Accessibility

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 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)
• 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.

2. 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 that are not fully accessible:
* Links must have discernible text

3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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).
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.

   * Links must have discernible text – We will aim to fix this by September 2022

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

Issue
Information can only be found by using the navigation – there isn’t an alternative

Action
A sitemap has been added to the footer of the website so users can also navigate the website in this way as well as using the usual navigation

Fixed date
August 2020

Issue
A skip to content button is not available

Action
A skip to content button has been added to the website which appears at the top of every page when using a keyboard only to navigate the site

Fixed date
September 2020

Issue
Certain links do not have a suitable name assigned

Action
All links have been rebuilt with a name assigned. This means that those users using a screen reader will have full access to the website

Fixed date
September 2020

Issue
Some images do not have alt attributes assigned

Action
All images on this website have been checked and where required an alt tag has been assigned. Those using a screen reader can now understand an images purpose

Fixed date
September 2020

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Issue
The cog that appears in the bottom left of the website once a user sets their cookie preferences did not have a name assigned

Action
A name has been assigned to identify the purpose of the cog for those using a screen reader

Fixed date
December 2020

Issue
The link to open the mobile menu is missing a discernible name

Action
A name has been added to identify the purpose of this element for those using a screen reader

Fixed date
February 2021

Issue
The image at the top of the homepage was missing a description of what it is

Action
A name has been added to identify the purpose of the image for those using a screen reader

Fixed date
April 2021

This statement was prepared on 16/06/2020. It was last updated on 11/08/2022.