Accessibility
Accessibility Statement – Gloucestershire Websites and StaffNet
Gloucestershire County Council is committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of technology or ability. The following accessibility statement serves gloucestershire.gov.uk website and its associated sub-sites.
This website should allow any user to:
- Change colours, contrast levels and size of text.
- Modify the line height or spacing of text.
- Zoom in up to 200% without the text spilling off the page.
- Navigate most of the website using 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 have also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.
This website is designed to be compliant with the international standard Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG) – Level AA. There are some issues with the web site which we are working on - see "How Accessible is this Website?" below for the issues we have identified.
Using this Website
Accessible Features
This website uses a widget that contains several Accessible features that can be used by users with specific requirements. The widget is available on the top right-hand side of the header menu.
These features include: -
Contrast & Font Size
Changing the contrast and font sizes of text can increase legibility for some users.
This website has two colour contrast settings, firstly, the “default colour scheme” which provides a suitable level of contrast for most users and satisfies the accessibility standards. However, if a user feels the colour contrast is too low in areas the website also contains a “high contrast scheme” which satisfies all accessibility standards for colour contrast.
A user can change the contrast settings by clicking on the icons at the top right of screen. For a user using voice recognition please say, “Switch to colour scheme” and “Switch to high contrast scheme” respectively for the same result.
To increase the font size, click on the icons at the top right of the screen. For a user using voice recognition please say, “Switch to normal font size”, “Switch to big font size” and “Switch to biggest font size” respectively for the same result. The user can also use the browser’s own zoom facility. The website will work up to 200%
Further information on accessibility options
The RNIB has a webpage with information on options that computers have which can make it easier for people with low or no vision to use them. - RNB Accessibility Options
Accessible Alternatives
Efforts have been made to create accessible alternatives for content that does not meet standards where possible.
Where appropriate we may be able to deliver content to users in accordance with their needs.
Make a request for Accessible Content
If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille; Please fill out details in Contact us form or use the appropriate details, below.
Contact Details
Gloucestershire County Council manage the content on this website and its sub-sites.
Please ensure you tell them you are using this website and give the URL of the content you need in accessible format.
- Phone: 01452 427554
- Email: communications@gloucestershire.gov.uk
We will consider your request and get back to you within 30 days.
Purpose of Links
Gloucestershire County Council will use links to navigate to content on the website.
Where possible the action of an external link will be described by extra description within the link text, so all users can understand the link’s purpose. However, in certain areas of the website adding this extra description will become a disproportionate burden within the meaning of the accessibility regulations.
We have provided the following definition for external links: -
External Links will be used for any content that has known limitations with assistive technologies OR navigates a user away from secure platforms. In summary, this means the following items are considered External links –
- Non-HTML Documentation (See “Issues with PDFs and other documents”)
- Redirection away from secure platforms
- External websites that are not part of Gloucestershire County Council.
How Accessible is this Website?
We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible:
- Most older PDF documents are not fully accessible to screen reader software;
- We do link to proprietary file formats (MS Word, Excel & Powerpoint) but try to provide alternatives as PDF or Open Document format - occasionally we may not provide these;
- Live video streams do not have captions;
- Pages with embedded maps may not be accessible to screen readers or keyboard control;
- Some third party embedded content may not be fully accessible & we have not or cannot provide an accessible alternative;
- Some pages may use colour combinations that have insufficient contrast;
- Some images may contain text & have inadequate accessible text options;
- Pages may not follow correct structures with missing or wrongly sequenced headings;
- Some menus with icons may repeat links;
- Some buttons are not correctly identified;
- Some automated content has duplicate alternative text;
- Some forms may have incomplete markup;
- Some scripts do not have a <noscript> option;
Contact us and Complaints Procedure
We are always looking for ways to improve the website. If you find any problems that are not listed within this statement, or believe we are not meeting the requirements of the accessibility regulations please contact us:
- Phone: 01452 427554
- Email: communications@gloucestershire.gov.uk
All pages have a feedback form in the "Did you find what you were looking for?" section which can be used to suggest improvements or report problems.
Enforcement Procedure
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) responsible for enforcing the accessibility regulations. If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, please contact the Equality Advisory and Support Services (EASS)
Technical Information about this Website’s Accessibility
Gloucestershire County Council are 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 intended to be fully compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG) AA standard.
Non-Accessible Content
All known issues will be listed below:
- This list is being updated
Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations
Although there are no non-compliant issues listed, the site is currently under review against updated guidance.
Disproportionate Burden
There are no issues that are considered a disproportionate burden.
Content that is not within the scope of the accessibility regulations
Web Content that is not subject to the standards referenced in this policy statement are as follows: -
- Content that is archived.
- Content on intranets and extranets published before 23/09/2019
- Non-HTML Documentation (PDFs, Microsoft Office files) that were published before 23/09/2018.
- Non-HTML Documentation (PDFs, Microsoft Office files) that are not essential to the services Gloucestershire provide
- Live Audio and Video
- Pre-recorded Audio and Video published before 23/09/2020
- Online Maps and mapping services
- Third Party Content that is not under direct control of Gloucestershire or main website provider – Google Translate, Social Media links
Policy Review
This statement was prepared on 01/07/2020. Gloucestershire will review this policy every year on or before the 22/09/2020. This policy was last reviewed on 14 May 2021, by Nigel Boor.