Why web accessibility?
"The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect." Tim Berners-Lee, W3C Director and inventor of the World Wide Web
Our website is for everyone and we strive to make it easy to:
- Find with a search engine
- Find your way around
- Read and understand (see text accessibility for further information)
We try to:
- Use friendly language
- Make it easy to contact the correct person directly if you need to
- Use links with meaning i.e. ‘transport pages’ rather than ‘click here’
- Tell you when we are going to make a link open a new browser window
- Let you know when we are linking to a PDF (see PDF accessibility for further information)
We try to avoid using:
- Jargon
- Complicated wordy sentences and paragraphs
- Images that make pages load slowly
PDF accessibility
Over recent years there has been much done to improve the accessibility of PDF files. For our part we have started to structure all new PDF files on our site so they can be read by assistive technologies such as screen readers. Next to each link we also provide:
- file size information (which will indicate how long the file will take to open)
- a link to information about accessing PDF files
See the example below (please note this is a visual guide only and cannot be clicked):
Example Portable Document Format link [PDF] (127k)
However there is a large volume of PDF files on our website that have been published historically that do not meet accessibility guidelines. To help with this Adobe now offer a PDF to HTML converter which will enable you access some older unstructured PDF files if you are using assistive technologies or are unable to open PDF files from the device you are using.
This will not work in all cases. If you do come across a document on the website that you are unable to view please use the contact details on that page to get in touch with us.
Text accessibility
We make sure all the contributors to our site are trained in writing for the web and follow plain English guidelines (this page opens in a new window).
The size of the text on our site can either be resized using the three A’s at the top left of the screen or by using your browser controls, see the W3C text resizing instructions (this page opens in a new window). You can also find out how to change text and background colour from the W3C instructions.
Accessibility issues with our current website:
What we are doing about it:
We are developing a new website in conjunction with GOSS interactive a leading web content management company. GOSS have delivered many award winning accessible sites – and we aim to be next! We are due to launch the new website in Spring 2010.
We have reviewed the use of PDF files on our website. Due to resources available we have decided that we cannot go back and make all the PDFs published historically on our site accessible. We will however make sure that all new PDF files published on the website will at the least pass the Adobe Acrobat basic accessibility test.
The new site will incorporate current and forward looking accessibility guidelines from the following organisations:
- W3C (World Wide Web Consortium)
- SOCITM (Society of Information Technology Management)
- The Shaw Trust
- RNIB
- And importantly you the user! (so tell us your ideas – we will also be running user group sessions so sign up to get involved)
If you have any questions about anything covered on this page, or need any information sent to you in another format, contact us, the Web Team, using our details below.
The Web Team
Guildford Borough Council
Millmead House
MIllmead
Guildford
GU2 4BB
Tel: 01483 444020
Email: webteam@guildford.gov.uk