Accessibility Statement

Last updated: 26 May 2026

Our commitment to accessibility

The TEST (Transport Evaluation Support for Trials) website is committed to being accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. We aim to ensure that our website conforms to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 Level AA standard published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

As a website funded by the UK Department for Transport, we are committed to meeting UK public sector accessibility standards. We continuously work to improve the accessibility of our website and services for all visitors.

What we have implemented for accessibility (WCAG 2.2 AA Compliance)

Semantic Structure & Navigation

  • Semantic HTML: Our website uses proper semantic markup including headers (role="banner"), main content areas (role="main"), navigation landmarks, and footers (role="contentinfo") to help assistive technologies understand page structure.
  • Skip Links: A "Skip to main content" link is provided at the top of every page, allowing keyboard users to bypass repetitive navigation.
  • Heading Hierarchy: Headings are properly structured (h1, h2, h3) and do not skip levels, providing a logical outline of page content.
  • Page Titles: Each page has a unique, descriptive title that reflects its content.
  • ARIA Landmarks: Proper ARIA roles are used for navigation, main content, and footers to support assistive technology users.

Visual Accessibility

  • Color Contrast: All text meets or exceeds WCAG 2.2 Level AA color contrast ratios (minimum 4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text). We do not rely solely on color to convey information.
  • Focus Indicators: All interactive elements display a clear, visible focus indicator (3px outline) when navigated via keyboard, exceeding the 2px minimum requirement.
  • Visual Feedback: Buttons, links, and form fields provide clear hover and focus states to indicate interactivity.
  • Text Sizing: Text can be resized up to 200% without loss of functionality or readability, and the site uses relative font sizes for better scalability.
  • Reflow: Content reflows properly at all viewport sizes, including mobile devices.

Keyboard Navigation

  • Full Keyboard Access: All interactive elements (links, buttons, form fields, menus) can be accessed and operated using only the keyboard.
  • Logical Tab Order: Tab order follows a logical sequence through the page content.
  • No Keyboard Traps: Users are not trapped in any interactive component and can move focus away from any element using standard keyboard commands.
  • Keyboard Shortcuts: When custom keyboard shortcuts are available, they are clearly documented and do not conflict with browser or assistive technology shortcuts.

Forms & Input

  • Labeled Form Fields: All form fields have associated labels, either visible or using ARIA attributes.
  • Error Identification: Form errors are clearly identified by color, icon, and text (not by color alone). Error messages are associated with the relevant input fields.
  • Instructions: Clear instructions are provided for form input, including required fields, data formats, and submission instructions.
  • Error Prevention: Where possible, the website provides error recovery options and confirmation for important actions.
  • Autocomplete: Autocomplete attributes are used to assist users with form entry.

Images & Multimedia

  • Alternative Text (Alt Text): All images have descriptive alternative text that conveys the purpose or content of the image. Decorative images are marked as such.
  • Logo Images: The DfT logo and partner logos include accessible descriptions in their alt attributes.
  • Data Visualizations: When available, complex images include both alt text and linked text descriptions.
  • Multimedia: Any embedded videos or multimedia content includes captions, transcripts, or audio descriptions where applicable.

Dynamic Content & Scripts

  • ARIA Live Regions: Dynamic content updates (such as success messages, error alerts, and cookie banner changes) use ARIA live regions to announce changes to screen readers.
  • Accordion/Expandable Content: Expandable sections (such as FAQs) use proper ARIA attributes (aria-expanded, aria-controls) and keyboard navigation.
  • Cookie Banner: The cookie consent banner is properly labeled with ARIA attributes, is focusable, and can be dismissed using keyboard navigation.
  • Modals & Dialogs: Dialog modals use proper ARIA roles (role="dialog") and attributes to indicate modal behavior to assistive technologies.

