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Web Site Accessibility Statement
Our Policy
The Vale of Glamorgan Circuit recognises and values the provision of information on this website in a format which is accessible to all, regardless of ability or disability.
To ensure that this happens, we have programmed our website following published web standards and accessibility guidelines.
The site is developed using valid XHTML and cascading style sheets (CSS). Our site content is separated from presentational elements, which makes it available to any visitors that use technologies such as a screen reader or text only browser.
You may confirm the validity of our XHTML and CSS using these links:
We try to maintain WAI Level AA accessibility
The Government requires that all public sector website's - whether for central or local government - should meet the W3C's guidelines on accessibility to WAI Level AA standard.
We strive to achieve and maintain levels of accessibility that conform to the AA standard, but recognise that it is very hard for a 20,000+ page website to maintain such compliance. We choose not to shout about our compliance since it is difficult to be certain that 100% compliance is being maintained!
Through further development of our web services we strive to improve our compliance and aim to meet as many of the WAI Level AAA guidelines as are achievable.
Exceptions
Whilst The Vale of Glamorgan circuit strive to adhere to the accepted guidelines and standards for accessibility and usability, it is not always possible to do so in all areas of the website.
What is an accessible website?
An accessible site is one that accommodates the full range of users. Designing for accessibility therefore means accepting that, for online information, there is:
- no standard information user, and,
- no standard device for browsing information
An accessible website does not exclude anybody due to:
- their abilities, or
- the method they choose to access the web
Accessible website's prioritise clear content, structure and ease of navigation over frilly aspects of design, however they also need not be visually unattractive, nor are they prevented from using the latest web technologies, provided that all information is still accessible to users.
The web site conforms to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines from the Web Accessibility Initiative - part of the World Wide Web Consortium. This web site has been manually checked to conform to the priority two and the majority of priority three checkpoints.
To validate the accessibility of this page, use the online Wave checker by clicking on the Logo below:
In addition, the latest best practice techniques have also been used where appropriate. Best practice is important as the accessible design community is constantly evolving better solutions to accessibility problems.
Change text size
You can use the icons at the top of every web page to change the size of the text that appears on this website.
The icon above changes the page to a large text size and high visibility colour scheme.
You may also use your browser settings to change the text size for all the website's that you visit. The technique for doing this is slightly different depending on the browser that you use:
- Internet Explorer 7/8: Select the 'Page' menu, then one of the options under 'Zoom' or 'Text Size'. The default setting is 'Medium'
- Internet Explorer 6: Select the 'View' menu, and select one of the options under 'Text Size'
- Mozilla Firefox: Select the 'View' menu, then 'Text Size', then select Increase, Decrease or Normal
- Opera: Select the 'View' menu, then one of the 'Zoom' percentage options
- Netscape: Select the 'View' menu, then one of the 'Text Zoom' options
Other browsers may also have similar options available. Please consult the documentation provided with your browser if similar options to the ones above aren't available.
Listen to our website
This website is speech enabled for those who have difficulties reading web pages. Click on the 'Thunder' logo to download free software.
Why Design For Accessibility?
Accessible design benefits all users not merely disabled ones. Accessible design means that web sites are easier to use in every respect and better for search engines to index - everyone benefits from accessible web sites.
It is a popular misconception that web accessibility is just about disabled users such as the visually impaired. Not true! It also includes those with equally debilitating conditions such as dyslexia, colour blindness, and mobility / dexterity impairment caused by conditions like arthritis.
UK's Office for National Statistics' Labour Force Survey, Winter 2004 suggests that as many as 20% of the working age population have disabilities that accessible web design can help.
Accessibility and The Law
All web sites based in the UK are required to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that the content is accessible according the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
Feedback
If you have specific accessibility needs that are not met by this web site please contact us outlining the problem you faced, the page which caused it and the web browser or user agent that you are using and we will do our best to respond rapidly.