Accessibility

People affected by brain injury may experience a wide range of physical, sensory and cognitive effects. These can include difficulties with concentration, memory, processing information and fatigue. We have designed this website with these different needs in mind.

Our commitment to accessibility

Our aim is to make the Headway website accessible to as many people as possible, regardless of ability, technology or how they choose to access the site.

We have designed and built the website to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at level AA.

Accessibility is about more than meeting a technical standard. We want the website to feel clear, predictable and easy to use, particularly for people who may experience cognitive fatigue or find it difficult to process complex information. Headway’s accessibility approach therefore prioritises clear language, structured content, simplified navigation and consistent signposting.

Using this website

We have designed the website so that as many people as possible can use it independently.

For example, we have worked to make sure that you can:

• navigate the website using a keyboard

• zoom in without losing access to content

• use screen readers and other assistive technologies

• understand links, headings and navigation

• move around the website using consistent and predictable navigation

• read information presented in clear, structured sections

• access information without unnecessary movement or animation getting in the way.

Making information easier to understand

We know that some people affected by brain injury can experience difficulties with memory, concentration or processing information. We have therefore tried to make our content straightforward and manageable.

This includes using:

• clear, plain language wherever possible

• short sections of content

• descriptive headings

• consistent navigation and signposting

• uncluttered page layouts

• in-page navigation for longer information

• alternative accessible formats where these are available.

These principles reflect the accessibility approach established for the Headway site.

Accessible formats

We want people to be able to access information in the format that works best for them.

Our website includes Eye-Able Assist, which allows you to change how information on the Headway website is presented and create an experience that better suits your individual needs.

Using Eye-Able Assist, you can:

• Adjust the size and layout of text, including font size, line spacing, word spacing and text alignment. Its adaptive zoom is designed to enlarge website content without affecting the overall layout.

• Change contrast and colours to make information easier to distinguish and read. This includes contrast settings and colour filters designed for different colour vision deficiencies.

• Choose a more readable font, including an option to display website text using a sans-serif font.

• Reduce visual distractions by hiding images and animations.

• Use night mode or a blue-light filter to adjust how the page is displayed on screen.

• Have information read aloud, with options to adjust the speed and volume. Content can be selected using the mouse or keyboard.

• Navigate using a keyboard, without relying on a mouse.

• Make the pointer easier to see by using a larger mouse pointer.

Eye-Able Assist provides more than 25 functions for adapting web content to individual needs.

Known accessibility issues

We are continuing to review and improve the accessibility of our website.

There may be some areas of the website, documents or third-party content that do not yet meet the same accessibility standard. Where we identify an accessibility issue, we will work to address it wherever possible.

Third-party content

Some parts of our website may use content, services or functionality provided by third parties. We aim to make these experiences as accessible as possible, although we may not always have full control over their accessibility.

Tell us if you have an accessibility problem

We are always looking for ways to improve the accessibility of our website.

If you find something difficult to access, or need information provided in a different format, please contact us on website@headway.org.uk and tell us what you need.