Color & Contrast

  • Sufficient Contrast: Primary colors (navy #01446b, blue #0082ca, mint #1de9b6) all meet WCAG AA contrast ratios against their backgrounds.
  • Color Not Sole Indicator: Information is never conveyed by color alone. Icons, patterns, or text are used alongside colors.
  • Disabled States: Form controls in disabled states display sufficient contrast with surrounding content.

Responsive Design & Mobile Accessibility

  • Mobile-Friendly: The website is fully responsive and works on all device sizes, from mobile phones to large desktop monitors.
  • Touch Target Size: Interactive elements have a minimum touch target size of 44x44 CSS pixels to accommodate users with motor disabilities.
  • Orientation: Content is accessible in both portrait and landscape orientations.

Assistive Technology Support

  • Screen Reader Compatible: The website has been tested with major screen readers including NVDA, JAWS, and VoiceOver.
  • Browser Compatibility: The website works with modern browsers and assistive technology combinations.
  • PDF Documents: Any linked PDF documents include appropriate alt text descriptions and are structured for accessibility.

Known Accessibility Limitations

Parts of the website that are not yet fully accessible

While we strive to achieve full WCAG 2.2 Level AA compliance across our entire website, the following limitations currently exist:

  • External Embedded Forms: The Microsoft Forms embedded on our website may not be fully WCAG 2.2 Level AA compliant, as they are hosted and maintained by Microsoft. However, alternative ways to submit requests (email address provided) are available.
  • Third-Party Content: Some embedded content from third parties (such as YouTube videos) may have their own accessibility limitations. We provide non-video alternatives where feasible.
  • Social Media Embeds: Any embedded social media content inherits the accessibility features (or limitations) of the third-party platform.

We are actively working to address these limitations and will update this statement as improvements are made.

How to Report Accessibility Issues

If you discover any accessibility barriers on this website, please contact us as soon as possible. We welcome your feedback and will work to resolve any issues.

Contact information:

  • Email: dftTESTprogramme@paconsulting.com
  • Subject: Please include "Accessibility Issue" in the email subject line
  • Description: Please describe the barrier you encountered and which browser or assistive technology you were using

We aim to respond to accessibility feedback within 5 working days and provide a solution or workaround within 10 working days.

UK and EU Legal Standards

UK Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018

This website is operated by or on behalf of the UK Department for Transport (a public sector body) and is subject to the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018. Under these regulations, the website must be accessible and conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1 Level AA standard.

We have voluntarily chosen to exceed these requirements by implementing WCAG 2.2 Level AA compliance.

European Accessibility Act (EAA)

This website aligns with the principles of the European Accessibility Act (EAA), which requires digital accessibility standards across the European Union.

UK Equality Act 2010

We are committed to complying with the UK Equality Act 2010, which makes it unlawful to discriminate against disabled people. This includes providing accessible digital services to people with disabilities.

UK Government Digital Service (GDS) Standards

As part of the UK Department for Transport, we follow the UK Government's accessibility requirements and best practices for public sector digital services.

Testing & Validation

This website undergoes regular accessibility testing and validation, including:

  • Automated accessibility scanning using industry-standard tools
  • Manual testing with keyboard navigation and screen readers
  • User testing with people with disabilities
  • WCAG 2.2 Level AA compliance verification

Accessibility Resources & Tools

The following resources can help you navigate the web more accessibly:

Browser & Assistive Technology Support

This website is designed to work with the latest versions of all major browsers and the following assistive technologies:

  • Screen Readers: NVDA (free, Windows), JAWS (commercial, Windows), VoiceOver (Mac/iOS), TalkBack (Android)
  • Speech Recognition: Dragon NaturallySpeaking, web speech APIs
  • Magnification: Browser zoom, Windows Magnifier, ZoomText
  • High Contrast Modes: Windows High Contrast, browser extensions

Feedback & Continuous Improvement

We are committed to continuously improving the accessibility of this website. Your feedback helps us identify areas for improvement. If you have suggestions or notice any accessibility issues, please contact us at dftTESTprogramme@paconsulting.com.

This statement was last reviewed and updated on 26 May 2026.