ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT HARLOW AND GILSTON GARDEN TOWN

Using this website

The following website is managed by Harlow and Gilston Garden Town.

We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:

  • change colours, contrast levels and fonts
  • zoom in up to 300% 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)

We’re also making the website text as simple as possible to understand.

AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability by showing you how to:

How accessible this website is

We know that not all of the current website is compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard. The non-accessible sections will be listed below and addressed by our Accessibility Audit which is currently being undertaken by The Shaw Trust Accessibility Services.

We are working to resolve these issues and will have released them to the website as soon as possible following 22nd October 2019

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 Harlow and Gilston Garden Town at contact@hggt.co.uk

We’ll consider your request and get back to you within 20 working days.

How we are testing this website:

This website is currently undergoing rigorous testing by the Shaw Trust Accessibility Services and they will report their findings to us in November 2019.

We have decided on a broad testing approach that would look at all areas of the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town operated sites and sub-domains.
We are currently testing:

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

Harlow and Gilston Garden Town is committed to making its websites 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, non-compliances will be considered in our Accessibility Audit which is currently in progress and these issues will then be addressed to ensure compliance.

Issues with technology

Many of our older PDFs and Word documents don’t meet accessibility standards – for example, they may not be marked up so they’re accessible to a screen reader.

Some of our PDFs and Word documents are essential to providing our services. For example, we have PDFs with information on how users can access our services, and forms published as Word documents.

We understand that the regulations don’t require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018, if they’re not essential to providing our services. However, if you need information in an alternative format, email the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town project team at contact@hggt.co.uk.

Any new PDFs or Word documents we publish from 11th November 2019 onwards will meet accessibility standards.

Issues with images, video and audio and interactive tools and transactions

We are in the process of upgrading all of our forms to ensure they are meeting WCAG 2.1 AA standards.

The Shaw Trust is currently identifying potential issues whilst our audits are taking place and these will be addressed in due course.

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

This statement was prepared on 22nd October 2019.
We are working to resolve all identified accessibility issues which are within our control and will release them to the website as soon as possible following completion of the assessments currently in progress and will implement the recommendations as quickly as possible.

We are working with suppliers to resolve any identified accessibility issues where we do not have direct control over their product.

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 the requirements of the accessibility regulations, email the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town project team at contact@hggt.co.uk.

Enforcement procedure

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the accessibility regulations. If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

Contacting us by phone or visiting us in person

We provide a text relay service for people who are D/deaf, hearing impaired or have a speech impediment.

We have limited audio induction loop facilities, but if you contact us before your visit we can arrange a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter.

Contact us:

General enquiries

Telephone: 01279 446227
Email:  contact@hggt.co.uk
Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:30pm