Accessibility statement

We want everyone who visits our website to be able to access the full range of services available, regardless of their skill or technology.

The current version of this website was launched in 2017, but individual elements of it may have been updated since then.

How accessible the site is

We know some parts of this website aren't fully accessible.

What to do if you have problems or queries

If you have any accessibility problems or feedback, please email us at webadmin@durham.gov.uk.

If you need to contact us about any other issues, please use our contact us page.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the accessibility regulations. If you're not happy with how we respond, please contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

Technical information about this website's accessibility

Durham County Council is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Under the Equality Act 2010 we must ensure we do not unlawfully discriminate in our service delivery and make reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities where necessary. We are constantly working to improve the accessibility and usability of our site.

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.

Non compliance with the accessibility regulations

• headings: some headings don't cascade inside some features on some web pages
• link text: some pages contain the same link text going to different pages
• images: some images have duplicate alt text 
• YouTube: generated YouTube code is not HTML5 compliant
• form fields: the contact us and search form fields are difficult to navigate using a keyboard because they are missing onkey options
• tables: generated table code is not HTML5 compliant

We intend to resolve these issues by September 2020.

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

• PDFs/documents: many of our older PDF documents don't meet accessibility standards and may not be marked up so they're accessible to a screen reader. 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.
• transcripts: many of our older transcripts before July 2019 may not be fully marked up

We intent to have a rolling programme to update our PDFs.

Systems currently under review - launched after 23 September 2018

• Children's Services feedback forms
• children's social care (provider) portal
• Consett/Louisa Centre membership form
• ebooks
• council tax/business rates/housing benefit repayments
• pensions portal (employers)

Systems to be reviewed - launched before 23 September 2018

Below is a list of systems that have yet to be reviewed:

• benefits calculator
• births, deaths and marriages certificates
• community grants
• councillors, minutes and papers
• customer account
• DLI collections
• Durham Learning Resources reservations
• Durham Record
• job applications
• learn2swim
• leisure bookings
• leisure registration
• Library Online
• mapping
• mapping for roadworks
• music service teaching resources
• MyDurham
• MyView
• non-residential payments
• occupancy
• parent portal
• parent (provider) portal
• parking fine portal
• payments portal
• planning consultations
• planning portal
• property services
• Public Rights of Way register
• public transport mapping
• residential payments
• skip permits
• technical services
• volunteering portal
• welfare assistance form

How we test the site

We re-assess a website or system for accessibility whenever it undergoes a major modification.

Page content is checked every time it is updated.