Cleaner Barnet Accessibility Statement

This accessibility statement explains how accessible the Cleaner Barnet online services are, what we are doing to improve accessibility, and how you can contact us if you need information in a different format. We want as many people as possible to be able to use Cleaner Barnet services in an accessible way, wherever they live, work, or visit within the Cleaner Barnet area.

Our commitment to accessibility

Cleaner Barnet aims to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 level AA. These guidelines set out how to make web content more accessible for disabled people and more user friendly for everyone. We are working to ensure that our digital tools, online forms, and information about accessible Cleaner Barnet services meet these standards.

We regularly review our websites and digital services to identify and fix accessibility issues. When we design or update services, accessibility is considered from the earliest stages so that people with different access needs can use Cleaner Barnet services as independently as possible.

Using the website with assistive technologies

The Cleaner Barnet website is designed to be compatible with a range of assistive technologies. This includes commonly used screen readers, screen magnifiers, speech recognition software, and operating system accessibility features. Text content is structured with headings and clear labels to support users who rely on screen readers or keyboard navigation.

We aim to ensure that important information about accessible Cleaner Barnet facilities, waste and recycling services, and local environmental reporting can be understood even when styles, colours, and images are turned off or adapted in a personal accessibility profile.

Screen reader support

Pages on the Cleaner Barnet website use a logical heading order and meaningful page titles to help screen reader users navigate efficiently. Form fields are labelled so that users can understand what information is required when reporting issues or requesting Cleaner Barnet services.

Images that convey information include alternative text where possible so that screen reader users are not disadvantaged. Purely decorative images are marked so that they can be skipped. We aim to ensure that important icons, such as those used in service status or map markers for accessible Cleaner Barnet locations, have text alternatives or are explained within the surrounding content.

Keyboard navigation

The Cleaner Barnet website is designed to be fully usable with a keyboard. You should be able to move through pages and forms using the Tab, Shift plus Tab, Enter, and arrow keys without needing a mouse. Navigation menus, buttons, and form controls are focusable and can be activated from the keyboard.

We aim to provide a visible focus indicator so that you can clearly see which element is selected as you move through the page. Where content is revealed or hidden, such as expandable sections or form steps, we work to ensure that keyboard focus moves in a predictable and accessible way.

Customisation and readability

You should be able to change text size, colours, and contrast settings using your browser or device without losing access to Cleaner Barnet content. Text is written in clear language where possible, and longer pages are broken into sections with descriptive headings. We avoid relying solely on colour to convey meaning, which helps users with colour vision differences.

What we are improving

Some older documents and content may not yet fully meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards. We are reviewing these and plan to replace or update them where reasonable. When new content or tools are created for Cleaner Barnet, we aim to make them accessible from the outset.

Requesting information in an accessible format

If you need information about Cleaner Barnet in a different format, such as large print, easy read, audio, or an alternative digital format, you can contact us using the standard council contact channels published on the main website. Please explain what content you need and what format would be most accessible for you. We will consider your request and respond as soon as reasonably possible.

Reporting accessibility problems

We welcome feedback on the accessibility of Cleaner Barnet services. If you find any accessibility barriers or have difficulty using any part of the website, please let us know through the usual council contact routes. Include details of the page, the issue you experienced, and any assistive technology you were using. Your feedback helps us to improve accessibility across the Cleaner Barnet area.