LMC Accessibility Statement (www.lmcni.com)

This statement applies to content published on the www.lmcni.com domain. It does not apply to content on any third party domains e.g. Global/Realex payments domain (for FQAS online payments).

The Livestock and Meat Commission for Northern Ireland is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Our website aims to adhere to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, published by the W3C’s Web Accessibility Initiative. We intend to continue improving the accessibility of our site to ensure that any older content, in addition to new content, will conform to Level AA. LMC plan to re-develop the website in 2021-2022 ensuring that it is compliant with WCAG 2.1.

We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:

• zoom in up to 300% without problems
• navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
• navigate most of the website using speech recognition software
• use most of the website using a screen reader

How accessible this website is

Below are some of the steps we have taken in adhering to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1:

Images

Text alternatives will now be added for non-text content uploaded to the website from September 2020.

Text Size

You can change the text size on the website to make it either larger or smaller using the ‘Toggle Font Size’ at the right hand side of the webpage.

Colours

Contrast can be altered using the ‘Toggle High Contrast’ on the right hand side of the webpage to ensure colour of any text used on our website has a sufficient contrast ratio between the foreground and background.

Headings

Each web page contains a heading tag. We have tried to ensure that any subsequent headings have been added and used in correct hierarchical order. This helps users to locate specific content.

Browsers

Our website has been tested for compatibility for the following browsers:

• IE
• Chrome
• Firefox
• Safari
• Edge

Text/Screen Reader

We have Browsealoud set up on the website which meets many of the Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust (POUR) elements of the WCAG guidelines. The key features of Browsealoud are:

• allows the content of the website to be read aloud
• translates the content of the website into different languages
• provides picture dictionary definitions
• provides ability to download audio to MP3
• allows a screen mask to be applied to dim distracting screen features
• allows text to be enlarged
• allows pages to be simplified

Parts of this website are not fully accessible. For example:

• some pages and document attachments are not clearly written
• some images and icons do not have good alternative text
• video content does not have a text alternative
• many documents in PDF and MS Office formats are not accessible
• focus is not visible on webpages
• some content cannot be presented without loss of information or functionality
• some pages and elements have poor colour contrast

How to request content in an accessible format

If you need information on this website in a different format please do not hesitate to contact us at: email (gdavis@lmcni.com) or call (028 92633000).

Please provide the following information:

• the web address (URL) of the content
• your name and email address
• the format you need e.g. accessible PDF, large print, audio recording, braille or BSL

Reporting accessibility problems with the website

We are always looking to improve the accessibility of the website. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements please contact us using the details provided below:

• email (gdavis@lmcni.com)
• call (028 92633000)

We will consider your request and get back to you within five working days.

Enforcement procedure

The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’) in Northern Ireland. If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland –  https://www.equalityni.org

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 AA standard due to some non-compliances, meaning there’s an accessibility problem with some areas.

Non accessible content

The content listed below is non accessible for the following reasons.

The content that is not accessible is outlined below with details of:

• the accessibility problem(s)
• where it fails the success criteria, and
• when we plan to fix it

The following issues are on one or more pages.

