Accessibility

Accessibility help

We are committed to making our websites accessible to everyone, regardless of the device or assistive technology being used. We create our websites with accessibility in mind and strive to accommodate the accessibility needs of visitors who use custom device or browser settings.

Our goal is to make sure our sites meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2 (WCAG) AA standard for accessibility.

Customising our site

You can customise the appearance of our website to make it easier to read and navigate. Most modern devices and browsers have settings that will allow you to do this. You can change display settings, such as:

  • text size
  • colour and contrast
  • screen magnification
  • style sheets

Guidance on how customise your settings for internet browsers can be found on the Ability.net website – Simple ‘how to’ guides to make your device easier to use | My Computer My Way.

In addition, there is also useful guidance for specific systems or devices:

Accessibility guides and features

Further web browser and mobile device guides

Assistive technologies

If you use assistive technology, such as a screen-reader, we want to ensure that our website’s technology and content work together to give you the best possible experience.

Screen readers
Screen readers are software products that convert on-screen content into speech, enabling individuals with visual impairments to navigate digital spaces. Some well-known screen readers include:

Accessible formats and language

We aim to present all important information as HTML webpages, but sometimes other formats may be required such as PDF or MS Word. When these formats are necessary, we aim to ensure they comply with accessibility guidelines so they will also support assistive technologies.

Videos

All videos on our websites are hosted on YouTube and embedded in the web page. We add closed captions to the videos so that they can be followed easily.

Language 

We want to make sure that the language we use on the website is plain English. No jargon, no unnecessary language, just simple and useful information. We also aim for content to be as easy to read as possible.

Translations

If you would like information on our website translated into another language, you may find one of the services listed below meets your needs. However, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of any external website or free website translators.

Under some circumstances, for example, if you cannot read the information easily in English, you can request information in a different language from us. Please contact our customer service centre for advice.

Alternative formats

Easy read

Some information on our websites is provided in easy read format. You can also request easy read versions of our website information if it isn’t already available on the website by emailing contact our customer service centre for advice

British sign language (BSL)

British Sign Language users can contact us using an online interpreter who will relay your conversation with an appropriate member of Devon County Council staff, and then sign back to you their response to your questions.

You can also contact our customer service centre for additional support.

What to do if there is an issue with our website’s accessibility

For any feedback about the accessibility of our websites, you can contact us by:

Website Accessibility Testing – Get Involved!

We regularly test our website with individuals who have learning disabilities to improve accessibility. If you would like to participate, we would love to hear from you! No technical expertise is required, and we will provide all necessary guidance and support. Testing can be done from home and does not take much time.

For more information, please email digitalcomms@devon.gov.uk

You can view our accessibility statement for more specific information about our website’s accessibility.