ACCESSIBILITY

BMS Website and the W3C

The BMS website complies with the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) WCAG 2.0 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0). The website conforms wholly to Level A, and satisfies most of the requirements for Level AA.

The principles and guidelines are listed below, with short explanations of how this website complies.

Principle 1: Perceivable - Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive.

Guideline 1.1 Text Alternatives: Provide text alternatives for any non-text content so that it can be changed into other forms people need, such as large print, braille, speech, symbols or simpler language

• There are alt tags for all images, giving a short explanation of the image's context
• Any images that include text have the text content described in the alt tag

Guideline 1.2 Time-based Media: Provide alternatives for time-based media.

The website does not currently include video or sound.

Guideline 1.3 Adaptable: Create content that can be presented in different ways (for example simpler layout) without losing information or structure.

• With any forms, all fields are required and this is stated on the page.
• All tables are given a summary of their content. If the table is only for layout purposes this is stated
• All lists use the <ul> or <ol> tags
• Headings are identified by H1-H4 tags
• CSS is used widely for page layout
• CSS is used to control visual presentation of text
• Content is ordered in a meaningful sequence

Guideline 1.4 Distinguishable: Make it easier for users to see and hear content including separating foreground from background.

• All fonts used are readable, and are standard to Windows and Macintosh Operating Systems
• Any text in images of text is at least 14 pt and has good contrast with its background
• Text colour differences are not used to convey information or trigger an event
• Text and background colour contrast enough
• Text and background colours are all specified in the CSS file
• Text is aligned to the left on all regular pages
• Line spacing is specified in the CSS file

Principle 2: Operable - User interface components and navigation must be operable.

Guideline 2.1 Keyboard Accessible: Make all functionality available from a keyboard.

All useful content can be acquired using a keyboard only.

Guideline 2.2 Enough Time: Provide users enough time to read and use content.

No content on the website is timed, or updates automatically.

Guideline 2.3 Seizures: Do not design content in a way that is known to cause seizures.

No content comes under this guideline.

Guideline 2.4 Navigable: Provide ways to help users navigate, find content, and determine where they are.

• The purpose of every link can be determined by the link alone, and has a title attribute
• All web pages have titles that describe their content
• All links are visually distinct with bold text and an underline if they are within the website copy
• A sitemap is provided

Principle 3: Understandable - Information and the operation of user interface must be understandable.

Guideline 3.1 Readable: Make text content readable and understandable.

• The language of the HTML is identified on every page
• No foreign language is used in the website
• The clearest and simplest language available is used

Guideline 3.2 Make Web pages appear and operate in predictable ways.

• All links have title attributes to explain that a new window will open if users click on the link
• Templates are used so that there is consistency across webpages and their layout, including navigation
• Links are labelled in a consistent way
• If any links initiate a new window or tab, this is warned in the title of the link

Guideline 3.3 Help users avoid and correct mistakes.

• When submitting a form, users are told of any input errors
• Input errors are highlighted with a red X image to make them stand out

Principle 4: Robust - Content must be robust enough that it can be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies.

Guideline 4.1 Compatible: Maximize compatibility with current and future user agents, including assistive technologies.

Websites validate fully to the W3C specifications for XHTML.

If you have any issues with the accessibility of this website, please contact us at info@bms-kent.com.