Issue	Description
Videos on the site do not have captions. This may prevent users from adapting the material through any sensory modality (for example, visual, auditory or tactile) to match their needs.	This fails WCAG 1.2.1 (Audio-Only and Video-Only (Prerecorded)), 1.2.2 (Captions), 1.2.3 (Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded)) and 1.2.5 (Audio Description (Prerecorded)).
A number of PDF/word documents are not fully accessible to screen reader software.	This fails WCAG 1.1.1 (Non-text Content).
Some images on the site do not have a text alternative.  Alternative text is not available for images on the Homepage, this includes images; FQAS Online Payments, Market Information, Industry Development and Promotion. New images uploaded to the site from September 2020 will have a text alternative.	This fails WCAG 1.1.1 (Non-text Content). People with sight loss may not see an image clearly on a page. You need to use a text alternative to share the information. The alternative text must describe the information or function represented by the image. Screen readers can share the alternative text with the user. In PDF documents you must ensure that images are tagged correctly with alternative text.
There are a number of pages with lists which may not be adequately structured. This may result in a loss of meaning for users of screen readers.	This fails WCAG 1.3.1 (Info and Relationships).
The slider screen on the homepage is not readable using a screen reader and cannot be paused.	This fails 1.3.1 (Info and Relationships) and 2.2.2 (Pause, Stop, Hide). Content that moves, flashes or updates automatically can be a severe distraction for certain users, making it difficult to use the page. It can also cause problems for assistive technologies like screen readers. For any moving, flashing or scrolling information that: starts automatically; lasts more than five seconds; and is presented in parallel with other content there must be a method to allow the user to pause, stop, hide or control the frequency for content that automatically begins ‘auto-updating’ in parallel with other content unless it is essential to an activity.
Form fields for payment card information are not accessible using a screen reader as it is a third party site. The form field (recaptcha button) on the contact page is not accessible. Select element must have an accessible name.	This fails 1.3.1 (Info and Relationships), 2.4.6 (Headings and Label), 3.2.2 (Labels or instructions), 4.1.2 (Name, role, value). Form labels help assistive technologies to understand what input is expected in a form field. Adding a label reduces confusion and enlarges the clickable area which helps users with limited motor control. Labels should be used for inputs such as: Text entry fields Radio buttons Checkboxes Select menus
Focus is not visible on multiple pages including: Contact Us, Market Information button, submit buttons, read more buttons, arrows on slider screen and click here buttons. Focus is not clear on links across FQAS Online Payments, Market Information, Industry Development and Promotion.	This fails 2.4.7 (Focus Visible). A visible focus helps users know which element has keyboard focus and where they are on the page. When an element gets focus there should be a visible border around it. Highlighting the element that has keyboard focus or is hovered over can provide information like whether the element is interactive or the scope of that element. Operating systems have a native indication of focus, which is available in many browsers. The default display of the focus indicator is not always highly visible and may even be difficult to see especially on coloured backgrounds.
Text is unable to be resized up to 200 percent without loss of content or function. All webpages – At 200% and 400%, the browsealoud and text toggles cover content on the webpage. Homepage – At 200%, content within the feature image is cut off. Contact page – At 400%, privacy recaptcha button is covered.	This fails 1.4.4 (Resize Text). Visual text, including text-based controls can be scaled so that they can be read directly by users with visual impairments without using assistive technology such as a screen magnifier.
Content cannot be presented without loss of information or functionality, and without requiring scrolling in two dimensions. For example: Homepage- in mobile view, Livestock wording on the slider screen overlaps on Coronavirus public message. News – in mobile view and at 400% number of pages at the bottom of the page does not reflow to fit the page correctly and the word Last is cut off and numbers overlap.	This fails 1.4.10 (Reflow). Reflow or ‘responsive web design’ helps users with low vision who may need to enlarge text on a webpage and read it in a single column without scrolling in more than one direction. It also helps users who are viewing the page on a mobile device. If a page does not support reflow it can appear smaller and more difficult to use or content may be cut off. Navigation menus often collapse into fewer items or into a single menu button to take up less space. All content and functionality must still be fully available.
Some images of text are used. Images of text should not be used unless text cannot be formatted to the same effect, for example logos or branding.	This fails 1.4.5 (Images of Text). Images of text cause problems for users who need to adjust how visual content like font size, spacing or colours are displayed. The image quality can reduce and become blurry when users increase page magnification. Text may be used in images where the text is part of an image that contains a lot of other visual content like graphs or diagrams that give important information through more than just text.
There is poor colour contrast on the site. All webpages Poor colour contrast of green background on blue text when using keyboard along the top menu Green text on green background has poor colour contrast. This is the Home> And the page the user is on White text on green background for the buttons does not have sufficient colour contrast Homepage All text within the slider image cannot be determined because element contains an image node Pale blue text on white background does not have sufficient colour contrast for menus along the bottom, including ‘Click here to join and benefit from being a FQAS member.’ Contact page, Homepage White text on green background for ‘Read more’ buttons does not have sufficient colour contrast Accessibility, Privacy policy Green links on white background within the content does not have sufficient colour contrast About us Green ‘Click here’ does not have sufficient colour contrast Industry Development, Promotion White text on green button for ‘Membership checker’ has poor colour contrast News The green text on white background at the bottom of the page for the number of news pages does not have sufficient colour contrast.	This fails 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum). Poor colour contrast makes it difficult for someone with sight loss to see the content properly. If there is a big difference between the background and foreground colours it should be much easier to see the difference between them.

