Accessibility

This website is managed by Ards and North Down Borough Council.

We’re working hard to make sure that as many people as possible can use our website, no matter what their ability. Our website has been designed with accessibility in mind.

You may need to customise your experience to suit your individual needs. We have some features to help you get the most from your experience:

Make the text bigger

Reading text on a screen is not always easy for some people. The font size tool allows you to customise the size of the text to make it easier to read. Select the A button to make the text bigger or smaller. You may also be able to use your browser to change the text size.

Find out more about changing the text size in your browser

Alternative text

We try to make sure that all images on this site have brief alternative text which, where appropriate, identifies an image or its function. This alternative text (alt-text) is generally only visible when the browser's automatic image loading feature is turned off, or when you rollover an image with your mouse.

Links

All text links are written so that they make sense when read out of context.

Downloading documents

Disproportionate burden

Some of our PDFs are not accessible but would be a disproportionate burden to update, particularly those which are extremely long or used by a low number of people. However, requests can be made to make specific content accessible for those who need it.

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

Some of our older PDFs 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 2.4.10 (section headings).

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. However, requests can be made to make specific content accessible for those who need it.

Any new PDFs that we publish will meet accessibility standards.

If you need extra help

If you need extra help in using computers, the web and assistive technologies, we recommend you visit BBC My Web, My Way. This site has videos and information to help you use the accessibility features of your computer and shows how to make it easier to use the web.

Accessibility limitations

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

Ards and North Down Borough 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 2.1 AA standard due to the non-compliances and exemptions listed in this report.

Third party tools

We use third party suppliers to deliver parts of the website. We have informed our suppliers that they need to meet the standards and we will review their compliance on a regular basis.

If you are having difficulties accessing any section of our website, please email enquiries@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk.

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

We are going to ensure all future documents are published in accessible formats.

We are using some automated checks to alert us if something falls below the standard.

AccessAble
Ards and North Down Borough Council work with AccessAble. 

AccessAble offers information on access to buildings/venues across the UK including all of Council Buildings and Facilities.  Visit the website for more information on access to our venues in the borough and further afield.

 

 

For more details click here

Let us know if you are having difficulties

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 the Administration Department at enquiries@ardandnorthdown.gov.uk.

Enforcement procedure

The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’) in Northern Ireland. If you’re not happy with how we respond to your request or complaint, please call ECNI on 028 9050 0600 and ask to speak with one of their Discrimination Advice Officers in their Legal Division, or email information@equalityni.org.

Accessibility statement

This website is run by Ards and North Down Borough Council. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:

- zoom in 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

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.

How accessible this website is

We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible and this is detailed in this Conformance Report.

This report describes the conformance of the Leisure Ards and North Down website with W3C’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). The review process is described in Section 5 and is based on evaluation described in Accessibility Evaluation Resources.

Based on this evaluation, the Leisure Ards and North Down website meets WCAG 2.1, Conformance Level AA. Detailed review results are available in Section 6 of following the conformity report.

 

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 22 September 2020. It was last reviewed on 22 September 2020.

This website was last tested on 18 September 2020. The test was carried out by BT48 and Council staff.

Contact us

Contacting us by phone or visiting us in person

SignVideo provides our Deaf or Hard of Hearing customers who use British Sign Language (BSL) instant access to a SignVideo online BSL interpreter, in real time, on a video relay system. This service is free from your own home. It’s simple, fast and secure.

At some Council venues, we can connect you to a fully qualified SignVideo interpreter using an iPad, so you can see them on the screen. They will assist you to communicate with our staff. If you need any help, a member of our reception team will be on hand. Please note this service is available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

Find out how to contact us.

enquiries@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk
Tel: 0300 013 3333

Ards and North Down Borough Council
Town Hall
The Castle
Bangor
BT20 4BT