If you need more help to use any of our services or information on the website, or need the information in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or Braille, please contact us or call 0300 131 2 131.
Accessibility statement
This accessibility statement applies to our main website. This website is run by North Yorkshire Council. We want as many people as possible to be able to use the website. For example, that means you should be able to:
- change colours, contrast levels and fonts using browser or device settings
- zoom in up to 400% without the text spilling off the screen
- navigate most of the website using a keyboard or speech recognition software
- navigate most of the website using speech recognition software
- listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver)
We have also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.
AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability
Translating our website into other languages
Popular web browsers include the option to translate web pages by default when they detect that the website language is different to the language installed on the computer, tablet or smartphone. When browsers do not offer to automatically translate, plug-ins are often available to help you do this.
- Google Chrome should offer to translate pages automatically
- Edge can translate pages with an extension from the Microsoft store
- Safari on macOS can translate pages with an extension available on the Safari extensions website
- Safari on iOS can translate pages with an extension from the App Store
- Firefox can translate pages with various extensions
How accessible this website is
We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible. For example:
- PDF documents may not be fully accessible to screen reader software
- some third-party systems or embedded content may not be fully accessible
- some pages may have colour contrast or heading structure issues which can affect people using assistive technologies
Feedback and contact information
If you find any problems that are not listed on this page or you think we are not meeting the accessibility requirements, contact us.
We will consider your request and get back to you in five working days.
A text relay service for people who are deaf, hearing impaired or have a speech impediment is available via your telephone provider. Text relay offers text-to-speech and speech-to-text translation services. A relay assistant in a call centre acts as an intermediary, enabling people with hearing or speech impairments to communicate with other people over the telephone. You can find out more about the text relay service on the Ofcom website. Once familiar with the service, you can use it to contact us.
Our offices have audio induction loops and we can arrange for a British Sign Language interpreter to attend any meetings you need with us. Just let the person you are meeting know and they will arrange this for you.
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 (the ‘accessibility regulations’). If you are not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).
Technical information about this website’s accessibility
We are committed to making our website accessible, in accordance with The Public Sector Bodies (websites and mobile applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.
Compliance status
This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliances and exemptions listed below.
Non accessible content
PDFs and other documents
Some documents are in PDF format and may not be fully accessible. Depending on the PDF, these may fail some or all of the following WCAG 2.2 success criterion:
- PDF1 - Applying text alternatives to images with the Alt entry in PDF documents
- PDF2 - Creating bookmarks in PDF documents
- PDF3 - Ensuring correct tab and reading order in PDF documents
- PDF16 - Setting the default language using the /Lang entry in the document catalogue of a PDF document
- PDF18 - Specifying the document title using the Title entry in the document information dictionary of a PDF
We are carrying out a rolling programme of reviewing and removing PDFs from our site and this has been completed for the majority of PDFs which were required to access our services. Some of these PDFs still remain but we hope to have these removed by September 2028. In the meantime, you can contact us to request any information they contain in an alternative format.
In some cases we are legally required to publish documents in a certain format and we cannot make these PDFs fully accessible. In these cases we will provide accessible information alongside them and / or contact details so the information can be requested in an alternative format.
Due to the relatively short timeframe, the complexity and the legal requirements of some documents relating to certain consultations, we may not be able to make all temporary consultation documents fully accessible. In these cases we will provide accessible information alongside them and / or contact details so the information can be requested in an alternative format.
Colour contrasts
On some pages, automated checks have found that certain colour contrasts fail the 3:1 standard. This does not meet the WCAG 2.2 success criterion 1.4.11 (Non– text contrast).
We aim to resolve this issue by October 2026
We will ensure new documents essential for accessing our services meet accessibility standards.
Headings
On some pages there are empty headings, which may confuse people using a screen reader. This does not meet WCAG 2.2 success criterion 1.3.1 (Information and Relationships) or 2.4.6 (Headings and Labels).
On some pages, there are headings without the preceding heading earlier in the page for example, there is a ‘h2’ heading but no preceding ‘h1’. This does not meet WCAG 2.2 success criterion 1.3.1 (Information and Relationships) or 2.4.10 (Section Headings).
We aim to resolve these issues by October 2026
Coding
Some input fields do not have a descriptive label. This does not meet WCAG 2.2 success criterion 3.3.2 (Labels or Instructions) and 2.4.6 (Headings and Labels).
We aim to resolve these issues by August 2026
Content that is not within the scope of the accessibility regulations
PDFs and other documents
The accessibility regulations do not require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they are not essential to providing our services. However, we are reviewing and removing as many older PDFs and documents as possible on an ongoing basis.
Video content
The accessibility regulations do not require us to make pre-recorded audio and video published before 23 September 2020 accessible. Plain text transcripts or captions will be provided alongside all videos after this date.
The accessibility regulations do not require us to make live audio and video accessible.
Data tables
The size and complexity of some of the data we are required to make public means that some tables have to be scrolled in two directions to see all of the data. This data can be made available in other formats if required.
What we are doing to improve accessibility
We plan to identify and fix issues according to the timescales shown for each area above.
Accessibility of our other websites and online services
Some of the online services we link to from this website are provided through different systems, or by third-party suppliers. These services may have their own accessibility statements.
These services include (but are not limited to):
- applying for a school place
- applying for a job
- joining a library
- enrolling on an adult learning course
- responding to consultations
We work with suppliers and service teams to help improve accessibility across our online services.
Preparation of this accessibility statement
This statement was prepared on 29 May 2026.
This website was last tested on 29 May 2026 against the WCAG 2.2 AA standard.
The accessibility test was carried out internally using a combination of manual checks and automated accessibility testing tools. Testing covered the main page types and content used across the website, alongside a wider audit against the WCAG 2.2 AA standard.