Accessibility Statement

Accessibility Statement for NSEMM

Last updated: October 8, 2025

Our Commitment

NSEMM 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.

Conformance Status

We aim to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at Level AA. These guidelines explain how to make web content more accessible to people with disabilities, and user friendly for everyone.

Built-in Accessibility Features

• Keyboard Navigation: All interactive elements can be accessed using keyboard alone
• Skip Links: Quick navigation to main content areas
• Screen Reader Support: Proper semantic markup and ARIA labels
• Focus Management: Clear visual focus indicators for all interactive elements
• Color and Contrast: Sufficient color contrast ratios throughout the site
• Responsive Design: Content adapts to different screen sizes and zoom levels up to 200%
• Alternative Text: All images include descriptive alternative text
• Captions and Transcripts: Video content includes captions where applicable
• Automatic Preferences: Respects your browser's accessibility settings

Browser Accessibility Settings

Our website automatically respects your browser and operating system accessibility preferences:

• Reduced Motion: Automatically disables animations if you have motion reduction enabled
• High Contrast: Enhances contrast if you use high contrast mode
• Dark Mode: Adapts to your dark mode preferences
• Font Size: Scales with your browser's font size settings
• Voice Control: Compatible with voice navigation software

Keyboard Navigation

You can navigate our entire website using only a keyboard:

• Tab - Move to the next interactive element
• Shift + Tab - Move to the previous interactive element
• Enter or Space - Activate buttons and links
• Arrow keys - Navigate within menus
• Escape - Close dialogs and dropdown menus
• Alt + H - Skip to main content
• Alt + N - Skip to navigation
• Alt + F - Skip to footer

Assistive Technology Compatibility

Our website has been tested with:

• NVDA (Windows)
• JAWS (Windows)
• VoiceOver (macOS/iOS)
• TalkBack (Android)
• Dragon NaturallySpeaking
• Switch navigation devices

Content Standards

• Clear Language: We write in plain English, avoiding jargon
• Descriptive Links: Links clearly describe their destination
• Logical Structure: Content follows a logical heading hierarchy
• Meaningful Images: All images have descriptive alternative text
• Form Labels: All form fields have clear, associated labels
• Error Messages: Clear, helpful error messages and instructions

Known Issues and Limitations

We are aware of some accessibility limitations and are working to address them:

• Some third-party embedded content may not be fully accessible
• PDF documents are being reviewed and updated for accessibility compliance
• Legacy content is being progressively updated to meet current standards

Feedback and Support

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of our website. If you encounter accessibility barriers, please contact us:

When contacting us, please include:

• The web page or feature you were trying to access
• A description of the problem you encountered
• The assistive technology you were using (if any)
• Your contact information for follow-up

Technical Specifications

This website relies on the following technologies to work with assistive technology:

• HTML5 with semantic markup
• CSS3 with accessibility considerations
• JavaScript (with graceful degradation)
• WAI-ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) markup

Assessment and Testing

Our accessibility compliance is assessed through:

• Automated accessibility testing tools (axe, WAVE, Lighthouse)
• Manual testing with assistive technologies
• User testing with people with disabilities
• Regular accessibility audits by certified professionals
• Code reviews focused on accessibility best practices

Legal Compliance

As a UK charity, we are committed to compliance with:

• The Equality Act 2010
• The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018
• EN 301 549 accessibility standard
• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA

Continuous Improvement

We are committed to continuous improvement of our website's accessibility. This statement will be reviewed and updated regularly to reflect our ongoing accessibility efforts and any changes to our website.

Date of last review: October 8, 2025

Alternative Formats

If you need information from this website in a different format, such as accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording, or Braille, please contact us using the details above. We will consider your request and get back to you within 5 working days.

Enforcement Procedure

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) 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).