Accessibility statement

This accessibility statement applies to https://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk.

This statement summarises where we are and where we plan to get to for this website.

On this page:

Using Renfrewshire.gov.uk

This website is run by Renfrewshire Council. 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've also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.

AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.

How accessible this website is

We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible:

some pages have poor colour contrast
some heading elements are not consistent
some tables do not have associated row headers
some images do not have good alternative text or are missing
some buttons are not correctly identified
some warning and error messages are not fully accessible to screen reader software
some PDF documents are not fully accessible to screen reader software
some interactive tools are not fully accessibility to screen read software
you cannot skip to the main content when using a screen reader
some of our online services are hosted by third-party suppliers and you may find navigating these services difficult depending on their level of web accessibility - you can contact us using the details below to ask for alternative formats
our older PDF, Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents are not fully accessible to screen reader software
many of our videos are embedded from YouTube and may feature labelling from YouTube itself, which is incorrect or not sufficiently descriptive
some videos do not have accurate captions or text transcript.

Feedback and contact information

Please contact us if you have an accessibility query including:

if you are experiencing issues with accessing information or using the website
if you experience barriers, you can request alternative formats
if you have positive feedback on the accessibility considerations made.

We aim to respond to all contacts within 10 working days.

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).

Technical information about this website's accessibility

Renfrewshire Council is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Compliance status

Renfrewshire.gov.uk is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version (WCAG) 2.1 AA standard due to the non-compliances and exemptions listed below.

Some parts of the website may not work for everyone. Below are known issues that we either need to fix, cannot fix, or do not need to fix right now. If you find something that we missed, please contact us.

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons. We are working to remedy these issues on the new version of Renfrewshire.gov.uk which we are currently developing. You can find more information in the What we're doing to fix the non-accessible content section.

Non-accessible content

Issues affecting all pages

HTML language of page has not been set

The lang attribute in the html tag is missing. This fails WCAG 3.1.1 Language of Page (AA).

We will fix this issue in the new version of Renfrewshire.gov.uk.

Navigation and accessing information

There is no 'skip to main content' option that will allow you to skip the repeated content in the page header. This fails WCAG 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks (AA).

We will fix this issue in the new version of Renfrewshire.gov.uk.

Issues that occur across the site and affect all pages with these elements

Contrast

Some pages contain elements with low contrast between the element and its background, particularly when under focus. Contrast issues mainly appears with the hex colour code #008793 such as in link texts and navigation elements. This can cause text to be difficult to read, especially for those with low vision, poor eyesight, or colour blindness. This fails WCAG 1.4.3 Contrast Minimum (AA).

We are working to remedy these issues on the new version of Renfrewshire.gov.uk. In the meantime, you can change the colours and contrast of this website to your preference by using a variety of third party tools such as Change Colors for Chrome and Color Changer for Firefox. Alternatively, a high contrast viewer such as High Contrast for Chrome may make your viewing experience better.

Links without meaningful purpose

Some of the links are not labelled clearly. This means that links do not make sense when taken out of context, and for some links it is not possible to know what the purpose of the link is. On some pages there are several links to the same resource which are repeated across elements. This fails WCAG 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context).

Most of hyperlinks on the website includes meaningful information for users. We will correct existing hyperlinks that do not comply with the required standards in the new version of Renfrewshire.gov.uk. Any new hyperlink will include meaningful information.

Whilst we work to fix these issues, please contact us if you are experiencing issues with identifying and accessing content through hyperlinks.

Images

The image content on the website has been audited and most of the content contains meaningful alt-text or image description, where required. However, some images on our website do not have appropriate alternative text. People with screen readers or other assistive devices rely on these descriptions to understand the image content and purpose. This fails WCAG 1.1.1 Non-text Content (AA). We will review existing images and alt-text and make them comply with the required standards in the new version of Renfrewshire.gov.uk. Any new images added to the existing version of Renfrewshire.gov.uk will contain a meaningful alt-text or image description.

Whilst we work to address this issue on the new version of Renfrewshire.gov.uk, please contact us if you require a description of specific image content.

Images representing links that open in a new window or download

Where an icon tells the user that the link they are visiting is a download or opens in a new window the alt text for the icon should prepare them for that. On the website's Related documents and Related links, this is not the case. The alt text is empty. This fails WCAG 1.1.1 Non-text Content (AA).

In addition, links should not open in a new window for accessibility as this disables the back functionality and is therefore confusing for screen reader users.

We will fix this issue in the new version of Renfrewshire.gov.uk.

Images in task button

The images that form task buttons on pages often have unnecessary alt-text. These images should be marked as decorative. These images which are purely decorative are not identified as such. This fails WCAG 1.1.1 Non-text Content (AA).

We will fix this issue in the new version of Renfrewshire.gov.uk.

Map images

Map images contain embedded text. Complex images that should be given a text equivalent and require a longer description. These images are not legible or usable at the size they display on the website. This fails WCAG 1.1.1 Non-text Content (AA).

We will aim to fix this issue in the new version of Renfrewshire.gov.uk.

YouTube embed code does not have a title

By default, YouTube does not provide a title as part of the share embed code. This fails WCAG 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value (AA).

