Accessibility Statement

This accessibility statement applies to the following websites and subdomains:

How accessible this website is

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

The issues identified affect a range of interactions and content across the site, particularly where pages rely on dynamic behaviour, reusable components, or complex navigation patterns.

These issues may affect users who rely on screen readers, keyboard only navigation, mobile assistive technologies, high levels of zoom, or alternative pointing methods such as head tracking.

Examples of the types of accessibility issues identified include:

Navigation menus, panels, and other interactive components that do not always work reliably using a keyboard or manage focus correctly when opened or closed
Skip links and other mechanisms intended to help users bypass repeated content that do not always move focus as expected
Content structure issues, such as headings and relationships between content, that are not always conveyed programmatically to assistive technologies
Non-text content and visual cues, including images and icons, that are not consistently conveyed to users of assistive technology
A lack of orientation aids, such as an HTML sitemap or other consistent alternative ways to locate content, which can make it harder for some users to understand the overall structure of the website
Functionality that relies on specific pointer behaviour, making it more difficult to use with alternative input methods
Status messages and dynamic content updates that are not always communicated clearly to users of assistive technology
Text and interface elements that do not always meet minimum colour contrast requirements, which can make content harder to read for users with low vision
Keyboard focus indicators that are not always clearly visible, making it harder for keyboard users to track their position on the page
Changes of context, such as updates triggered by user interaction, that can occur unexpectedly without sufficient user control
Error messages that are not always clearly identified or associated with the relevant input, making it harder for users to understand and correct mistakes
Parts of the content where the language changes but this is not always programmatically indicated to assistive technologies

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, please contact us using any of the following methods: :

Online: Contact Form
Email: customer.services@tfwm.org.uk
Call: 0345 303 6760
Write to Customer Services, 16 Summer Lane, Birmingham, B19 3SD
We’ll consider your request and get back to you within 10 days.

There is more information about what we can provide and our process in our reasonable adjustments policy.

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 the Equalities Team:

Email: EqualitiesTeam@wmca.org.uk
Call: 0345 303 6760 and ask for the Equalities Team
Write to: Equalities Team, 16 Summer Lane, Birmingham, B19 3SD

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. 

You can read more about reasonable adjustments we are able to provide.

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

West Midlands Combined Authority is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Compliance

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.

Non-accessible content

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

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations (WCAG 2.2 AA)

Priority A

1.1.1 Non-text Content
Some non-text content does not have appropriate text alternatives. This means the purpose or meaning of images and icons is not always conveyed to users of assistive technology.

1.3.1 Info and Relationships
Information, structure, and relationships are not always conveyed programmatically. This includes issues with headings, grouped controls, and the relationships between related content.

2.1.1 Keyboard
Some functionality is not fully operable using a keyboard, which can prevent users from accessing content without a pointing device.

2.4.1 Bypass Blocks
Mechanisms intended to help users bypass repeated content do not always work as expected.

2.4.3 Focus Order
Focus does not always move in a logical order that preserves meaning and operability, which can cause confusion for keyboard and screen reader users.

3.3.1 Error Identification
Some error messages are not clearly identified or programmatically associated with the relevant form inputs, making it harder for users to understand and correct errors.

4.1.2 Name, Role, Value
User interface components do not always expose the correct name, role, or state to assistive technologies.

Priority AA

1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum)
Some text does not meet minimum colour contrast requirements, which can make content harder to read for users with low vision.

1.4.11 Non-text Contrast
Some visual indicators and user interface components do not have sufficient contrast against adjacent colours.

2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context)

Some links do not clearly describe their purpose or destination, which can make it difficult for users of assistive technology to understand where they will lead.

2.4.7 Focus Visible
Keyboard focus indicators are not always clearly visible, making it harder for keyboard users to track their position on the page.

3.1.2 Language of Parts
Parts of the content use a different language but this is not always programmatically indicated to assistive technologies.

4.1.3 Status Messages
Status messages and dynamic updates are not always communicated to users of assistive technology.

Air Quality learning modules

You cannot zoom to make text larger without content spilling off the screen.

You cannot change colours to increase contrast.

The focus order is different to the visual order on some navigation items, such as the toolbar at the bottom.

Some buttons lack appropriate labels.

Links lack appropriate warning that they will open in a new tab or window.

Visually hidden buttons are still interactive.

Some colours do not meet minimum contrast ratios.

Tables do not have appropriate markup.

Accessible HTML alternatives

Alternatives are available for each Air Quality e-learning module:

You can also open these alternatives on the second page of each module.

Disproportionate burden

We have not identified any disproportionate burden at this time.

Content not within the scope of the accessibility regulations

WCAG AAA Guidelines

1.4.8 – Visual Presentation
There is no mechanism provided to allow users to adjust text size or colour contrast beyond browser or assistive technology defaults.

PDFs and other documents

Some of our PDFs and Word documents are essential to providing our services. For example, we have PDFs with information on how users can access our services, and forms published as Word documents. We are reviewing these documents and will prioritise remediation or replacement with accessible HTML where appropriate.

The accessibility regulations do not require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they’re not essential to providing our services.

Any new PDFs or Word documents we publish will meet accessibility standards.

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

We are currently reviewing these issues and expect them to be fixed by September 2027.

We will update the accessibility statement when issues are fixed.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

These websites were last tested on 23 January 2026. The test was carried out by Access by Audit.

This accessibility statement was produced by Access by Audit and reviewed by West Midlands Combined Authority in June 2026.