Accessibility Statement for StoryMaps published via https://storymaps.arcgis.com/

This accessibility statement applies to StoryMaps published by Historic England on https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/. An example of such a map is available at this URL: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/9649c7793bd948b6aedb86180d7dc2f8

The StoryMaps are a service provided by ESRI, which is used by Historic England. We want as many people as possible to be able to use these webpages. For example, that means you should be able to:

  • zoom in up to 300% without the text spilling off the screen
  • 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’ve also made the text as simple as possible to understand.

AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.

How accessible this website is

We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible:

  • StoryMaps may be difficult to navigate with a keyboard alone and hard to read for users with a visual impairment
  • the colour contrast may be insufficient for users to distinguish between items

Feedback and contact information

If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording, or braille:

We’ll consider your request and get back to you in five working days.

Reporting accessibility problems with this website

We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, contact customer services on [email protected], who will pass your request on to the appropriate team.

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’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

Contacting us by phone or visiting us in person

We provide a text relay service for people who are D/deaf, hearing impaired, or have a speech impediment.

Our offices have audio induction loops, or if you contact us before your visit we can arrange a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter.

Find out how to contact us.

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

Historic England is committed to making its 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 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliance and exemptions listed below.

Non accessible content

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

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

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

  • The page structure and reading order may not be accurate due to “empty buttons” created automatically by the StoryMap web application.
    • 1.1.1 Non-text Content (Level A) – all non-text content that is presented to the user has a text alternative that serves the equivalent purpose. Controls, Input: If non-text content is a control or accepts user input, then it has a name that describes its purpose.
    • 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context) (Level A) Every link’s purpose is clear from its context
  • Colour contrast is not strong enough and use of colour not clear enough
    • 1.3.3 – Sensory Characteristics: Use more than one sense for instructions
    • 1.4.1 – Use of Colour: Don’t use a presentation that relies solely on colour e.g. forms, disabled buttons
    • 1.4.3 – Contrast (Minimum): Contrast ratio between text and background is at least 4.5:1
  • A user browsing with a keyboard alone may experience difficulties
    • 2.1.1 – Keyboard: Accessible by keyboard only
    • 2.4.3 – Focus Order: Tabbing in logical Order
    • 2.4.7 – Focus Visible: Keyboard focus is visible and clear
    • 3.2.1 – On Focus: Elements do not change when they receive focus
    • 3.2.2 – On Input: Elements do not change when they receive input
    • 4.1.3 – Status Messages: Status messages can be presented to the user by assistive technologies without receiving focus

Disproportionate burden

While the maps are ‘skinned’ to look like they are part of our website they are built and hosted through third party software supplied by ESRI.

ESRI’s ArcGIS StoryMaps support accessibility by following the World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). ArcGIS StoryMaps has been evaluated for conformance according to WCAG 2.0 AA, WCAG 2.1 AA, and the Revised Section 508 standards. This evaluation is also known as a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) and it explains the extent to which a product such as ArcGIS StoryMaps adheres to such important accessibility guidelines. The results of the ArcGIS StoryMaps evaluation are available through the Accessibility Conformance Report for ArcGIS StoryMaps.

We’ve assessed the cost of fixing the issues with navigation and accessing information in the tools provided by the 3rd party system and believe that doing so would be a disproportionate burden within the meaning of the accessibility regulations. We will make another assessment when the supplier contract is up for renewal.

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

Online maps and mapping services

Online maps and mapping services are exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations as long as essential information is provided in an accessible digital manner for maps intended for navigational use.

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

It is Historic England’s intention for the StoryMaps hosted via https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/ to be as compliant as the technology allows and we are committed to continually reviewing our offer. We will keep the use of StoryMaps under review as accessibility in mapping technology continues to involve.  

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 27 October 2022.

Tests were last carried out by internal test resources in October 2022.

We used this approach to decide on pages to test: We based the tests on a sample of the StoryMaps used on our website.