Accessibility Statement for aftb.org.uk

Middlesex Association for the Blind is committed to making our website accessible to all users, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 and our organisational mission to support people with sight loss.

This accessibility statement applies to www.aftb.org.uk.

Our Commitment

As an organisation that has been supporting people with sight loss since 1922, accessibility is fundamental to everything we do. We understand the critical importance of digital accessibility and are committed to ensuring our website provides equal access to information and services for all users, regardless of their abilities or the technologies they use.

Compliance Status

This website is fully compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard. All web pages have been tested using accessibility validation tools and any failures identified have been corrected to ensure full compliance.

How We Test for Accessibility

We follow a comprehensive testing methodology to ensure our website meets accessibility standards:

Testing Tools

• IBM Equal Access Toolkit: Accessibility Checker Version 4.0.6 – Used for scanning of all pages
• All published web pages have passed validation after any identified failures were corrected
• Pre-publication testing of new pages and content is now in place

Assistive Technology Testing

We test our website using the following screen readers and assistive technologies:

• JAWS (latest version) with Microsoft Edge and Chrome
• NVDA (latest version) with Firefox and Chrome
• SuperNova screen reader and magnification software
• Windows High Contrast Mode (Edge and Firefox)
• VoiceOver on iOS (Safari on iPhone and iPad)
• TalkBack on Android (Chrome browser)

Manual Testing Methods

• Keyboard-only navigation – Ensuring all functionality is accessible without a mouse
• Screen magnification – up to 400% zoom level
• Focus indicator testing – Verifying clear visual focus indicators
• Colour contrast verification – Testing against WCAG AA standards (4.5:1 ratio)
• Screen reader compatibility – Testing content structure and semantic markup

User Testing

As an organisation serving the sight loss community, we regularly engage with our service users to test website usability and gather feedback on accessibility improvements.

Pre-Publication Process

Every page undergoes accessibility testing before publication, including:

• Accessibility scanning with IBM Equal Access Toolkit
• Correction of any identified accessibility failures
• Manual keyboard navigation testing
• Screen reader compatibility verification
• Colour contrast validation
• Mobile responsiveness testing

PDF Documents and Alternative Formats

We recognise that PDF documents can present accessibility challenges. Therefore:

• We provide alternative formats alongside PDF documents where possible, including:
  • Audio versions of important documents
  • Microsoft Word versions with proper heading structure
• PDF documents published after September 2019 are created with accessibility features
• Older PDF documents are being reviewed and updated to accessible formats if possible
• Note: PDF documents have not been included in our automated accessibility testing

Non-accessible Content

The content listed in this section may not be fully accessible:

Content not within scope of accessibility regulations

PDF documents published before September 2022 may not be fully accessible, as these were not subject to accessibility testing. We are working to ensure those still in use are available in an accessible format.

External Links

MAB is not responsible for the accessibility of external websites that we link to. However, we make every effort to link to accessible resources and will provide alternative access methods where possible.

Mobile Accessibility

Our website is designed to be fully accessible on mobile devices, including:

• Touch-friendly button and link sizes (minimum 44px)
• Responsive design that works with mobile screen readers
• Gesture-based navigation compatibility

Reporting Accessibility Issues

We welcome feedback about the accessibility of our website. If you encounter any accessibility barriers or have suggestions for improvement, please contact us:

When reporting an accessibility issue, please include:

• The web page address where you experienced the problem
• A description of the issue
• The assistive technology or browser you were using

We aim to respond to accessibility feedback within 5 working days and will work with you to find a solution.

Alternative Access to Information

If you cannot access information on our website due to accessibility barriers, we can provide the information in alternative formats such as:

• Large print
• Audio format
• Braille (where requested)
• Email or telephone consultation

Enforcement Procedure

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

If you’re not satisfied with how we respond to your accessibility concern, you can contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS) at: https://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com/

Continuous Improvement

We are committed to continuously improving our website’s accessibility through:

• Regular accessibility audits and testing
• Staff training on accessibility best practices
• Incorporating user feedback from our sight loss community
• Staying updated with evolving accessibility standards and technologies
• Collaborating with accessibility experts and the sight loss community

Technical Standards

This website has been designed and tested to meet:

• WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance

Date of Statement

This accessibility statement was prepared on 28 June 2025 and was last reviewed on 28 June 2025.