Accessibility

This website is run by Essex County 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)

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

• make your mouse easier to use
• use your keyboard instead of a mouse
• talk to your device
• make your device talk to you
• make text larger
• change your colours
• magnify the screen

We know some parts of this website aren’t fully accessible:

• Some images, such as photos of our venues, contain text
• Alt text which describes hyperlinks isn’t as clear as it could be
• Some landmarks have identical names, which makes it difficult for users with screen readers to navigate
• Booking bug, the online booking platform causes difficulties for users with screen readers when trying to navigate through events

We are working to resolve these issues and will have released them to the website by 31 March 2020.

If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille, email us at explore.essex@essex.gov.uk

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

We have tested this website using automated test tools including Siteimprove and Powermapper.

Essex County Council is working with an accessibility partner to build our capability so that we can run assessments with users.

We aim to test this website shortly.

Essex County Council is committed to making its website 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, due to the non-compliances listed below.

Explore Essex uses Booking Bug for online transactions, this may cause issues for screen reader users as event labels are not descriptive enough.

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

This statement was prepared on 6 January 2020.

We are working to resolve all identified accessibility issues which are within our control and will release them to the website by 31 March 2020.

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 explore.essex@essex.gov.uk

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).

Culture and Green Spaces team
Essex County Council
Telephone: 0345 603 7624
Email: explore.essex@essex.gov.uk