The Tees Valley EDI Awards exist to advance equality, diversity and inclusion, and that has to include how people use this website and how they experience the event. This statement explains what we have done, what we know is not yet right, and how to tell us when something gets in your way.
How accessible this website is
We aim to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 at level AA. In rebuilding the site we have:
- added a “skip to content” link so keyboard users can bypass the navigation;
- checked that text and interface colours meet the AA contrast requirements;
- made sure information is never conveyed by colour alone, so states that change colour also change wording, weight or shape;
- given every form field a visible, permanent label rather than relying on placeholder text;
- made the site work at 400% zoom and on small screens without horizontal scrolling;
- written meaningful alternative text for images that carry information, and marked decorative images so screen readers skip them.
Using this website
You should be able to navigate the whole site with a keyboard, zoom to 400% without losing content, and use it with a screen reader. If you need content in another format, such as large print, plain text, or a document read aloud, contact us and we will provide it.
Known problems
We would rather tell you what is not yet fixed than claim the site is perfect:
- Some older news articles were written in a previous website system and may have heading levels that do not follow a logical order.
- A few photographs in the gallery carry no descriptive alternative text. The gallery is decorative, and screen readers are told to skip it, but individual descriptions would be better.
- Documents published before this statement, including some PDFs, may not be fully accessible to screen reader users. Contact us and we will supply the content in an accessible format.
Accessibility at the awards evening
The awards are held at the Walled Garden, Kirkleatham. The venue has step-free access and accessible toilets, and we reserve accessible seating at tables near the front. If you or a guest need step-free access, a hearing loop, a companion seat, dietary accommodations, or anything else that would make the evening work better for you, tell us when you book or email us afterwards and we will arrange it.
Feedback and how to contact us
If you find a problem, or you need something in a different format, please email info@ediawards.co.uk or call 01642 683 055. Tell us the page address and what went wrong, and we will reply within five working days.
Enforcement
The Equality and Human Rights Commission enforces the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018. We are not a public sector body, so those regulations do not apply to us, but we hold ourselves to the same standard. If you are unhappy with how we respond to your complaint, the Equality Advisory and Support Service can advise you at equalityadvisoryservice.com.
How we tested
This site was tested during its rebuild using automated colour contrast and structure checks, keyboard-only navigation, and manual review of headings, labels and focus order. We test again whenever we add a page.
