WEBSITE ACCESSIBILTY
Find out how accessible our website is, how to report accessibility issues and what to do if you can’t access parts of this website.
We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:
- change colours and contrast levels
- increase as well as decrease the font sizes
- navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
- navigate most of the website using speech recognition software
- listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver)
- We maintain content guidelines to help website editors improve accessibility.
MAKE YOUR DEVICE EASIER TO USE
AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability or impairment.
This includes how to:
- make text larger
- magnify the screen
- change fonts and colours
- make your mouse pointer easier to see
- using your keyboard instead of a mouse
- making your device talk to you
You can translate this website to your preferred language by changing the settings in your browser (such as Internet Explorer, Chrome or Safari). In the footer of each webpage we have embedded the Google Translation tool which will allow you to translate the website to your desired language.
Framlingham Town Council is not responsible for browser translations of our website, and we can’t guarantee the accuracy of Google Translate.
HOW ACCESSIBLE THIS WEBSITE IS
We know some parts of this website aren’t fully accessible, for example some:
- images contain text which you may not be able to read
- links don’t make sense on their own
- PDF documents aren’t fully accessible to screen readers
- videos don’t have captions or audio description
- interactive tools are difficult to navigate using just a keyboard
WHAT TO DO IF YOU CAN’T ACCESS PARTS OF THIS WEBSITE
If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille:
email townclerk@southwoldtowncouncil.com
call 01728 720183
We’ll consider your request and get back to you as soon as possible.
You can call the number above if you need to talk to us using an interpreter.
REPORTING ACCESSIBILITY PROBLEMS WITH THIS WEBSITE
We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of this website.
If you find any problems that aren’t listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, contact us by emailing townclerk@southwoldtowncouncil.com.
ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURE
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’).
If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).
CONTACTING US BY PHONE OR VISITING US IN PERSON
If you contact us before your visit, it is possible that we can arrange a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS WEBSITE’S ACCESSIBILITY
Southwold Town Council is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.
This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.
NON ACCESSIBLE CONTENT
The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.
NON COMPLIANCE WITH THE ACCESSIBILITY REGULATIONS
Images
Some images don’t have a text alternative (alt text), so the information in them isn’t available to people using a screen reader. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.1.1 (Non-text Content). When we publish new content we’ll make sure our use of images meets accessibility standards.
Tables
On some pages tables do not have a description set using the caption element. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.1 Info and Relationships.
Links
On some pages the same link text is used for different link destinations. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context). We are working to resolve this issue on all pages. When we publish new pages we’ll make sure link text meets accessibility standards.
On some pages the purpose of each link can’t be determined from the link text alone. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context). We plan for all link text to make sense in isolation by September 2020. When we publish new pages we’ll make sure link text meets accessibility standards.
Navigation
On some pages the tabbing order is not logical when navigating using a keyboard. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.3 Focus Order.
The focus indicator when navigating using a keyboard is visible but not sufficiently clear. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.7 Focus Visible. We plan to resolve this issue by September 2020.
DISPROPORTIONATE BURDEN
We don’t categorise any of the accessibility issues on southwoldtown.com as a disproportionate burden to fix within the meaning of the regulations, with the exception of PDFs and other documents.
PDFS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS
Many of our older PDFs and other documents don’t meet accessibility standards. For example, they may not be structured so they’re accessible to a screen reader. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 4.1.2 The accessibility regulations don’t require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they’re not essential to providing our services. For example, we don’t plan to fix old PDF newsletters that might still be published and accessed through our website.
VIDEO
Live video streams may not include captions. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.2.4 Captions (Live). We may not add captions to live video streams because live video is exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations.
Some prerecorded videos published before 23 September 2020 do not include captions. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criteria 1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded).
Some prerecorded videos published before 23 September 2020 may require, but don’t include, audio description. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criteria 1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded).
HOW WE TESTED THIS WEBSITE
This website was last tested in June 2020 by Southwold Town Council & Topcat Media.
We used a combination of methods to test the accessibility including online web portals as well as manual sampling.
Please click on the links below for support with any of the following.
Adobe PDF Support – https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/reader/using/accessibility-features.html
Text Reader Support
Natural Readers
Text2Speech
Larger Print Support
Microsoft – https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/4028566/windows-10-change-the-size-of-text
Apple – https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202828
Other Applications – https://www.naturalreaders.com/online/
Inverting Colours
Microsoft – https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/13862/windows-10-use-high-contrast-mode
Apple – https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/mac-help/mchlp1109/mac
If you’re still having trouble finding the information you’re looking for then please contact us at townclerk@southwoldtowncouncil.com