Website accessibility action plan 2024

Last updated: 8th October 2024

This is now a living document to enable the SALC team to continually improve accessibility to the documents they produce and publish and as the SALC website continues to develop.

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (known as WCAG) are an internationally recognised set of recommendations for improving web accessibility. They explain how to make digital services, websites and applications accessible to everyone, including users with impairments to their vision, hearing, mobility, thinking and understanding. SALC are following this government guidance on how to make your service accessible : an introduction.

SALC are constantly adding information to their website and have now implemented a regular programme of review that aims to test accessibility against design code and content so that the site meets WCAG Level 2. The programme will involve use of a combination of tools and manual testing to identify potential problems. There is also a commitment to a whole team approach to help better understand accessibility so as to avoid making making anything we produce inaccessible.

SALC have moved to a .gov.uk domain and as a result in the process of undertaking an accessibility audit in addition to the above.

Accessibility improvement plan

SALC last undertook an accessibility test on 16th May 2024 which showed a number of issues and this plan includes actions to address these. SALC use a combination of automated tools and manual tests to identify problems and are following the guidelines for basic testing published on this government website. In addition as a result of moving to a .gov.uk website further accessibility checks are being made.

Checklist

Semantic HTML to designate headings, landmarks, lists, special text etc. - link to hierarchy
Semantic HTML or ARIA is used in forms, form labels and frame titles
Content and visual elements are conveyed by more than one colour
Body text is at least 16px preferably 18px with a contrast ratio of at least 4 5:1
Larger text, at least 24px and bolded text have a contrast ratio of at least 3:1
Text is aligned centre, left or right, not justified
Paragraph text has a line spacing of 1.5
Links are conveyed by more than colour eg: when hovered or receives focus is underlined
Links have a purpose and can be easily determined

Ability to pause, stop, mute or adjust volume that automatically plays
Add Alt-text for all images
Include captions and/or text transcripts
Images of text is only used for decoration
Automatic moving, blinking or scrolling content can be paused, stopped or hidden

Buttons and inputs have a descriptive value and labels
Forms are clearly labelled and have clear instructions
Required fields with specific format, value or length are labelled with requirements
Errors are clearly identified and easily fixed to resubmit the form

Content presented n hover or keyboard focus can be dismissed with the esc key
Interruptions (alerts, page updates etc) can be postponed or suppressed by the user
Content remains visible until the focus is moved away from the trigger, has been dismissed or it is no longer relevant

Page functionality is available using only a keyboard
Visually see where you are using keyboard focus
Keyboard focus is never locked or trapped
Pages have descriptive and informative page titles
Frames and iframes are appropriately titled
Skip Navigation link is provided
Identify page regions/landmarks
Menu items remain in their order throughout the site

Orientation of web content is responsive and allows for portrait and landscape
Time limits are adjustable or extendable unless a time limit is absolutely needed
Page language is identified using HTML
Focussing on an element or entering information does not substantially change the page

Homepage Content pages that are mostly text based Images, video and audio content Interactive tools and transactions - like forms Pages including login functionality PDFs and other document types Dynamic content - such as pop-up windows Navigation pages, including site map and pages with search functionality

Homepage

The SALC homepage has been sampled and has a number of areas that need attention. A support call to support and maintenance of our website has been placed (14.08.2024). The main issues are around ARIA labelling. In addition the footer page on the website requires some small changes with a hidden broken link which is being investigated. (15.08.2024). Supplier meeting taking place 9th October 2024. SALC have also purchased a third party app - UserWay which has changed the compliance level of the site - use this link to view the latest report - https://userway.org/accessibility-checker/?url=suffolk-alc.gov.uk

Content pages that are mostly text based

How SALC membership works has been sampled as this style of page is used frequently within the site. The review has resulted in two errors remaining which are being looked at in detail (15.08.2024). All other text based pages will be reviewed and changed as a result of this learning. Userway app has helped address these matters.

Images, video and audio content

Review in progress

Interactive tools and transactions - like forms

Review in progress

Pages including login functionality

Review in progress

PDFs and other document types

Following a change to legal topic notes (7.10.2024) a gap analysis is underway so that inaccessible PDFs and other document types supplied by a third party (including NALC) can be signposted or referred to with instructions on how to access. This is work in progress to assess degree of impact and necessary actions.

Dynamic content - such as pop-up windows

The "cookie" pop up at the bottom of the page does not impact content that is visible. Userway allows for this to be managed by the site visitor.

Navigation pages, including site map and pages with search functionality