Last updated: 26th February 2024
1. Introduction
We aim to meet level ‘AA’ of the Accessibility Guidelines as outlined in the W3C WCAG Guideline 2.2 documentation 2023 . The following measures are taken to ensure the content on this website is available to all users:
2. Content
2.1 All non-text content that is presented to the user has a text alternative that serves the equivalent purpose.
2.2 Colour is not used as the only visual means of conveying information, actions or responses to the user.
2.3 The visual representation of text and images must have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 except if the text exceeds 18pt at which point it must have a contrast ratio of at least 3:1.
2.4 Except for captions and images of text, all text can be resized up to 200% without the loss of content and functionality or the use of assistive technology.
2.5 Web page content should appear understandable to all users by applying the following guidelines:
- Web pages have titles that describe topic or purpose.
- Headings and labels describe topic and purpose.
- Information about the user's location within a set of web pages is available. This is usually achieved with breadcrumb links.
- Section headings are used to organise the content.
- A mechanism for identifying the expanded form or meaning of abbreviations is available.
- For all user interface components, the name and role can be determined.
- Instructions provided for understanding and operating content do not rely solely on sensory characteristics of components such as shape, size or sound.
2.6 The human language of every page can be programmatically amended by the user's browser except for proper names, technical terms, abbreviations and words of indeterminate language.
3. Images
3.1 If the technologies being used can achieve it, text is used to convey information rather than images of text.
- Images of text are only used for decoration or where considered essential. For example, logotypes are considered essential.
4. Audio and video content
4.1 For audio-only and video-only content, an alternative for time-based media is provided that presents equivalent information for pre-recorded audio-only content.
- Captions are provided for all pre-recorded audio content in synchronized media.
- Audio description is provided for all pre-recorded video content in synchronized media.
4.2 For audio descriptions or media alternatives, an alternative for time-based media or audio description of the pre-recorded video content is provided for synchronized media.
4.3 If any audio on a web page plays automatically for more than three seconds, either a mechanism is provided to pause or stop the audio, or a mechanism is available to control audio volume independently from the overall system volume level.
- The audio does not contain any background sounds.
5. Structure and functionality
5.1 Information, structure and relationships conveyed through presentation can be programmatically determined or are available in text.
5.2 When the sequence in which content is presented affects its meaning, a correct reading sequence can be programmatically determined.
5.3 Ensure that users can complete tasks without unexpected changes in content or context that are a result of a time limit.
5.4 For any moving, blinking or scrolling content that (1) starts automatically (2) lasts more than five seconds and (3) is presented in parallel with other content, a mechanism should be provided for the user to pause, stop or hide the content unless this is essential to the content.
- Web pages do not contain anything that flashes more than three times in any one second period (or the flash is below the general flash and red flash thresholds).
5.5 For any auto-updating information that (1) starts automatically and (2) is presented in parallel with other content, there is a mechanism for the user to pause, stop or hide the content or to control the frequency of the update.
5.6 Timing is not an essential part of the event or activity.
5.7 All functionality of the content is operable through a keyboard interface without requiring specific timings for individual keystrokes.
- If keyboard focus can be moved to a component of the page using a keyboard interface, then focus can be moved away from that component using only keyboard focus.
- Any keyboard operable user interface has a visible keyboard focus indicator.
5.8 If a web page can be navigated sequentially and the navigation sequences affect meaning or operation, components can receive focus in an order that preserves meaning and operability.
- Navigational mechanisms that are repeated on multiple web pages within a set of web pages occur in the same relative order each time they are repeated, unless a change is initiated by the user.
- Components that have the same functionality within a set of web pages are identified consistently.
- When any component receives focus, it does not initiate a change of context.
5.9 Changing the setting of any user interface component does not automatically cause a change of context unless the user has been advised of the change in behaviour before using the component.
5.10 In content implemented using markup languages, elements have complete start and end tags, elements are nested according to their specifications, elements do not contain duplicate attributes and any IDs are unique.
6. Forms
6.1 If an input error is automatically detected, the item that is in error is identified and described to the user in text.
6.2 Labels or instructions are provided when content requires user input.
6.3 Error prevention for legal and data reasons:
- A mechanism is available for reviewing, confirming and correcting information before finalizing a form submission. Data entered by the user is checked for input errors and the user is provided an opportunity to correct them.
7. Links
7.1 The purpose of each link can be determined from the link text alone or from the link text together with it’s programmatically determined link context.
7.2 More than one way is available to locate a web page within a set of web pages except where the web page is the result of a process or step.
8. Third party content
Some content on the Freeview website is developed and maintained by third party sources. While Freeview™ aims to achieve an AA accessibility standard for all content, some guidelines may not be achievable for third party content. Third party content includes (but is not limited to) the following:
8.1 Product information from iSite. This content can be found on all product pages (coming soon).
8.2 Social media widgets (location varies) from the following third parties:
- Google+
- YouTube
- Pinterest