You should be able to:
- zoom in up to 400% 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)
- use the site in plain text format (without styling)
You should also be able to select a language to get a page translated using Google’s translation service in the website footer. This is a machine-based translation service, so we can't guarantee the accuracy or the sense of any given translation.
We’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand. AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.
We aim to make this site easy to understand. If you have difficulty understanding any of the content, please contact us at webteam@lambeth.gov.uk.
How accessible this website is
We know some parts of this website aren’t fully accessible:
- many PDF and Microsoft Excel documents on this website are not structured correctly and are therefore not read logically by screen reader software
- some images don’t have a text alternative
- some of our videos don't have captions or audio descriptions
- on some pages, links are broken
- the site loses focus when using a keyboard to navigate guide pages
Navigating the site without using a mouse
You can move between links using the 'Tab' key on the keyboard. To tab through the links in the opposite direction, key 'Shift+Tab'. Once a link is highlighted, key 'Enter' to follow the link.
Resizable text
We have not fixed the size of the text on the website so you can alter the font size on the screen to make it easier to read.
There are a number of ways to change the text size in your browser, the easiest way is to follow these steps:
Chrome
- hold down the ctrl key and press the + / – key
Safari
- press Apple and the + / – key. To return the text to its original size, press Apple + 0
Firefox
- select the ‘View’ menu
- select Zoom
- click on Zoom text only and then hold down the ctrl key and press the + key
It is also possible to increase or decrease the size of the text by holding down the ctrl key whilst using the scroll wheel on the mouse.
Internet Explorer
- select the ‘View’ menu
- select the ‘Text Size’ option from the menu
- click on the text size you want to view
Microsoft Edge
- select ‘settings’ from the menu
- under ‘reading view font size’ select the font size you want
Colour scheme
You can set your web browser to ignore the colours that we have used on this website. You can ask your browser to use your own preferred colour scheme when viewing this site.
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: democracy@lambeth.gov.uk
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 Democratic.Services@croydon.gov.uk or call 020 7926 1000.
It would be helpful if your email contained the following:
- the URLs (web addresses) of the pages that you're having difficulties with
- how you are accessing the site, for example on your phone, on a laptop, on a tablet
- if on a laptop or tablet, which browser you are using, for example Firefox, Internet Explorer, Chrome or Safari
- the nature of your accessibility needs, if any.
- a description of the problem
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 can provide a text relay service for people who are D/deaf, hearing impaired or have a speech impediment.
Our offices have audio induction loops, or if you contact us before your visit we can arrange a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter.
If you'd like information published by Lambeth Council in large print, Braille, audio tape, in pictures and symbols, or in a community language please call 020 7926 1000.
Contact us using BSL sign language
You can contact us using British Sign Language (BSL). This service will connect you to an online professional BSL interpreter and you can tell them you are calling Lambeth council. Find out how to contact us using BSL sign language.
Technical information about this website’s accessibility
Lambeth 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.
Non accessible content
The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.
Non compliance with the accessibility regulations
- A screen reader is not able to tell a user what the ‘Event dates’ field is and what is does on the events page event filter. It requires an accessible name. This fails the success criteria 2.4.6: headings and labels (AA). The label property on this field will need to be added for the label in name requirement in WCAG 2.1 to pass. We plan to fix this by January 2021.
- Some images don't have a text alternative, so people using a screen reader can't access the information. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criteria 1.1.1 (non-text content). We plan to add text alternatives for all images by January 2021.
- On some pages, the same link text is used for links going to different destinations meaning users might not know the difference if this is not explained. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criteria 2.4.4 (link purpose - in context). We plan to make links distinguishable by January 2021.
- The site loses focus when using a keyboard to move between guide page sections. This doesn't meet WCAG 2.1 success criteria 2.4.7 (focus visible). We plan to fix this by January 2021
- Header nesting needs amending on some of the pages. For example, heading tags (H1, H2 and so forth) have been used with CSS classes to mark-up elements in an illogical heading structure when viewed using a screen reader and other assistive technology This fails WCAG 2.1 success criteria 2.4.6 headings and labels (AA). We plan to fix this by March 2021.
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).
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.
The accessibility regulations don't require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they’re not essential to providing our services.
We're aware of these accessibility issues and are working to fix them. We'll fix these issues by March 2021.
New PDFs or Word documents will meet accessibility standards, unless we determine that they represent a disproportionate burden within the meaning of the accessibility regulations. For example, publications created for print and published on the website for customers to print off. Or, forms that are designed to be printed and submitted in person. We’ve assessed our resources and the cost of fixing issues with the above publications and we believe that doing so now would be a disproportionate burden within the meaning of the accessibility regulations.
These documents typically don’t meet the following WCAG 2.1 success criteria:
- 1.1.1 non-text content
- 1.3.1 information and relationships
- 1.3.2 meaningful sequence
- 2.1.1 keyboard
- 1.4.3 contrast (minimum)
- 1.4.5 images of text
- 1.4.10 reflow
- 1.4.12 text spacing
Pre-recorded video.
Our videos don't have accurate edited captions. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.2.2 (captions pre-recorded). None of them have audio descriptions. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.2.5 (audio description pre-recorded).
The regulations don't apply to pre-recorded videos published before 23 September 2020.
Maps
Online maps and mapping services are exempt from the regulations if essential information is provided in an accessible digital manner for maps intended for navigational use.
How we tested this website
This website was last tested on 26 November 2020. The Lambeth web team carried out the testing, with the help of accessibility testing software Sitemorse.
As the website is large, we manually tested a representative selection of page types and forms. Accessibility testing software Sitemorse tests 125 pages from across the website.
What we’re doing to improve accessibility
We're using reports from accessibility software Sitemorse and following WCAG guidelines to work towards being fully compliant with WCAG 2.1 AA success criteria.
We have monitoring in place to review the accessibility of the site on an ongoing basis. We use this monitoring to identify and fix any new issues that arise.