Policy Purpose
This policy is to ensure everyone in the organisation understands MVDC’s legal obligations related to web and digital accessibility. This policy will help you to make your web content accessible and understand the impact if you don’t.
Policy Scope
For the purposes of this policy, accessibility regulations cover all types of digital content. This includes, but is not limited to, web pages, documents, YouTube videos and social media posts
Anyone working for MVDC is required to read and understand this policy at induction. This includes all employees, agency workers, casual workers, consultants and interims. The policy can be amended at any time, subject to our normal consultation process and is available on Molly, our staff intranet site.
What is website accessibility?
“Web accessibility means that websites, tools, and technologies are designed and developed so that people with disabilities can use them. More specifically, people can: perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with the web.”
World Wide Web Consortium
Making a website or mobile app accessible means making sure it can be used by as many people as possible.
This includes those with:
- impaired vision
- dyslexia
- motor difficulties
- cognitive impairments or learning disabilities
- deafness or impaired hearing
At least 1 in 5 people in the UK have a long term illness, impairment or disability. Many more have a temporary disability.
Why is it important?
People may not have a choice when using a public sector website or mobile app, so it’s important they work for everyone. The people who need them the most are often the people who find them hardest to use.
Accessible websites usually work better for everyone. They are often faster, easier to use and appear higher in search engine rankings.
Mole Valley District Council (MVDC) is committed to ensuring that our website and online services are accessible to all individuals, including those with disabilities.
We strive to provide a positive user experience for all visitors, regardless of their abilities or the assistive technologies they use.
This policy outlines our commitment to website accessibility and provides guidelines for creating and maintaining an accessible website.
Compliance with Applicable Standards
We will adhere to recognized accessibility standards to ensure our web content meets or exceeds the expectations for accessibility.
These standards may include, but are not limited to, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 or any subsequent versions or updates recommended by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
Website Design and Development
Our website is designed and developed with accessibility in mind. The following principles guide our efforts:
- Perceivability: We ensure that all website content can be perceived by all users, regardless of their sensory abilities. This includes providing alternative text for non-text content, using clear and readable fonts, and maintaining appropriate colour contrast.
Before any documents are loaded to the website, a consideration should be given to the content presentation and if the content can be built as a web page rather than a document.
All documents loaded to the website must be accessible unless they are identified as disproportional burden, or out of our control to make them fully accessible. For those exceptions, a Disproportional Burden Statement will be required and published on the MVDC website, explaining the burden that making those documents accessible places on MVDC, your department and staff. Disproportional burden cannot be used to cover the process of making a document accessible as it is being written.
- Operability: Our website is operable for all users, including those who navigate using a keyboard or assistive technologies. We will strive to ensure that all functionality is accessible via keyboard, and that users can easily navigate, interact with, and understand the content.
- Understandability: We make sure that our website content and functionality are presented in a clear and understandable manner. This includes using plain language, providing clear instructions, and organising content in a logical manner.
- Robustness: Our website will be built using web technologies that are compatible with current and future assistive technologies. We will follow coding best practices and ensure that our website remains accessible as technology evolves.
Accessibility Testing
Regular accessibility testing will be conducted to identify and address any barriers to accessibility. We will use a combination of automated tools, manual testing, and user feedback to assess the accessibility of our website.
This testing is conducted during the website development process and on an ongoing basis as new content is added or existing content is modified.
Training and Awareness
We provide training and resources to MVDC employees involved in website development, content creation, and maintenance to ensure they understand and adhere to accessibility best practices.
Accessibility Guidance can be found on Molly under Accessibility Essentials section.
Accessibility Statement
Accessibility statement outlining our commitment to accessibility and providing contact information for users to report any accessibility issues they may encounter is included on our website.
The statement also includes information on how users can request accessible alternatives for any content or functionality that may not be accessible.
Continuous Improvement
We recognise that achieving and maintaining website accessibility is an ongoing process. We will continually review and improve our website to enhance accessibility and address any accessibility barriers that may arise.
Feedback from users, including individuals with disabilities, will be welcomed and considered in our efforts to improve accessibility.
Compliance Monitoring
Regular audits and monitoring will be conducted to ensure compliance with this accessibility policy. We will periodically assess our website against the applicable accessibility standards and make any necessary improvements.
Accessibility Policy Review
This policy will be reviewed and updated periodically to reflect changes in accessibility standards, best practices, and legal requirements. Any updates to the policy will be communicated to relevant stakeholders within MVDC.
Implementation and Enforcement
All employees, contractors, and third parties involved in website development, content creation, and maintenance on behalf of MVDC are required to comply with this policy so that MVDC can meet its legal obligations under the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.