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Accessibility Statement

Lincolnshire County Council, hereby known as Lincolnshire Council, is committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of technology or ability. The Lincolnshire Connect to Support website is intended to be accessed by anyone who needs help to continue living independently for longer. This website is owned and managed by PPL UK on behalf of Lincolnshire County Council.

This website should allow any user to:

  • Change colours, contrast levels and size of text.
  • Modify the line height or spacing of text.
  • Zoom in up to 200% without the text spilling off the page.
  • 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)

 

This website was launched on 9th April 2020 and is designed to be compliant with the international standard Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG) – Level AA.

A new website is currently being prepared for Lincolnshire Connect To Support (CTS) this will be published by January 2025. This website has been developed to the international standard Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2 (WCAG) – Level AA.

How Accessible is this Website?

We know our website is currently inaccessible

  • This website uses JavaScript to deliver certain features. Please make sure you have JavaScript turned on within your browser to deliver full features.
  • Information Booklet doesn’t work with keyboard device
  • Landmarks used incorrectly across other pages
  • Colour Contrast issues with content
  • Images missing Alt text.
  • Voice Recognition users won’t be able to access all mobile navigation menus.
  • Most older PDF documents are not fully accessible to screen reader software;
  • Live video streams do not have captions;

Using this Website

Accessibility Widget and Accessible Features

The Lincolnshire CTS website contains several Accessible features that can be used by users with specific requirements.

The features include: -

Voice Recognition

The Lincolnshire CTS website has been tested using voice recognition software. All form elements on the website have been labelled correctly so that they can be accessed using the name shown.

For example, saying “select Enter Search Term” and “click Search Button” will allow you to access the main search functionality of the website.

Please be careful using the marketplace pages that are linked to the website starting /s4s does not have this feature. See Non-Accessible Content for more details.

Contrast & Font Size

Changing the contrast and font sizes of text can increase legibility for some users. 

A user can change the contrast settings. 

To increase the font size, click on the icons at the top right of the screen. The user can also use the browser’s own zoom facility. The website will work up to 200%

Translation

You can use the Google Translate feature at the top right of the screen to translate the text to any of the available languages, including common community languages in Lincolnshire such as Bengali, Chinese and Somali. Please note that the translation is done automatically by the Google software, not by the council.

Further information on accessibility options

The RNIB has a webpage with information on options that computers have which can make it easier for people with low or no vision to use them. - RNB Accessibility Options

Accessible Alternatives

Efforts have been made to create accessible alternatives for content that does not meet standards where possible.

Where appropriate we may be able to deliver content to users in accordance with their needs.

Please see “Make a request for Accessible Content” section for further details.

 

Make a request for Accessible Content

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 as soon as possible.

Purpose of Links

Lincolnshire CTS will use links to navigate to content on the website. External links will open in a new window.

Where possible the action of an external link will be described by extra description within the link text, so all users can understand the link’s purpose.  However, in certain areas of the website adding this extra description will become a disproportionate burden within the meaning of the accessibility regulations.

We have provided the following definition for external links: -

External Links will be used for any content that has known limitations with assistive technologies OR navigates a user away from secure platforms. In summary, this means the following items are considered External links –

  • Non-HTML Documentation (See “Issues with PDFs and other documents”)
  • Redirection away from secure platforms
  • External websites that are not owned by Lincolnshire

 

Feedback and Contact Information

We are always looking for ways to improve the Lincolnshire ConnectToSupport (CTS) website. If you find any problems that aren’t listed within this statement, or believe we are not meeting the requirements of the accessibility regulations please contact us at -AdultCareOnline@lincolnshire.gov.uk

 

Technical Information about this Website’s Accessibility

Lincolnshire 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 with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2 (WCAG) AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below. (See Non- Accessible Content, Issues With…)

Enforcement Procedure

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) responsible for enforcing the accessibility regulations. If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, please contact the Equality Advisory and Support Services (EASS)

 

Non-Accessible Content

Whilst Lincolnshire strives to adhere to accepted guidelines and standards for accessibility and usability, it is not always possible to do so in all areas of the website.

