Commitment to Accessibility
Web accessibility is a fundamental principle in the development and maintenance of this website. Our aim is to ensure that everyone, regardless of their physical, sensory or cognitive abilities, can access, understand and use its content effectively. This website has therefore been designed and developed following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at Level AA, established by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), a leading organisation in web standards.
These guidelines provide a robust, internationally recognised framework for making content more accessible to people with disabilities, including visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, language, learning and neurological disabilities. Following these guidelines also improves the browsing experience for older users, people with slow internet connections and those accessing the website from mobile devices.
WCAG 2.1 is based on four essential principles that guide accessibility decisions:
- Perceivable: Information and user interface components must be presented in ways that users can perceive. This includes text alternatives for non-text content, captions for audiovisual media, and layouts that allow users to see and hear content effectively.
- Operable: All interactive elements and navigation must be usable through different input methods, including keyboards, assistive technologies and mobile devices. This also involves allowing sufficient time to interact with content and avoiding elements that could cause disorientation or seizures.
- Understandable: Content must be clear and predictable. This includes using plain language, explicit instructions, understandable form labels, and a coherent and consistent structure throughout the website.
- Robust: Content must be reliably interpreted by a wide range of technologies, including commonly used browsers and assistive technologies such as screen readers, screen magnifiers and alternative input software.
Applying Good Practices
To support these principles, this website incorporates accessibility good practices, including:
- Appropriate use of semantic HTML elements to support structured navigation.
- Alternative text for images and multimedia elements.
- Sufficient contrast between text and backgrounds to improve readability.
- Keyboard navigation across all sections and features.
- Clearly identifiable links and icons.
- Accessible forms with clear instructions.
- Minimising content that may cause confusion, flashing or distraction.
- Compatibility with different devices, browsers and assistive technologies.
Continuous Improvement
Accessibility is an ongoing commitment. The website undergoes periodic reviews to identify and address potential barriers. Accessibility principles are considered from the outset whenever new features or content are introduced.
We particularly value feedback from our users. If you encounter any accessibility difficulties or have suggestions for improvement, please contact us so that we can help provide an appropriate solution. Your participation helps us continue working towards a more inclusive, usable and equitable website for everyone.
