Cleaner Camden Accessibility Statement

This accessibility statement explains how the Cleaner Camden digital service aims to make its online information and tools usable by as many people as possible. We are committed to creating an accessible Cleaner Camden area so that residents, visitors, workers and local organisations can report issues, request services and find information with as few barriers as possible.

Our accessibility commitment

The Cleaner Camden website is designed to follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, version 2.1, at the AA standard. These guidelines set out how to make web content more accessible for disabled people and more user friendly for everyone. We review our services regularly and work to improve accessibility as technology, guidance and user needs evolve.

Accessibility is part of our ongoing work to support an inclusive and cleaner Camden. We aim to provide clear, simple journeys for reporting street issues, waste and recycling problems, and environmental concerns, so that people with different access needs can participate fully in keeping Camden clean.

How we support different ways of access

We aim to design pages and forms that are easy to understand, with clear headings, descriptive labels and meaningful button text. Where possible, we avoid jargon and use plain language. We also structure content so that it can be understood if you are using assistive technology or viewing the content in different devices and browsers.

Text can usually be enlarged using your browser or device settings without the content becoming difficult to read or use. Layouts are intended to be responsive so that you can use the service on desktop, tablet or mobile devices without losing essential information or controls.

Screen reader compatibility

The Cleaner Camden site is developed to work with common screen reader software. Pages follow a logical heading structure so that users can jump between sections. Form fields are given descriptive labels, and important images have text alternatives where they convey information. We aim to ensure that alerts, errors and status messages can be detected and announced by screen readers where possible.

We continue to review the site with screen reader users and automated tools and will make improvements where we identify issues that could stop someone from completing a Cleaner Camden task.

Keyboard navigation and focus

The Cleaner Camden service is designed so that you can navigate using a keyboard without needing a mouse or touch screen. You should be able to move through links, buttons and form fields in a logical order using the tab, shift and arrow keys. Visible focus styles are used so that you can clearly see which element is currently selected.

We also work to ensure that interactive components, such as menus or expandable sections, can be opened, used and closed with the keyboard alone. Where there are time based elements or progress stages, we aim to provide enough time and clear feedback so users do not lose their place.

What we are working to improve

While we aim for WCAG 2.1 AA compliance across the Cleaner Camden site, we recognise that there may still be areas that do not yet fully meet this standard. This may include colour contrast in some legacy pages, older documents that are not fully accessible, or occasional issues with error messages and form validation. We are actively reviewing these areas and planning improvements as part of our continuous development work.

When we release new pages or features, we aim to design them with accessibility built in from the start, test with a range of users where possible, and fix issues that are discovered during testing or after launch.

Requesting information in an accessible format

If you find any part of the Cleaner Camden site difficult to use, or if you need information in a different format such as large print, audio or an alternative language, you can contact the team responsible for the Cleaner Camden service through the usual council contact channels. When you get in touch, please tell us which part of the site you are using, what format you need, and how we can support you best. We will review your request and aim to respond within a reasonable time.

Reporting accessibility problems

We welcome feedback on the accessibility of Cleaner Camden. If you encounter an accessibility problem, such as a form you cannot complete, content you cannot access with assistive technology, or navigation that is difficult to use, please contact the Cleaner Camden team via the council contact options published on the main council website. Include details of the page, what you were trying to do, and the assistive technology or browser you were using. Your feedback helps us prioritise improvements and make the Cleaner Camden area more accessible for everyone.

Enforcement and compliance status

The Cleaner Camden service is intended to be partially compliant with WCAG 2.1 AA, meaning that most key content and functions meet the guidelines, but some parts may not yet be fully accessible. We plan to carry out regular audits, fix identified issues within available resources, and update this statement as the service changes and as we make improvements to accessibility over time.