Accessibility statement

This accessibility statement applies to Connect to Support, commissioned by Kent County Council.

The content on this website is designed for everyone to find, read, and understand. It is compatible with assistive technologies and developed to meet the accessibility standards outlined in this statement.

There are a number of customisation options for your browser and device that could help you use this website and other websites more effectively.  

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

Please contact the team if you have an accessibility query including:

• If you are experiencing issues with accessing information or using the website
• If you find an accessibility problem not listed on this statement
• If you have positive feedback on the accessibility considerations made.

When you contact us there is a process in place that will acknowledge your contact, tell you who is dealing with it and give you a timescale by which you can expect a reply.

If you need information in an alternative format, such as braille or a language other than English:

• Email: alternativeformats@kent.gov.uk
• Call: 03000 421 553

An English-speaker will take details of what you need and arrange a translation or interpreting service for you. You may need an English-speaking friend or a family member to help you with this.

We may not be able to meet your requirements immediately, but we will try to provide an interpreter (or translation service) to help you as quickly as possible.

Once you have reported a problem with our website or asked for an alternative format, but you are not happy with our response, you can use our complaints process to register your difficulty. This helps us improve our systems.

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).

Kent County Council is committed to making this 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 with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.

We formally test the accessibility of key user journeys that represent the breadth of content across our website on a regular basis against WCAG 2.1 AA standards.

If you find something that does not work that we missed, remember to contact the team.

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

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

This section covers issues that we need to fix and are working to do so.

Images, Video and Media

Some images on the website do not have a text alternative, so people using a screen reader cannot access the information. (WCAG: 1.1.1).

There are some videos that do not have transcripts (WCAG: 1.2.1, 1.2.3, 1.2.5).

We are working to fix this issue by December 2023

Website Design

Not all links have accessible names and often use full URLs (WCAG: 2.4.4).

There are no focus indicators on the cookie policy window and unsuitable focus indicators within the Kent Directory page (WCAG: 2.4.7).

The cookie policy button overlaps with the main content of the page at 400% (WCAG: 1.4.10).

We are working to fix this issue by December 2023

Keyboard Access

There is an illogical focus order in the menu when the page is magnified to 400% (WCAG: 1.4.10, 2.4.3).

There is one button in the Directory that does not receive focus (WCAG: 2.1.1).

We are working to fix this issue by December 2023

Web Languages

Some pages do not have suitable page titles that do not accurately describe the page (WCAG: 2.4.2).

There are some elements which use duplicated IDs within the HTML (WCAG: 4.1.1).

Some drop down menus do not have accessible names (WCAG: 1.3.1, 4.1.2).

We are working to fix this issue by December 2023

Interactive Elements

There are some information icons that do not allow the mouse to hover over the content without it collapsing (WCAG: 1.4.13).

We are working to fix this issue by December 2023

Disproportionate burden

Not applicable.

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

This section covers issues that we do not need to fix right now.

Documents and PDFs

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

We will be ensuring that any newly published content is accessible and are working to either fix accessibility issues with existing documents that have been published since 23^rd September 2018 or provide an accessible alternative.

Videos

The accessibility regulations do not apply to video content published before 23^rd September 2020.

All video content published from 23^rd September 2020 will meet accessibility requirements and we are working to make older video content accessible where possible.

Online Maps

The accessibility regulations do not require us to fix online maps provided there is an accessible alternative. 

Our website uses online maps and where there is a map, the information being displayed is provided in an alternative format on the same web page.

Third-Party Content

Our website contains third-party content. We do not have control over and are not responsible for the accessibility of this content, but we make best endeavours to work with the 3^rd party to improve its accessibility. This may include:

• Links to non-KCC websites
• Content/functionality on our website
• Content hosted on other websites, such as social media sites.

This statement was prepared on 16^th March 2022. It was last reviewed 11th September 2023

This website was last tested on 29th August 2023. The test was carried out by Kent County Council.