Accessibility
ESF-Works is committed to ensuring that this site is accessible to the widest possible range of people. We hope that you will find it both easy and enjoyable to use. Our Accessibility policy (below) summarises our overall approach to accessibility, as well as key steps we have taken to underpin accessibility and usability on this site. However, if you encounter any difficulties in accessing the site, or if you have suggestions on improvements we can make, please contact us.
Further information on making the Web more accessible
Accessibility policy
Overall approach
We seek to follow best practice accessibility guidelines such as those published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) and the UK government's Central Office of Information (COI).
Steps we have taken to improve access include:
- customisation of text size
- meaningful text alternatives for non-text content (e.g. transcripts for audio track of videos)
- ensuring minimum colour contrast ratio of 1:5
- keyboard, as well as mouse, access
- compatibility with a range of common browsers and key assistive technologies
- consistent navigation and labelling.
We outline below the specific policy we have developed for the ESF Works site.
Technologies and formats used
This site uses standard formats such as XHTML transitional 1.0 and CSS 2, which are recommended by W3C. Other technologies and formats used include:
- PDF documents
- Javascript.
Technical compliance
We are taking all reasonable steps to work towards conforming to level Double A of the W3C Web content accessibility guidelines 2.0.
The following tests were carried out prior to release:
- automated code checks of templates to validate CSS and XHTML
- manual check of templates and sample pages against relevant WCAG2 AA checkpoints
- sample testing of key templates using one or more assistive technologies.
We plan in the next phase of work to carry out some testing with end-users.
Exceptions
Javascript has been used to enhance aspects of the site. Where this is the case, we have endeavoured to use it in an accessible way.
Some legacy documents, such as PDFs, may not be fully accessible. If you would like an alternative version, please contact us.
We are aware that alt texts are missing from some images - this will be addressed in the next release. Some work will also be done to improve the use of structured headings.
We are also aware that the video player is not keyboard accessible - again this will be reviewed before the next release. Also, some recently uploaded video clips still require transcripts.
Work to address a few remaining XHTML validation issues will be reviewed during the next phase.
Where accessibility issues arise, we will endeavour to fix the problem. Where this is not possible, we will provide alternative formats on request.
We cannot guarantee the accessibility of content referenced by an external link.
Maintenance and sustainability
As part of our ongoing maintenance of the level of accessibility of this site, we aim to ensure that:
- any new content added by the content team will be reviewed for accessibility; periodically an accessibility audit of new content will be carried out
- unless otherwise requested, only minimal effort will be taken to ensure that ‘archived' legacy content complies with the guidelines.
Accessibility help
Changing screen resolution
This web site has been optimised to be viewed at a minimum resolution of 1024 × 768, and optimised to work in IE6 and above, and in Firefox 3.0 and above. However, you can easily change your screen resolution as required. The Help system on your computer should provide information on how to do this.
Changing text size
Functionality to change the text size has been provided. By clicking on the text size options you can increase, decrease and reset the font size. This functionality is also provided by most browsers.
Using the keyboard to navigate the site
The site has been designed to be accessible to both keyboard and pointing devices. On each page a skip to main content link (at the top of the page) allows direct access to the main content. We have not, however, included keyboard shortcuts because of potential conflicts with keyboard shortcuts used elsewhere (e.g. by screen readers).
Accessing alternative formats
Images
For most images which are not purely decorative, we have provided alt texts or longer text descriptions, depending on the image. Some updating of these alt texts is still required.
Video
We have provided transcripts of the audio track of many of the video clips.
PDFs
As outlined above, some PDFs may not be fully accessible. Other formats are available on request; please contact us.
Further information on making the Web more accessible
There are many things you can do to make the Web, and your computer, more accessible to you. To find out more, a useful place to start is with the following sites:
My Web, My Way (www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility)
My Computer, My Way (www.abilitynet.org.uk/myway)
