Accessibility Statement

We strive to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards. These guidelines explain how to make web content more accessible to people with disabilities and more usable for everyone.

WCAG 2.1 Principles

Legal Compliance

We are committed to complying with the UK's accessibility regulations, including the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018 and the Equality Act 2010. While these regulations primarily apply to public sector organizations, we voluntarily adopt these standards as part of our commitment to accessibility.

We have implemented numerous accessibility features to ensure our website is usable by people with various disabilities and those using assistive technologies.

Visual Accessibility

• High contrast color schemes that meet WCAG AA standards
• Scalable text that can be enlarged up to 200% without loss of functionality
• Alternative text for all meaningful images
• Clear visual focus indicators for keyboard navigation
• Consistent and logical page layouts
• Sufficient color contrast ratios (minimum 4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text)
• Information is not conveyed by color alone

Keyboard Accessibility

• Full keyboard navigation support for all interactive elements
• Logical tab order throughout the website
• Skip links to main content and navigation areas
• No keyboard traps that prevent users from navigating away
• Keyboard shortcuts for frequently used functions
• Clear focus indicators that are visible and distinctive

Screen Reader Compatibility

• Semantic HTML markup for proper content structure
• Descriptive headings that create a logical document outline
• ARIA labels and descriptions where appropriate
• Form labels properly associated with form controls
• Error messages that are clearly announced
• Status updates and dynamic content changes are announced

Motor Accessibility

• Large click targets (minimum 44x44 pixels) for easier interaction
• Sufficient spacing between interactive elements
• No time limits on user interactions (or generous time limits with extensions)
• Drag and drop functionality has keyboard alternatives
• Motion-based interactions have alternative input methods

Cognitive Accessibility

• Clear and simple language throughout the website
• Consistent navigation and page layouts
• Error prevention and clear error recovery instructions
• Important information is highlighted and easy to find
• Complex processes are broken down into manageable steps
• Help and support information is readily available

Our website is designed to work with a wide range of assistive technologies and adaptive strategies. We regularly test our website with various tools and technologies to ensure compatibility.

Screen Readers

Other Assistive Technologies

• Voice recognition software (Dragon NaturallySpeaking, Windows Speech Recognition)
• Switch navigation devices
• Eye-tracking systems
• Magnification software (ZoomText, MAGic)
• Alternative keyboards and pointing devices
• Browser zoom and text scaling features

Browser Compatibility

Our website is tested and optimized for accessibility across major browsers:

• Google Chrome (latest version)
• Mozilla Firefox (latest version)
• Safari (latest version)
• Microsoft Edge (latest version)
• Internet Explorer 11 (limited support)

We are committed to transparency about accessibility issues on our website. While we strive for full accessibility, we acknowledge that some areas may not yet meet all accessibility standards.

Current Known Issues

Planned Improvements

• Enhanced keyboard navigation for complex interactive elements
• Improved screen reader announcements for dynamic content updates
• Additional customization options for users with cognitive disabilities
• Better support for high contrast and dark mode preferences
• Ongoing remediation of third-party content accessibility issues

We employ multiple methods to ensure and maintain the accessibility of our website, including automated testing, manual testing, and user feedback.

Automated Testing

• Regular automated accessibility scans using industry-standard tools
• Continuous integration testing for accessibility regressions
• Color contrast analysis for all text and background combinations
• Keyboard navigation testing across all interactive elements

Manual Testing

• Screen reader testing with multiple assistive technologies
• Keyboard-only navigation testing
• Voice recognition software testing
• Mobile accessibility testing on various devices
• User experience testing with people with disabilities

Ongoing Monitoring

• Monthly accessibility audits of new and updated content
• Quarterly comprehensive accessibility reviews
• Annual third-party accessibility assessments
• Continuous monitoring of user feedback and accessibility reports

We welcome feedback about the accessibility of our website. If you encounter any accessibility barriers or have suggestions for improvement, please let us know.

How to Report Accessibility Issues

What to Include in Your Report

• The specific page or section where you encountered the issue
• A description of the accessibility barrier you experienced
• The assistive technology or browser you were using
• Your operating system and version
• Any error messages you received
• Suggestions for improvement, if you have any

Alternative Access Methods

If you are unable to access information on our website due to accessibility barriers, we can provide the information in alternative formats such as:

• Large print documents
• Audio recordings
• Braille documents
• Plain text email
• Phone consultation
• In-person meeting