We will review existing YouTube embed code and make them comply with the required standards in the new version of Renfrewshire.gov.uk. Any new YouTube embed code added to the existing version of Renfrewshire.gov.uk will contain a title.

HTML is used to format content on YouTube code

YouTube embed code includes a frameborder attribute by default. This is local formatting and must be removed manually to make sure that the video passes the automated accessibility checker. This fails WCAG 1.3.1 Info and Relationships (AA).

Tables

For accessibility, it is important that tables are structured properly and that any table headings are associated with each relevant cell in the table. However, the website has some complex tables with headers that apply to both rows and columns and there is no scope element to associate headings with relevant cells. This fails WCAG 1.3.1 Info and Relationships (AA).

We will fix this issue in the new version of Renfrewshire.gov.uk.

PDFs

Some PDF documents do not provide information on the structure or the roles of components to help you navigate, such as headings. This fails WCAG 1.3.1 info and relationships (AA).

The reading order of some PDF documents is not correct, making it difficult to access these using a screen reader. This fails WCAG 1.3.2 meaningful sequence (AA).

On the current version of Renfrewshire.gov.uk, any new PDFs will be replaced with an HTML page that gives users the information they need, without forcing them to read a PDF in a browser. When not possible (e.g. PDF required for printing purposes), we will aim to make the PDFs accessible.

Existing PDFs on the current version of Renfrewshire.gov.uk will be reviewed and replaced with an HTML page on the new version of Renfrewshire.gov.uk. When not possible, we will review the PDFs to make them accessible.

Spotlight carousel element (home page)

There are several accessibility issues with the spotlight carousel element. For example, it is not possible to access the articles on the second screen using a keyboard. Amongst other issues are errors with missing, invalid or redundant coding elements around radio buttons and alternative text on images that doesn't reflect the content of the link. This element fails:

1.3.1 Info and Relationships (AA)
2.4.3 Focus Order (AA)
2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context) (AA)
2.4.7 Focus Visible (AA)
4.1.1 Parsing (AA)
4.1.2 Name, Role, Value (AA)

This element will be removed in the new version Renfrewshire.gov.uk.

Twitter (home page)

HTML is used to format content. Twitter iframe has frameborder attribute associated with it. This fails WCAG 1.3.1 Info and Relationships (AA).

This element will be removed in the new version Renfrewshire.gov.uk.

Headings (home page)

"Find my nearest" and "My Account" are adjacent headings and both are tagged as H2 but with no text underneath them. These elements are navigation, rather than sub-headings of the home page. This fails WCAG 1.3.1 Info and Relationships (AA).

We will fix this issue in the new version of Renfrewshire.gov.uk.

Warning message and postcode validation error (bin collection calendar page)

Warning message "Please put your bin(s) out for collection before 7.00am. Collection(s) can take place until 6.30pm."

Postcode validation error "Please specify your postcode in upper case with a space between parts"

Both of these messages use the WAI-ARIA role="alert" attribute but do not have WAI-ARIA attribute that will make sure all assistive technologies can read the messages after more than one invalid submission to the postcode search. This fails WCAG 3.3.1 Error Identification (AA).

We will fix this issue in the new version of Renfrewshire.gov.uk.

Content that's not within the scope of the accessibility regulations

PDFs and other documents

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. We are implementing strategies to ensure that we:

replace non-accessible PDFs with accessible HTML pages when transitioning from the current version of Renfrewshire.gov.uk to the new version
publish any new PDFs or documents that meet accessibility standards.

The accessibility regulations do not require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they're not essential to providing our services.

Live video

We do not plan to add captions to live video streams because live video is exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations.

Maps

Our maps are mostly accessible, however we do not audit these for accessibility as we do not provide maps for navigational purposes, and therefore these maps are exempt from the accessibility regulations.

What we're doing to fix the non-accessible content

We have developed a Digital Experience vision and completed a Discovery and Alpha phase for the redevelopment of Renfrewshire.gov.uk.

We are now in the next phase of development which will see the launch of a beta.renfrewshire.gov.uk between September 2024 and December 2024. This new website will be supported by a new Content Management System (LocalGov Drupal) and a design system.

This new website will be supported by a design system. The design system will include a library of web components that have been designed and built with accessibility as a core focus.

As part of the roll-out of the new Renfrewshire.gov.uk, existing accessibility issues will be fixed, and old inaccessible content will be reviewed. We will adopt a few different tools such as Axe and SortSite for automated accessibility testing to regularly test the code, content, and design of the new website.

We have increased capacity in the Digital Experience team to implement a new approach to accessibility across our websites. The Team has already launched The Thread and published guidelines on accessibility and content writing, including guidance on the use of PDF and other documents online.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 11 September 2020. It was last reviewed on 16 October 2023.

This website was last tested on 1 November 2021. The test was carried out by the Digital Experience Team at Renfrewshire Council.

We tested 45 pages across the website, including our home page, popular content and a cross-section of layouts and functionality. The pages were tested using a combination of automated checks with Taw and Siteimprove, manual testing and testing with a NVDA screen reader.

We are currently testing Renfrewshire.gov.uk with WCAG 2.2 AA. We will update the statement as soon as this test has been completed.