Accessibility statement for visit-dorset.com

This accessibility statement applies to visit-dorset.com. This website is run by Visit Dorset, Dorset Council. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website.

This Accessibility Statement provides an overview of the accessibility features we have implemented on this website and the new development to meet more of the WCAG 2.1 regulations.

We believe in access to information over the internet for all and aim to provide a website that is accessible to all visitors, for example, that means you should be able to:
•    change colours, contrast levels and fonts
•    enlarge the font size
•    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

We have integrated the AudioEye system on to this website to assist with these actions.

Visual Presentation

This site uses Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) so that you may customise the presentation to suit your preferences.

All the information can be viewed without styles (also known as CSS or Cascading Style Sheets). How you remove or disable the styles will depend on the browser you are using. Refer to a user guide for how to disable CSS.
The screen text size is relative, allowing you to adjust the size of the text in your browser. You can do this from the Menu button in your browser. For example, with Chrome click on the Menu button, then choose Settings, then Appearance.

Viewing documents

Additional software might be needed to view Adobe and Word documents. Adobe Acrobat Reader - allows users to view Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files.
Adobe® Reader® X is free software that improves the accessibility of PDF files. You may need to download Microsoft Viewer software to view Word files.

AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability, with a step-by-step guide to individual adjustments you can make to your computer, laptop, tablet or smart phone to make it easier to use.

How accessible this website is

We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible:
There are some older PDF documents which are not fully accessible to screen reader software. These include town maps, however we can assist with addresses in text format on request. Any new PDFs or Word documents we publish will meet accessibility standards.

Our inspirational video content do not all have captions and are exempt as it was recorded before 23 September 2020. Any new videos we record which includes narration will have captions.
The colour palette of our website design is not fully compliant, but this can be improved with the use of AudioEye.
A few of the images on this website may not currently have Alt Text.

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

Visit Dorset 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

This website is partially compliant to the WCAG 2.1 regulations.
This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to the listed below.

Non-accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons:

• Navigation may be difficult when using keyboard and not a mouse
• The website colour palette and contrast design
• Contains non-accessible (exempt) PDF's

By installing AudioEye we have improved these issues to make the website easier to use and closer to compliancy.

Disproportionate burden

This website was procured and designed before 23 September 2018. We’ve assessed the cost of fixing the design issues including the navigation. We believe that doing so now would be a disproportionate burden within the meaning of the accessibility regulations. We will make another assessment when the supplier contract is up for renewal, in 2021.

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

In 2021 we plan to procure a new website which will meet the current Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (known as WCAG 2.1).
In the meantime we are striving to make our websites fully WCAG 2.1 AA compliant with the use of the AudioEye Tool and making our website content admins aware of the WCAG 2.1 guidelines to try and ensure all content is as accessible for users as it can be. 

We have been redeveloping our website to make it more accessible within its current design.
We have worked on improving the alternative text (alt Text) information on photos, images and navigation images on this website and purchased an update from our website providers to ensure that there will be an alt text field completd on all images.
We are changing the way we write creative text so that our headings and the sentences which include links will be easier to understand in all new articles.

Navigation Aids

This website has an assistive technology navigation aid.

• AudioEye Accessibility Toolbar provides customisable tools that benefit all site visitors with diverse abilities. Each assistive utility made available from the toolbar may be engaged, individually, or combined with one another.

• AudioEye provides implementation of the AudioEye Toolbar which provides web personalisation tools permitting site visitors to customise their user experience to meet individual needs.

• The AudioEye Page Elements Menu provides lists of the common elements on the page such as Landmarks, Headers, Images and Forms. These lists provide easy access for you to navigate a page quickly.

Compliance and monitoring

AudioEye certifies that this website is being tested for conformance with AudioEye’s interpretation of the informative guidance provided by the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA Success Criteria.  AudioEye monitors this website and to take the steps necessary to improve conformance with WCAG standards.

Reporting accessibility problems with this website

We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements please contact us.
Problems can also be reported by using the AudioEye Toolbar.

Feedback and contact information

If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille (we’ll consider your request and get back to you) or if you wish to feedback any issues to help us to improve, please contact us.
email tourism@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
call 01305 252241

Enforcement procedure

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).

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was updated on the 18th September 2020.