Accessibility Statement

This accessibility statement applies to seaham.gov.uk.

 

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

  • Using the zoom feature (Ctrl and + on the keyboard) pages can be viewed up to 500%.
  • The headers on the information pages display in a readable format for heading mapping tools.
  • The website is compatible with high contrast plug in.
  • The website is compatible with text to speech plug in.
  • New content PDFs are zoom, reflow and text to speech compatible.
  • Page titles are accurate and display correctly.
  • The website is compatible with reader view plug in to enable modification of font size and style.

 

Browser plugins can provide a range of assistive tools these are some which we have found which may be of use, please note these are used at your own risk.

 

For users of Google Chrome the links are below.

High Contrast Google Chrome

Text to Speech Google Chrome

Reader View Google Chrome 

 

For users of Firefox the links are below.

No Squint Firefox (High Contrast) 

Reader View Firefox

 

We’ve 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:

  • Currently our menu drop downs do not offer full keyboard only navigation compatibility.
  • Skip links for keyboard users are currently not functional.
  • Older PDF documents may not be reflow and zoom compatible and currently being checked and updated where possible.
  • Existing hyperlinks are reporting poor colour contrast to background and require darkening.
  • When using speed reader software some elements on certain pages are not being automatically collected.
  • When using screen reader software text requires multiple clicks and main homepage link buttons are not identified.
  • There are instances such as the Homepage where hyperlinks to articles are described with unclear text such as ‘Read More’.
  • When using a screen reader the contact us form does not contain identifiable information for the corresponding input boxes.
  • There is currently no way to skip the repeated content in the page header (for example, a ‘skip to main content’ option).

 

What to do if you can't access parts of the website

We are working towards making the content on this website as accessible to everyone as possible. Should you have difficulty accessing a particular piece of content there are a few options you could try to improve your experience on using this site which may help you.

  • You are able to zoom the pages if required up to 500% using (Ctrl and + or Ctrl and mouse wheel up or in your browser view options)
  • You are able to zoom PDF documents by downloading the document. Once downloaded open the document in Adobe Acrobat Reader which is downloadable here, select the appropriate zoom level required to meet your requirements. Once the document zooms click view>zoom>reflow to reformat the document into a easier to read format.
  • You are able to download the colour contrast plugin for your relevant brower. High Contrast Google Chrome or  No Squint Firefox (High Contrast) 
  • You are able to download the text to speech plugin for your relevant browser. Text to Speech Google Chrome

 

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:

  • email info@seaham.gov.uk
  • call 0191 581 8034
  • post to Seaham Town Hall, Stockton Road, Seaham, Co. Durham, SR7 0HP
  • the contact us form on this website

We’ll consider your request and get back to you in 14 days.

If you cannot view the map on our ‘contact us’ page, call or email us on the above contact details for directions.

 

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, contact us by:

  • email info@seaham.gov.uk

  • call 0191 581 8034
  • post to Seaham Town Hall, Stockton Road, Seaham, Co. Durham, SR7 0HP
  • the contact us form on this website 

 

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

Our offices have audio induction loops.

Find out how to contact us

 

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

Seaham 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.

 

Compliance status

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to the following: ‘the non-compliances’ listed below.

 

Non-accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.

  • Currently our menu drop downs do not offer full keyboard only navigation compatibility.

  • Older PDF documents may not be reflow and zoom compatible and currently being checked and updated where possible.
  • Existing hyperlinks are reporting poor colour contrast to background and require darkening.
  • Skip links for keyboard users are currently not functional.
  • When using speed reader software some elements on certain pages are not being automatically collected.
  • When using screen reader software text requires multiple clicks and main homepage link buttons are not identified.
  • There are instances such as the Homepage where hyperlinks to articles are described with unclear text such as ‘Read More’.
  • When using a screen reader the contact us form does not contain identifiable information for the corresponding input boxes.
  • There is currently no way to skip the repeated content in the page header (for example, a ‘skip to main content’ option).

 

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

  • Currently our menu drop downs do not offer full keyboard only navigation compatibility this is being investigated from June, 2020.

  • Older PDF documents may not be reflow and zoom compatible and currently being checked and updated where possible this content is being checked and amended from July, 2020 onwards.

  • Existing hyperlinks are reporting poor colour contrast to background and require darkening this content is being checked and amended from July, 2020 onwards.
  • Skip links for keyboard users are currently not functional reported for investigation August 2020.
  • When using speed reader software some elements on certain pages are not being automatically collected reported for investigation August 2020.
  • When using screen reader software text requires multiple clicks and main homepage link buttons are not identified reported for investigation August 2020.
  • There are instances such as the Homepage where hyperlinks to articles are described with unclear text such as ‘Read More’. This is being checked and amended from July, 2020 onwards.
  • When using a screen reader the contact us form does not contain identifiable information for the corresponding input boxes reported for investigation August 2020.
  • There is currently no way to skip the repeated content in the page header (for example, a ‘skip to main content’ option) reported for investigation August 2020.

 

Disproportionate burden

Nothing to note in this section currently.

 

Navigation and accessing information

There is currently no way to skip the repeated content in the page header (for example, a ‘skip to main content’ option).

 

Interactive tools and transactions

Some of our interactive forms are difficult to navigate using a screen reader. For example, because some form input boxes require improved descriptions.

 

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

PDFs and other documents

Some of our PDFs and Word documents are essential to providing our services. For example, we have PDFs with information on how users can access our services, and forms published as Word documents.

The accessibility regulations do not require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they’re not essential to providing our services.

Any new PDFs or Word documents we publish will meet accessibility standards.

 

Live video

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

 

Video Files

Video created before September 2020 is exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations.


Archive Files

Anything labelled as an archive which pre dates September 2018 is exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations. 

 

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

Our staff are being trained on accessibility requirements and we are working with our website provider on implementing appropriate changes and functionality to the site where required.

 

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 21st September, 2020. It was last reviewed on 21st September, 2020.

This website was last tested on 25th August, 2020. The test was carried out by our own internal testing.

We used this approach when deciding on a sample of pages to test their accessibility by testing a variety of pages throughout the site which encompasses the range of content users would find whilst using our website.

The full website testing results are viewable in this document.