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Accessibility statement

This accessibility statement covers the North Somerset Online Directory (NSOD) website. It applies to  https://nsod.n-somerset.gov.uk/.

This website is run by North Somerset 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 with browser accessibility extensions
  • zoom in up to 300% without the text spilling off the screen
  • listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver)
  • can be used on small screen devices
  • you can skip to the main content when using a screen reader or keyboard

We’ve also made most of the website text as simple as possible to understand.

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

How accessible this website is

We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible:

  • the colour of text and its background for the element is not sufficient
  • broken links
  • use of italics
  • some link text is not meaningful
  • most PDF documents are not fully accessible to screen reader software
  • some content is hard to understand

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, email web.info2@n-somerset.gov.uk or call 01275 882 954

We’ll consider your request and get back to you in five working days.

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, email us on web.info2@n-somerset.gov.uk.

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).

Contacting us by phone or visiting us in person

We provide a text relay service for people who are deaf, hearing impaired or have a speech impediment.

Our main offices have audio induction loops, or if you contact us before your visit, we can arrange a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter.

Find out how to contact us.

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

North Somerset Council 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 version 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances and exemptions listed below.

Non-accessible content

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

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations:

PDFs

Some PDFs added to our website after 23 September 2018 are not fully accessible as we have not yet had the resources to update them. We will be going through these PDFs gradually to bring them up to WCAG 2.1 AA standards. 

Disproportionate burden

Some of our forms are built and hosted through third party software and ‘skinned’ to look like our website.

We’ve assessed the cost of fixing the issues with navigation and accessing information, and with interactive tools and transactions. We believe that doing so now would be a disproportionate burden within the meaning of the accessibility regulations.

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

Maps

Some of our maps are not accessible. We don’t currently have a plan in place to change our maps as mapping is exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations.

Older PDFs and other documents

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. For example, we do not plan to fix old meeting minutes and agendas.

Live video

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

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

Our content is continually reviewed and written to a set of standards that promote the use of plain English.

We are assessing our current microsites for accessibility and will set up a programme to bring them into the main content management system of the corporate website.

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