Accessibility statement

This accessibility statement applies to www.essexsounds.org.uk

This website is run by Essex County Council. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:

  • zoom in up to 400% without the text spilling off the screen
  • 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’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.

AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.

How accessible this website is

We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible:

  • There are no alternatives for audio clips
  • Some landmarks are used multiple times with no distinction between them
  • The first navigation landmarks is split in to two lists when it should be one
  • Heading structures are often illogical across the site, with some heading levels skipped
  • Historic photographs on content pages have description text that have low contrast
  • Some images contain text that are not communicated to users via assistive technologies
  • The search field in the header of the website has lo contrast with background colours
  • The homepage map with pins of all the sounds of Essex takes a large amount of time to navigate through with a keyboard
  • The focus order of the map pins is illogical and follows no clear order
  • The focus order on content pages will sometimes navigate to the centre column, then left then right
  • The Date search page as different ways of searching but all the submit buttons are the same
  • The heading keyword search is not clear, the feature is not a search but instead a list of article tags
  • Many parts of the website have no focus styles or focus styles that are difficult to see
  • Article tags are sometime referred to as keywords
  • Error suggestions do not give the user a clear way to overcome the errors when completing the contribute form
  • Many form fields on the date search page have the same identification
  • Landmarks include roles that duplicate the information and no labels to distinguish them
  • Selectboxes on the date search page have no labels linked to the inputs
  • Search results do not include the correct attributes to inform users using assistive technologies

 

Feedback and contact information

If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille:

We’ll consider your request and get back to you in 20 days.

If you cannot view the map on our ‘contact us’ page, call or email us for directions https://www.essexrecordoffice.co.uk/contact-us/.

 

Reporting accessibility problems with this website

We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, email ero.enquiry@essex.gov.uk or call 03330 132122.

 

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

We provide a text relay service for people who are D/deaf, hearing impaired or have a speech impediment.

Our offices have audio induction loops, or if you contact us before your visit we can arrange a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter.

Find out how to contact us https://www.essexrecordoffice.co.uk/contact-us/.

 

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

Essex County Council is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

 

Compliance status

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

 

Some graphics have no alt text and some components have unclear labels. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.1.1 (Non-text contrast).

 

Audio clips have no alternatives making it impossible for some users to interact with the content. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.2.1 (Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded)).

 

Landmarks, Headings, Lists and Form labels are not implemented correctly or are missing. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.1 (Info and Relationships).

 

Some text has low contrast and can be difficult to read. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.4.3 (Contrast (Minimum)).

 

The search function has a low contrast with the surrounding elements, this could make it difficult to see. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.4.11 (Non-text Contrast).

 

The map on the homepage has numerous elements that have to be tabbed through with no option to skip. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.1.2 (No keyboard trap).

 

Some content has an illogical focus order. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.3 (Focus Order).

 

Form submission buttons all have the same value so could be confusing to the user. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion (Link Purpose (In Context)).

 

Some headings do not adequately identify their content. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.6 (Headings and Labels).

 

Many focus styles are difficult or impossible to see. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.7 (Focus Visible).

 

Some items are not consistently identified making it difficult for some users to identify features. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 3.2.4 (Consistent identification).

 

Error suggestions don’t give the user a clear way to overcome the error. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 3.3.3 (Error suggestion).

 

Many inputs have the same identifiers. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 4.1.1 (Parsing).

 

Landmarks are not distinguished with labels and forms fields do not always have connect labels. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 4.1.2 (Name, role, value).

 

Form error status that are transmitted to users don’t include the right attributes to make screen readers aware. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 4.1.3 (Status messages).

 

Content that’s not within the scope of the accessibility regulations

Live video

We do not plan to add captions to live video streams because live video is exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations.

 

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 6 May 2022. It was last reviewed on 6 May 2022.

This website was last tested on 6 May 2022. The test was carried out by Essex County Council.

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