Accessibility statement

1. Using this website

This website is run by the Stroud District Council Communications Team. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:

• Zoom in up to 200% 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) 
• View the website using any device e.g. Mobile phone, Tablet, Desktop computer
• View any videos that we add to this website, ensuring they are accessible to all with audio or written alternatives available where required
• View and understand content where we use colour. We will ensure that colours used have a sufficient colour contrast

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

2. How accessible is this website?

Most of this website is compliant with the W3C WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standard. However, there are some parts of this website that are not fully accessible:

• Some pages with Google or ESRI embedded maps are not fully accessible. A screen reader is unable to read aloud the contents of the map

3. What to do if you can’t access parts of this website

If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read or audio recording:

• email pressoffice@stroud.gov.uk

4. Reporting accessibility problems with this website

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 accessibility requirements, contact the Communications Team by emailing pressoffice@stroud.gov.uk

5. 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).

6. Technical information about this website’s accessibility

Stroud District 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 under section two of this page.

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

PDFs and other documents

Many of our older PDFs and Word documents don’t meet accessibility standards - for example, they may not be structured so they’re accessible to a screen reader. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 4.1.2 (name, role value). 

The accessibility regulations don’t require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before September 2018 if they’re not essential to providing our services. For example, we don’t plan to fix old issues of the SDC News. 

Any new PDFs or Word documents we add to this website from this point forwards will meet accessibility standards.

8. How we test this website

This website is tested every 7 days. The tests are carried out by the Stroud Distict Councils Communication Team using Site Improve's accessibility reports and other online accessibility reporting tools. Required changes that are discovered as a result of these tests will be implemented within two months.

9. What we are doing to improve accessibility

Our accessibility road map below shows how we aim to improve accessibility across this website.

The below items we previously identified as not being accessible have now been fixed.