Accessibility Statement

Westminster Adult Education Service accessibility statement

Westminster Adult Education Service (WAES) is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

This accessibility statement applies to the website www.waes.ac.uk.

Compliance status

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

Non-accessible content

The content listed below is currently non-accessible and we are working to fix it:

• WCAG success criterion 1.4.10 Reflow
  Certain content is lost at 400% zoom, including the cookie banner, menu bar and search bar.
• WCAG success criterion 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value
  Certain user interface controls are affected through missing ARIA attributes in HTML elements.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 15 May 2024 following a self-assessment by WAES and use of Axe and the Recite Me Accessibility Checker, and last reviewed on 17 May 2024.

Feedback and contact information

We are always looking to improve the accessibility of our website. If you encounter content that you cannot access, then please contact us on the details below and we will provide you with an accessible alternative.

info@waes.ac.uk | 020 7297 7297

Any feedback we receive we aim to get back to you within a suitable time, if a response is requested.

Enforcement procedure

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’).

If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

Additional accessibility information

The goal of this website is to guarantee the accessibility of its content and services for individuals with disabilities who require additional access support. Resources have been dedicated to enhancing the website’s user-friendliness and accessibility, driven by the aligned mission with Recite Me that every individual deserves to experience and engage with digital content, equally.

AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.

Measures to support accessibility

This website takes the following measures to ensure accessibility:

• Include accessibility as part of our mission statement.
• Include accessibility throughout our internal policies.
• Integrate accessibility into our procurement practices.

Accessibility efforts & disclaimer

We remain dedicated to the ongoing enhancement of the accessibility of its website and services. This commitment is rooted in the belief that ensuring a smooth, inclusive, and unrestricted experience for individuals with disabilities is a shared ethical responsibility.

We are always striving to enhance the accessibility of all pages and materials on our website, it’s possible that some content has not yet been fully aligned with accessibility standards. This could be attributed to the fact that we may not have identified the most suitable fix to improve a user’s experience.

Third-party content and functionality

We may make use of third-party resources that embed content on our website. Wherever possible we will ensure these are conformant.

Technical specifications

Accessibility of this website relies on the following technologies to work with the particular combination of web browsers and any assistive technologies or plugins installed on your computer:

• HTML
• CSS
• JavaScript

These technologies are relied upon for conformance with the accessibility guidelines used.

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

Our accessibility journey is continuing. We regularly review our website and its content to identify and fix known issues. We can do this by running a check of our website with the Recite Me Accessibility Checker.

WelcoME app for on-site visits

We have recently rolled out the disability aware platform WelcoMe across our centres to make your visit as personable and anxiety free as possible.

What will be expected when I visit a WAES centre using WelcoMe?

• Using the WelcoMe platform, you can create your own profile and include your access needs and information about what support you require.
• This information is sent to the customer service or front of house team at your selected venue.
• The aim of the WelcoMe website is to give you confidence that your needs are understood and will be met upon arrival at the venue.

Find out more about using WelcoMe with Westminster City Council. We’re proud to be the first council in London to sign-up to WelcoMe.

You can visit the WelcoMe website to find out more information.

You can also make a booking at one of our centres below.