Accessibilty Statement
We have done this by considering different needs in both the design and look of our pages, how the site operates and how easy it is to search.
We seek to meet the Priority AA and selected AAA guidelines of the W3C Content Accessibility Guidelines.
Users of the website have also been involved in its design through the Mid Bedfordshire Access Group.
The list below is our minimum promise to you
To maximise accessibility we have:
- used only common types of font;
- aimed to use clear and simple language;
- avoided large blocks of text in italics;
- avoided layouts that produce columns of text;
- limited the use of capital letters using bold and italics to emphasise the content;
- made pages easy to read avoiding long sentences and paragraphs;
- used a consistent layout of pages to enable navigation;
- used a limited range of colours and text and background colours contrast well;
- designed the website’s layout to stretch to fill the width of the browser;
- used clear row and column headers on tables containing data;
- used style sheets to control layout and presentation;
- avoided the use of frames;
- used text rather than graphics wherever possible to reduce page download time and increase your control over text size;
- used a minimum number of images and added alternative text;
- not used elaborate animation;
- avoided flickering effects on screen;
- avoided the use of “pop ups” and will not change the current window without informing the user;
- not underlined text unless it is a link to another document or webpage;
- avoided placing links next to each other without text in-between;
- labelled all hyperlinks with information about their destination;
- ensured the site can be navigated using a keyboard or other forms of assistive technology instead of a mouse;
- and clearly labelled any form elements so that assisted technologies can help in completing the form.
This site is built using XHTML and CSS for presentation.
Inevitably we won’t get everything right and with over 1200 pages of content we are bound to miss some problems, but we are committed to addressing access issues. If you experience any difficulties in accessing our website, or have trouble using any aspect of the site, please contact our Webmaster by email. Alternatively if you can send us your comments, complaints or compliments by completing our online feedback form.
We are monitoring the speed and quality of our response to all communications, and we aim to respond to email enquiries within three working days.
