Accessibility statement for StatsUserNetwork
How accessible StatsUserNet is and what we are doing to improve accessibility.
This accessibility statement applies to the http://www.statsusernetwork.ons.gov.uk/, which is run by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It was last reviewed in January 2025. The next review will take place in January 2026
The ONS aims to be inclusive in all that we do. We want everyone who visits our website to have a positive experience, and easily find and use the information they need. To help you, we have made our website simpler to understand and more user-friendly than the previous version of the site (named StatsUserNet). When the site was tested on 9 October 2024 against the WCAG 2.2 AA standard, it passed the following criteria.
- 1.3.2 Meaningful sequence
- 1.3.4 Orientation
- 1.3.5 Identify input purpose
- 1.4.1 Use of colour
- 1.4.12 Text spacing
- 2.1.2 No keyboard trap
- 2.3.1 Three flashes or below threshold
- 2.4.1 Bypass blocks
- 2.4.5 Multiple ways
- 2.5.1 Pointer gestures
- 2.5.2 Pointer cancellation
- 2.5.3 Label in name
- 2.5.8 Target size (Minimum)
- 3.1.1 Language of page
- 3.1.2 Language of parts
- 3.2.1 On focus
- 3.2.2 On input
- 3.2.3 Consistent navigation
- 3.2.4 Consistent identification
- 3.2.6 Consistent help
- 3.3.7 Redundant entry
- 3.3.8 Accessible authentication
- 4.1.1 Parsing
- 4.1.3 Status messages
If you have a disability, AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use.
How accessible the website is
We know some parts of the StatsUserNetwork website are not fully accessible. Since the test on 9 October 2024, the website is currently not fully compliant with the following areas of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard
- 1.1.1 Non-text Content - The ‘Crop image (cropping applied)’ section presents users with image elements that are not implemented in a way that it can be ignored by assistive technology.
- 1.3.1 Info and Relationships - The ‘Add attachment’ file upload component is not defined by an accessible name. This means that screen reader users may be unable to identify the elements function or purpose and voice activation users may be unable to control the component using the visible labels ‘Add attachment’ or ‘Choose files.’
- 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) – Some areas of the site may not comply with comply with WCAG 2.2 checkpoint 1.4.3 for colour contrast
- 1.4.11 Non-text Contrast - The custom focus indicator presented when the ‘Login’ link has keyboard focus has insufficient colour contrast of approximately 1.24:1.
- 2.1.1 Keyboard - The ‘like’ links do not receive keyboard focus which means keyboard users may be unable to control the ‘like’ element independently.
- 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks - The ‘Skip to main content’ link does not accurately communicate the links destination as activating the link does not move users to the beginning of the main content. The skip link presently bypasses the ‘main’ landmark and ‘aside’ landmark which are both contained within the perceivable main content.
- 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context) - The ‘community posts’ (e.g., ‘Another Test’) are presented as card components comprised of several links. The visual presentation of elements implies a relationship; however, this is not defined programmatically and some links are not defined by descriptive link texts.
- 2.4.6 Headings and Labels - The button elements associated with the cookie banner are not descriptive enough for screen reader users to identify the buttons function or purpose when navigating out of context.
- 2.4.7 Focus Visible - The image links associated with ‘community posts’ are not highlighted by a visible focus indicator when they receive keyboard focus. This means that keyboard users may be unable to track keyboard focus when navigating the page via keyboard only.
- 2.4.11 Focus Not Obscured - Focus is obscured whereby the sticky cookie banner overlaps the footer navigation links. The sticky cookie banner persists until the section is dismissed by the user which means that focus is obscured by the stick cookie banner while the footer navigation links behind it receive keyboard focus.
- 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions - The ‘Message’ input field relies on placeholder text to indicate the purpose of the input field; however, this is not sufficient for all users as the visible label of the input (i.e., the placeholder text) is replaced by data inputted by the user.
- 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value - The current “selected” state of the emoji elements is programmatically defined by ariaselected attributes; however, this attribute does not associate with the inherent <button> role or the ARIA role="menuitem". This means that screen reader users may be unable to reliably identify the present state of the emoji buttons.
How to request content in an accessible format
If you need information from the StatsUserNetwork website in a different format, please contact us by emailing statsusernetwork@ons.gov.uk and tell us:
- the web address (URL) of the content
- your name and email address
- the format you would like the information provided in
We will reply within five working days to let you know when we will be able to provide the information. We will consider each request but may not be able to provide an alternative accessible format on every occasion.
Any personal data provided as part of the request will be stored in line with our privacy notice which can be accessed here.
Reporting accessibility problems
We are working to meet accessibility standards across our website. If you experience any difficulty in accessing our website, please contact us by emailing statsusernetwork@ons.gov.uk.
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 contact us with a complaint and you are not happy with our response, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).
Technical information about the website’s accessibility
The Office for National Statistics is committed to making the StatsUserNetwork website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.
Compliance status of the website
The ONS website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard due to the non-compliances and the exemptions listed in the ‘How accessible the website is’ section of this statement.
Disproportionate burden
StatsUserNetwork has been designed using Drupal software. Given the user base of the previous version of StatsUserNet, we believe it would be disproportionate to address the issues which would take a significant amount of resource, and therefore cost, when these may not be utilised. We are continuing to work with our third-party supplier to address areas that the site fails on WCAG 2.2 success criteria and we welcome any feedback that you may have on the accessibility of the site.
What we are doing to improve accessibility
We are currently working to resolve the issues identified in this accessibility statement. We are also working with others across the ONS to make accessibility central to the way we create content and documents, so they can be used by everyone.
Preparation of this accessibility statement
This statement was prepared on 17 January 2025.
The ONS website was last tested on 9 October 2024 against the WCAG 2.2 AA standard. The Digital Accessibility Centre Limited (DAC) did the test. DAC carried out manual testing with people with a range of disabilities on desktop, mobile and tablet devices. The testing consisted of a series of tasks where they got to use the majority of page and content types on the StatsUserNetwork website.