 

As the LMC website was developed in 2015 there are a number of elements that are not compliant with WCAG 2.1. LMC plan to re-develop the website in 2021-2022 ensuring that it is compliant with WCAG 2.1 therefore some elements will not be rectified on the current website as it would not be cost effective to do this.

Disproportionate Burden

We have assessed that it would be a disproportionate burden within the meaning of the No. 2 Regulations to pay our third party website developer to do a full accessibility audit on the LMC website and address all accessibility issues. In June 2020 a small scale accessibility review of the website was completed however as the website is six years old it was deemed that due to the age of the design and code accessibility issues can only be fully resolved and WCAG compliant by development of a new website. In the 2020-21 financial year LMC did not have sufficient budget or staff resource to take this project forward.

Estimated costs

On an annual basis the budget for the LMC website is <£500. Additional budget has been assigned for the re-development project for the 2021-22 financial year. The lmcni.com website is outsourced to a third party supplier therefore in order to re-develop the site LMC must go through a public tender process.

Assessment of costs and benefits

We believe that the costs of paying for detailed audits and fixing all accessibility issues on the current www.lmcni.com site would be a disproportionate burden on our organisation. LMC is a Non-Departmental Public Body with a small staff complement of 17. During 2020-21 we had to re-prioritise business activities owing to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, ensuring business continuity of essential services.

LMC provides services to the Northern Ireland Beef and Sheep Meat Industry, key stakeholders include producers and processors. We do provide services aimed at people with a disability and on the website we have made some improvements with text size, colours, headings and we have incorporated a text/screen reader. LMC also have the ability to provide information to stakeholders via alternative methods if it is not accessible via the website.

Our users will benefit from us making our websites and online documents accessible. In 2021-22 we aim to have re-tendered and re-developed the website with the aim of making it WCAG compliant. This will be dependent on staff resource and public procurement timescales.

Content that’s not within the scope of the accessibility regulations

As a website published before 23 September 2018, we are required to comply with the web accessibility regulations from 23 September 2020.

However, some of our content is exempt from the accessibility regulations:

• pre-recorded audio and video published before 23 September 2020
• PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 – unless required for the use of a service, for example a form
• maps
• third party content that is not within our control, for example, embedded video players like Vimeo or YouTube, and embedded Google Maps.

If you have any problems using this website, please contact us using the details provided above and we will investigate the issue and/or provide you with the information you need in an alternative format.

PDFs and other documents

The accessibility regulations do not require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they’re not essential to providing our services.

Some pdf documents are not accessible in a number of ways due to document structure. We plan to review a standardised format for documents on the website as part of the re-development.

How we tested this website

This website was tested on 17 June 2020. The test was carried out by Website NI. Website NI are contracted by LMC to support and develop this website.

Tests have been carried out internally on the compatibility of the website with Browsealoud software.

What we are doing to improve accessibility

We intend to continue improving the accessibility of our site to ensure that any older content, in addition to new content, will conform to Level AA. LMC have plans to fully re-develop the website in 2021-2022 ensuring that it is compliant with WCAG 2.1.

This statement was prepared on 21 September 2020. It was last updated on 05 July 2021.