Accessibility Statement

Searops.co.uk is committed to ensuring that our website is accessible to all users, including individuals with disabilities. We strive to ensure that our online services, content, and website design meet the accessibility needs of all users, in compliance with the Equality Act 2010, which requires businesses to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled users can access their services.

This accessibility statement outlines our commitment to digital accessibility, the measures we have taken to improve accessibility, and the steps we are continuously taking to ensure that our website is fully inclusive. We aim to create an optimal, accessible experience for every user, regardless of their needs or technology used.

Legal Framework

In the UK, businesses must comply with the Equality Act 2010, which protects people with disabilities from discrimination, including in the digital realm. The Act mandates that websites and digital services be made accessible to disabled users, providing the same access and experience as for non-disabled users.

Searops is fully committed to meeting the accessibility standards set out by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). We have adopted the WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines as the standard for ensuring the accessibility of our website.

Our Accessibility Goals

Our goal is to provide a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of technology or ability. To this end, we are continuously working to ensure that all content on the website is accessible and usable by people with a wide range of disabilities, including, but not limited to:

Visual impairments (e.g., blindness, low vision, color blindness)
Hearing impairments (e.g., deafness, hard of hearing)
Motor impairments (e.g., difficulty using a mouse or keyboard)
Cognitive impairments (e.g., dyslexia, learning disabilities)

We have taken several steps to ensure our website adheres to accessibility standards and continues to evolve based on user feedback and technological advancements.

Measures We Have Taken to Improve Accessibility

Compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA Standards:
We have aligned our website design with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA standard to meet best practices in web accessibility. Our ongoing efforts aim to meet or exceed these guidelines to improve accessibility for all users.
Keyboard Navigation:
We have designed our website to be navigable by keyboard alone, ensuring that users with motor impairments who cannot use a mouse can still access and interact with all elements on the site. This includes navigation menus, links, forms, and interactive elements.
Screen Reader Compatibility:
The website is compatible with screen readers, including popular tools such as JAWS, NVDA, and VoiceOver, enabling visually impaired users to browse the site using assistive technology. All images, videos, and non-text content on the website have alt text that describes their content.
Alternative Text for Non-Text Content:
All non-text content, such as images, charts, and graphs, has been provided with descriptive alternative text (alt text). This ensures that users relying on screen readers can access and understand all visual content. We are committed to updating this alt text whenever new images are added to the website.
Video Accessibility:
Videos on our website include captions and transcripts wherever possible, making multimedia content accessible to users with hearing impairments. We also provide audio descriptions of video content to assist visually impaired users who may benefit from additional descriptions of on-screen content.
Font Customization and Text Size:
We ensure that users can adjust text sizes through the browser's built-in settings. This helps users with low vision or reading difficulties to view content at a size that suits them. We also use a legible, accessible font with adequate spacing and line height for better readability.
Color Contrast and Text Readability:
We use high contrast colors to ensure readability for users with visual impairments such as color blindness. The contrast ratios between text and background meet the minimum standards specified by WCAG 2.1.
Accessible Forms:
Forms on our website are fully accessible. They include clear, concise labels, error messages, and instructions to guide users with disabilities through the process. Form fields are navigable using the keyboard, and each field is appropriately tagged for screen readers.
Accessible Navigation:
Our website navigation is simple, consistent, and intuitive. Users can access all key areas of the site easily. We have ensured that the primary menu is operable by keyboard and screen readers and that all links are clearly distinguishable.
Content Structure:
The content on the website is organized in a logical, hierarchical manner to support screen readers and assistive technology. We use proper heading structures (H1, H2, H3, etc.) and semantic HTML to ensure that content is easy to follow for users with cognitive disabilities.

Third-Party Tools and Content

While we strive to make all content and tools on our website accessible, some third-party content, services, or embedded media may not be fully accessible at all times. This includes external widgets, videos, and embedded forms. We actively work with third-party providers to ensure that all external content is accessible, and we make every effort to resolve any issues quickly.

Ongoing Accessibility Testing

We continuously test our website using both automated accessibility tools and human testing to ensure that it meets the highest accessibility standards. Additionally, we welcome feedback from users about their experience with the accessibility of our website.

We are committed to ensuring that Searops.co.uk is accessible to everyone. If you encounter any issues with accessibility or have suggestions for improving the website, please get in touch with us. We will do our best to accommodate your needs and provide any necessary adjustments.

Contact Information:

Email: dpo@searops.co.uk
Phone: +447768 309235
Postal Address: 5 South Charlotte Street, Edinburgh, Eh2 4AN

Alternatively, you can use our contact form on the website to send us your accessibility-related inquiries.

Feedback and Suggestions

We value your feedback and are open to suggestions on how we can improve the accessibility of our website. Please contact us using the information provided above.

Ongoing Improvements and Updates

We are committed to continually improving the accessibility of our website. As web technologies evolve and new accessibility tools are developed, we will continue to update our practices and ensure that the Searops website remains fully accessible to all users.

Conclusion

At Searops, we are dedicated to providing a positive, inclusive experience for all of our users, including those with disabilities. By adhering to web accessibility standards and continually improving our practices, we aim to ensure that all users have equal access to the information, services, and features on our website.