## Our Commitment to Accessibility

Home Ed Network is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities. We are continually improving the user experience for everyone and applying the relevant accessibility standards to ensure we provide equal access to information and functionality for all our users.

This website is designed to be accessible to the widest possible audience, including users who rely on assistive technologies such as screen readers, voice recognition software, and keyboard navigation.

## Conformance Status

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) defines requirements for designers and developers to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. It defines three levels of conformance: Level A, Level AA, and Level AAA.

Home Ed Network is partially conformant with WCAG 2.1 Level AA. “Partially conformant” means that some parts of the content do not fully conform to the accessibility standard.

## What We’ve Done

We have taken the following steps to improve accessibility:

### Design and Development

- Used semantic HTML markup to support screen readers
- Provided alternative text for images
- Ensured sufficient colour contrast ratios
- Made the website navigable by keyboard alone
- Used clear, descriptive headings and labels
- Ensured focus indicators are visible
- Designed forms with clear labels and error messages

### Content Guidelines

- Used plain English where possible
- Provided clear navigation and site structure
- Included skip links to main content
- Ensured text can be resized up to 200% without loss of functionality
- Avoided content that flashes or strobes

### Testing and Validation

- Regular accessibility audits using automated tools
- Manual testing with keyboard navigation
- Screen reader testing with common assistive technologies
- User testing with people who have disabilities

## Known Issues

We are aware of the following accessibility issues and are working to address them:

- Some PDF documents may not be fully accessible to screen readers
- Certain interactive elements may not have complete ARIA labels
- Some third-party content (such as embedded maps) may have limited accessibility
- Contact forms may need improved error handling

We are actively working to resolve these issues in future updates.

## Accessibility Features

### Keyboard Navigation

- All interactive elements can be accessed using the keyboard
- Tab order follows a logical sequence
- Focus indicators are clearly visible
- Skip links are provided to main content areas

### Screen Reader Support

- Proper heading structure (H1, H2, H3, etc.)
- Alternative text for images and graphics
- Form labels are properly associated with form controls
- ARIA labels and descriptions where needed

### Visual Design

- High contrast colour schemes
- Text can be enlarged up to 200% without horizontal scrolling
- Colour is not used as the only way to convey information
- Font sizes are relative and can be adjusted by users

### Content Structure

- Clear, descriptive page titles
- Consistent navigation throughout the site
- Logical reading order
- Plain English used where possible

## Browser and Assistive Technology Compatibility

This website has been tested with the following combinations of browsers and assistive technologies:

### Screen Readers

- NVDA with Firefox and Chrome
- JAWS with Internet Explorer and Chrome
- VoiceOver with Safari (macOS and iOS)

### Other Assistive Technologies

- Dragon NaturallySpeaking (speech recognition)
- ZoomText (screen magnification)
- Various browser zoom functions

### Supported Browsers

- Chrome (latest version)
- Firefox (latest version)
- Safari (latest version)
- Microsoft Edge (latest version)
- Internet Explorer 11 (limited support)

## How to Report Accessibility Issues

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of Home Ed Network. If you encounter accessibility barriers or have suggestions for improvement, please contact us:

### Reporting Methods

**Email:** contact@homeednetwork.org


### What to Include in Your Report

When reporting accessibility issues, please include:

- The web page or feature where you encountered the problem
- A description of the difficulty you experienced
- The assistive technology you were using (if applicable)
- Your browser and operating system
- Any error messages you received

We aim to respond to accessibility feedback within 5 working days and provide a resolution or alternative within 20 working days.

## Alternative Formats

If you need information from this website in a different format, we can provide:

- Large print versions
- Audio recordings
- Braille documents
- Easy-read versions
- Alternative file formats (Word, RTF, etc.)

Please contact us using the details above to request alternative formats.

## Legal Compliance

This accessibility statement applies to the Home Ed Network website ([website URL]).

### Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018

This website may be subject to the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 if it provides public services.

### Equality Act 2010

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010 to ensure our services are accessible to people with disabilities.

### European Accessibility Act

We monitor developments in accessibility legislation and will ensure compliance with the European Accessibility Act as it comes into effect.

## Enforcement Procedure

If you are not satisfied with our response to your accessibility complaint, you can contact:

**Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)** 
Website: equalityhumanrights.com 
Phone: 0808 800 0082 
Textphone: 0808 800 0084

## Technical Specifications

The accessibility of Home Ed Network relies on the following technologies:

- HTML5
- CSS3
- JavaScript (enhanced functionality - site works without it)
- ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications)

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

## Assessment Methods

We assessed the accessibility of Home Ed Network using the following methods:

### Self-Evaluation

Internal review by our development team using:

- WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines
- Automated accessibility testing tools
- Manual keyboard navigation testing
- Screen reader testing


## Ongoing Accessibility Efforts

We are committed to continuously improving accessibility:

### Regular Reviews

- Monthly automated accessibility scans
- Quarterly manual testing with assistive technologies
- Annual comprehensive accessibility audit
- User feedback incorporation into development cycles

### Staff Training

- Regular accessibility training for content creators
- Developer training on accessible coding practices
- Customer service training on accessibility support

### Future Improvements

We are planning the following accessibility improvements:

- [List planned improvements, e.g., improved form validation, better mobile accessibility, etc.]

## Additional Resources

For more information about web accessibility:

- [Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1](https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/quickref/)

- [GOV.UK accessibility guidance]

​

(https://www.gov.uk/guidance/accessibility-requirements-for-public-sector-websites-and-apps)

- [AbilityNet accessibility guides](https://abilitynet.org.uk/)


We are committed to ensuring that everyone can access and use our platform to find home education opportunities and connect with the home education community.