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

Non-Compliance with the Accessibility Regulations

This sub-section lists issues that fail the current accessibility regulations.

  • The Shop4Support directories are inaccessible to users using keyboards and our accessibility features. Our website provider is committed to ensuring these sections reach WCAG 2.1 by conformance deadline.

Shop4Support Directories and Forms

  • The Shop4Support directories are inaccessible to users using keyboards and our accessibility features. Our website provider is committed to ensuring these sections reach WCAG 2.1 by conformance deadline stated.
  • Images/Alternative text
  • Label in Name – Voice Recognition devices
  • Some link text doesn’t make sense when read on its own (for example, ‘click here’).
  • We plan to fix the existing links by September 2020. When we publish new content, we will make sure link text meets accessibility standards.
  • Non-HTML documentation - it has come to our attention that several of these documents are inaccessible with a few accessibility technologies. These include the document heading structure, use of tables and insufficient alternate descriptions. We have begun to implement these changes in future documentation [that will be released from date]. Where these documents cannot be improved, we are committed to provide an HTML document alternative.

 

 Content that’s not within the scope of the Accessibility Regulations

This sub-section lists issues that are exempt from the current accessibility regulations. For more information see following section, “Exemptions to the Accessibility Regulations”.

Issues with Live Video

Live video streams do not have captions. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.2.4 (captions - live).

We do not plan to add captions to live video streams because live video is exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations.

Issues with PDFs and other documents

Many of our older PDFs and Word documents do not meet accessibility standards - for example, they may not be structured so they’re accessible to a screen reader. This does not meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 4.1.2 (Name, Role Value).

Some of our PDFs and Word documents are essential to providing our services. For example, we have PDFs with information on how users can access our services, and forms published as Word documents. By September 2020, we plan to either fix these or replace them with accessible HTML pages.

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

Any new PDFs or Word documents we publish will meet accessibility standards.

 

Disproportionate Burden

We are currently in the process of launching a new website to replace the current website. Our website provider is focused on delivering the new website that meets the new accessibility regulations. Therefore, all the issues listed in this statement are mentioned to give users full disclosure.

 

Exemptions to the Accessibility Regulations

Web Content that is not subject to the standards referenced in this policy statement are as follows: -

  • Content that is archived.
  • Content on intranets and extranets published before 23/09/2019
  • Non-HTML Documentation (PDFs, Microsoft Office files) that were published before 23/09/2018.
  • Non-HTML Documentation (PDFs, Microsoft Office files) that are not essential to the service Lincolnshire ConnectToSupport (CTS) provides.
  • Live Audio and Video
  • Pre-recorded Audio and Video published before 23/09/2020
  • Online Maps and mapping services
  • Third Party Content that is not under direct control of Lincolnshire or main website provider – Google Translate, Social Media links

 

What are we doing to improve accessibility?

The new version of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, WCAG 2.2 were published on 5th October 2023.

This will replace WCAG 2.1 as the legally required accessibility standard in October 2024.

A new website is currently being prepared for Lincolnshire Connect to Support (CTS) this will be published by January 2025. This website has been developed to the international standard Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2 (WCAG) – Level AA.

 

Preparation of this Accessibility Statement

This statement was prepared on 14/09/2020. Lincolnshire will review this policy every year on or before the 22/09/2020. This policy was last reviewed on 17/09/2020, by Lincolnshire

This statement was prepared on the 14/09/2020. It will be reviewed every year in accordance with the regulations. It was last reviewed on that 30/09/2024.

This website was last tested on 16/09/2024.

To prepare this statement an accessibility test was carried out by People Places Lives QA Team. The most viewed pages were tested using automated testing tools by our website team. A further audit of the website was carried out to the WCAG 2.2 AA standard.

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