Accessibility Policy – Hand in Hand

Accessibility Statement

Hand in Hand Interpreting Agency is fully committed to digital accessibility because we know firsthand how vital clear communication is for Deaf and disabled people. As the child of two Deaf parents, making our website usable for everyone is a core part of our mission. This statement explains our current accessibility features, known limitations, and our ongoing plans to improve.

Whate We've Already Implemented

BSL-friendly contact: Send enquiries via WhatsApp video message or email, no phone calls required.

Clear, simple language: Short sentences, plain English, and consistent structure so information is easy to scan and understand.

High contrast design: Text stands out clearly against backgrounds (aiming for WCAG 2.1 AA contrast ratios)

Mobile-first layout: Works well on phones and tablets, with touch-friendly buttons and readable font sizes.

Keyboard navigation: All interactive elements (links, buttons, forms) can be accessed using just a keyboard.

Logical heading structure: Pages use proper H1, H2, H3 tags so screen readers can navigate easily.

Known limitations (and fixes in progress)

We’re a small agency building our first website, so some areas aren’t fully
accessible yet. Here’s what’s missing and our timeline:

Feature	Current Status	Planned Fix
Image alt text	Partial (logo and key images done)	Complete by end of February 2026
Video transcripts/captions	No videos yet	Add transcripts when client testimonial videos go live
Screen reader testing	Not fully tested	User testing with NVDA/JAWS in March 2026
Colour-only links	Links use underlines + colour	Already fixed in current design
Complex forms (Join the Team)	Basic labels only	Add ARIA labels and error handling by mid-March 2026
PDF downloads (if any)	None currently	Will be tagged for screen readers if added

Internal Testing

Our team (including Deaf members) reviews every page before launch using browser tools, keyboard-only navigation, and high-contrast mode.

User Feedback

We’ll add a simple “Report an accessibility issue” link in the footer so anyone can flag problems directly.

External Audits

Planning a full WCAG 2.1 AA audit by an accessibility specialist within 6 months.

If You Can't Access Part of Our Site:

Contact us directly: Email (info@handinhandbsl.com) or WhatsApp (+447359946996). We’ll send the information in your preferred format (BSL video reply, plain text email, audio, etc.) within 2 working days.

Alternative access: For urgent bookings, we can handle everything via WhatsApp video, email, or even in-person consultation

Enforcement: This site aims to meet UK Equality Act 2010 standards for service providers. If you believe we’ve failed in our duty, you can raise a complaint with us first, then contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)

https://ico.org.uk/concerns/

Tel: 0303 123 1113.

Standards We Follow

WCAG 2.1 Level AA (global standard for web accessibility)

UK Equality Act 2010 (reasonable adjustments for disabled users)

Public Sector Accessibility Regulations (best practice, even as a private provider)

We’re building this site iteratively and genuinely welcome feedback from Deaf users, screen reader users, and anyone with accessibility needs. Every suggestion helps us serve our community better.

Changes to This Notice

We may update this policy periodically. Significant changes will be communicated through our website or directly by email.

Professional BSL interpreting and Deaf communication services across the UK and beyond.