Learning Middlesbrough website accessibility statement

  1. Using this website
    This website is run by Middlesbrough 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 200% 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)
  • View the website using any device e.g. mobile phone, tablet, desktop computer

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

Please note this website may not function correctly if you are using an older browser i.e. Internet Explorer. It is recommended for those users using Internet Explorer that they instead use Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.

  1. How accessible is this website?
    Most of this website is compliant with the W3C WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standard. However, there are some parts of this website which are not fully accessible:
  • The introduction box on the homepage is not accessible for users using assistive technology
  • Some heading text used on the website is not the correct size
  1. 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 digital@middlesbrough.gov.uk
    We’ll consider your request and get back to you within 10 working days.
  2. 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 the Middlesbrough Council Digital Team by emailing the issue to digital@middlesbrough.gov.uk.
  3. 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).
  4. Technical information about this website’s accessibility
    Middlesbrough 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 under section two of this page.
  5. How we test this website
    This website is tested every 7 days. The tests are carried out by the Middlesbrough Council Digital team using online accessibility reporting tools and manual testing. Required changes that are discovered as a result of these tests will be implemented within two months.
  6. Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations and what we are doing to improve accessibility

Our accessibility road map below shows the issues which are currently in place on this website and how we aim to fix them.

Issue

The introduction box on the homepage is not accessible for users using assistive technology

Action
The format of this box will be changed so it is accessible for all.

Target fix date
April 2021

Issue

Some heading text used on the website is not the correct size

Action
The size of this text will be changed so that heading text used is in sequentially descending order.

Target fix date
April 2021

The below items previously identified as not being accessible have now been fixed:

Issue
Some images contain text

Action
Images have either been replaced with accessible images without text or a text alternative has been made available

Fixed date
July 2020

Issue
Some videos don’t have a written transcript or subtitles to accompany the video

Action
A written version of the video has been crated or subtitles have been added.

Fixed date
June 2020

Issue
The search button is not fully accessible

Action
The search functionality has been rebuilt so it can be fully accessed by those users accessing the website using a screen reader

Fixed date
June 2020

Issue
The language used on certain parts of the website is not plain English and would therefore be difficult for some people to understand

Action
Content that fails the plain English test has been re-written

Fixed
August 2020

Issue
The colour ratio on certain elements of the website was not high enough

Action
Elements that did not meet colour ratio accessibility guidelines have been replaced for fully accessible colours

Fixed
August 2020

Issue
A skip to content button was not available

Action
A skip to content button has been added to the header of each page of the website for those users accessing the website using a keyboard only or a screen reader.

Fixed
August 2020

Issue
Some PDF documents were not fully accessible

Action
All PDF documents have been assessed, failures relation to accessibility have been corrected and the documents have been re-uploaded to the website.

Fixed
September 2020

Issue
The button at the bottom of the website to amend your preference in relation to cookies did not have a name correctly assigned

Action
A name has been added so that those users accessing the website using a screen reader will know the purpose of this button.

Fixed
December 2021

This statement was prepared on 16/06/2020. It was last updated on 29/01/2021.