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Accessibility

Accessibility Statement

We are committed to ensuring that our website is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of technology or ability. We actively work to enhance the accessibility and usability of our website and strive to adhere to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at the AA level.

Our Commitment to Accessibility

We follow the W3C accessibility guidelines and adhere as closely as possible to the four main principles of WCAG 2.1 (POUR):

  • Perceivable: Ensuring content is presented in ways that users can recognize
  • Operable: Making functionality available via keyboard and other assistive technologies
  • Understandable: Ensuring information and interface operation are clear
  • Robust: Maximising compatibility with current and future assistive technologies.

Our Accessibility Practices

Our website design and hosting agency promise to:

  • Aim to meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards in both design and technical implementation
  • Assess third-party modules and plugins based on accessibility criteria while recognising that we can only apply a best-effort approach
  • Test our design and code using the Lighthouse accessibility checker while acknowledging that automated checks do not cover all human accessibility needs
  • Provide guidance and best practices to content editors to maintain accessible content across the site
  • Consider third-party accessibility audits where needed to meet specific accessibility requirements.

 

Features to Enhance Accessibility

Browser and Display Options

For optimal accessibility, we recommend using an up-to-date browser. The following browsers offer built-in accessibility features and support additional plugins:

  • Firefox
  • Chrome
  • Safari (Mac only).
Alternative Display Options

Users can change the appearance of the website for better readability. Available options include:

  • Black on white version
  • White on black version
  • Alternative style
  • Reset to standard style.
Keyboard Shortcuts / Access Keys

Users can navigate the site using the following keyboard shortcuts:

  • AccessKey 1: Return to the homepage
  • AccessKey 2: Skip over the navigation menu
  • AccessKey 3: Visit this accessibility page
  • AccessKey 0: Go to the Contact Us page.

Different browsers require different key combinations to activate shortcuts:

  • Windows (Internet Explorer, Chrome, Safari): Alt + [accesskey]
  • Windows (Firefox): Shift + Alt + [accesskey]
  • Mac (Safari, Chrome, Firefox): Ctrl + Option + [accesskey].
Text and Zoom Controls

Most modern browsers allow users to change text sizes and zoom levels:

  • Increase text size: Ctrl + + (Windows) or Cmd + + (Mac)
  • Decrease text size: Ctrl + – (Windows) or Cmd + – (Mac)
  • Reset text size: Ctrl + 0 (Windows) or Cmd + 0 (Mac).
Screen Reader Compatibility

Our website is compatible with popular screen readers, including:

  • NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access) – Free screen reader for Windows
  • Windows Narrator – Built-in Windows screen reader
  • WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool) – Provides an overview of accessibility elements on the site.

 

Limitations and Feedback

While we strive to maintain high accessibility standards, there may be some areas that are not fully optimised. Additionally:

  • Third-party modules/plugins are maintained by their developers, and accessibility support depends on them
  • The responsibility for accessible content falls on website editors
  • Further accessibility improvements may require investment in audits or specialised services.

If you encounter any accessibility issues or have suggestions for improvement, please contact us. Email [email protected], or call us on 01823 333822 or 01935 709480. We welcome feedback to enhance accessibility for all users.