to navigate the site without logging in again during that visit. After login, the menu buttons will look the same as before but will link to some documents and resources that are intended especially for State Ombudsmen.

Topic Boxes

Topic boxes are areas on the home page that feature news items, hot topics, and special announcements. These will change periodically so make sure you watch the home page for changes. There are links within these boxes that take you to a particular page on the site. Some links will duplicate pages you can get to through menu buttons but some can only be accessed by clicking on the highlighted link.

Scrolling Marquee

The scrolling marquee calls your attention to an event, a special date, or other featured item. When you point to the text it will change color indicating that it is hyper linked to a special page.  You can click anywhere on the text and be taken to a page within the site or to another site that has more information about the subject. If it takes you to another site, you will have to hit the "back" button on your browser menu to return to the ombudsman site.

Index Pages

Many of the menu buttons will bring you to an index page that lets you know what you will find in that area. Click on the links to get to the further subdivisions of the topic or to specific documents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: I clicked on a link and an input box came up asking for a password.

Some content on the site is for State Ombudsmen only and requires a unique i.d. and password. To have access to the entire site, ombudsmen should log in using the "Ombudsman Login" menu button.

Question: I'm having trouble reading the font on the site.

Your browser allows you to change the font size to make it more readable. In Microsoft Explorer: On the top menu bar, click on View, then click on Text Size. This allows you to make the font bigger or smaller. In Netscape Communicator: On the top menu bar, Click on View, then Click Increase Font or Decrease Font.

Question: Why can't I read some documents?

Some documents are provided only in PDF format because they are simply too long for HTML. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader you will not be able to read these files. You can download Adobe Acrobat for free by clicking on the icon or link shown.

Question: I linked to another site and lost the menu buttons for the site I was on. How do I get back to the ombudsman site?

Click the "back" button on your browser menu bar to return to the ombudsman site.