Accessibility Statement

Last updated: 14/08/2025

Our Commitment to Accessibility

heyLOKAL is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities. We are continually improving the user experience for everyone and applying the relevant accessibility standards to ensure we provide equal access to information and functionality for all our users.

Our Mission

We believe that everyone should have equal access to local business information and services, regardless of their abilities or the technology they use to access our platform.

Accessibility Standards

heyLOKAL strives to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA. These guidelines help make web content more accessible to people with disabilities including:

Visual Disabilities

  • • Blindness and low vision
  • • Colour blindness
  • • Light sensitivity
  • • Visual processing disorders

Motor Disabilities

  • • Limited fine motor control
  • • Muscle tremors
  • • Paralysis
  • • Missing limbs

Auditory Disabilities

  • • Deafness and hearing loss
  • • Audio processing disorders
  • • Hyperacusis
  • • Tinnitus

Cognitive Disabilities

  • • Learning disabilities
  • • Attention disorders
  • • Memory impairments
  • • Intellectual disabilities

Accessibility Features

We have implemented the following accessibility features on our website:

Keyboard Navigation

  • Full keyboard navigation support for all interactive elements
  • Logical tab order throughout the website
  • Visible focus indicators for keyboard users
  • Skip links to main content areas

Screen Reader Support

  • Proper heading structure and hierarchy
  • Descriptive alt text for all images
  • ARIA labels and landmarks for better navigation
  • Meaningful link text and button descriptions

Visual Design

  • High contrast colour combinations
  • Scalable text up to 200% without loss of functionality
  • Clear typography and readable fonts
  • Sufficient spacing between interactive elements

Content Structure

  • Clear and consistent page layouts
  • Descriptive page titles and headings
  • Error messages that clearly explain issues
  • Form labels properly associated with inputs

Testing and Validation

We regularly test our website's accessibility using various methods:

Automated Testing

  • WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool)
  • axe accessibility testing engine
  • Lighthouse accessibility audits
  • Pa11y command line accessibility tester

Manual Testing

  • Screen reader testing (NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver)
  • Keyboard-only navigation testing
  • Voice control software testing
  • User testing with people with disabilities

Known Accessibility Issues

While we strive for full accessibility, we acknowledge some current limitations:

Third-Party Content

Some third-party widgets (maps, payment forms) may not be fully accessible. We are working with vendors to improve these components.

User-Generated Content

Business listings and user reviews may not always follow accessibility best practices. We provide guidelines to help users create accessible content.

Complex Interactions

Some advanced features like the booking calendar may require additional assistive technology support. We offer alternative booking methods.

Supported Assistive Technologies

Our website is designed to be compatible with the following assistive technologies:

Screen Readers

  • JAWS
  • NVDA
  • VoiceOver
  • TalkBack

Voice Control

  • Dragon NaturallySpeaking
  • Voice Control (macOS)
  • Windows Speech Recognition
  • Voice Access (Android)

Magnification

  • ZoomText
  • Magnifier (Windows)
  • Zoom (macOS)
  • Browser zoom functions

Browser and Device Support

heyLOKAL is designed to work with recent versions of the following browsers and devices:

Desktop Browsers

  • Chrome 90+ (Windows, macOS, Linux)
  • Firefox 88+ (Windows, macOS, Linux)
  • Safari 14+ (macOS)
  • Edge 90+ (Windows, macOS)

Mobile Devices

  • iOS Safari 14+ (iPhone, iPad)
  • Chrome Mobile 90+ (Android)
  • Samsung Internet 14+
  • Firefox Mobile 88+

Ongoing Accessibility Efforts

We are committed to continuously improving accessibility. Our ongoing efforts include:

Regular Audits: Quarterly accessibility assessments by external experts

Staff Training: Ongoing accessibility training for all team members

User Feedback: Incorporating feedback from users with disabilities

Technology Updates: Staying current with accessibility best practices and standards

Legal Compliance

heyLOKAL aims to comply with relevant accessibility legislation:

UK Legislation

  • • Equality Act 2010
  • • Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018
  • • European Accessibility Act (transposed into UK law)

International Standards

  • • Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA
  • • ISO/IEC 40500:2012 (W3C WCAG 2.0)
  • • EN 301 549 European Standard for ICT Accessibility

Accessibility Feedback and Support

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of heyLOKAL. Please let us know if you encounter accessibility barriers:

Report Issues

Email: accessibility@heylokal.com

Phone: +44 20 XXXX XXXX

Response Time: Within 5 business days

Alternative Formats

If you need information in alternative formats, we can provide:

  • • Large print documents
  • • Audio descriptions
  • • Simplified language versions
  • • Braille (upon request)

When Contacting Us, Please Include:

  • The specific page or feature you were trying to use
  • What you were trying to accomplish
  • The assistive technology you were using (if applicable)
  • Your browser and operating system information

Enforcement Procedure

If you are not satisfied with our response to your accessibility concern, you may contact:

Equality and Human Rights Commission

Website: equalityhumanrights.com

Phone: 0808 800 0082

Email: correspondence@equalityhumanrights.com

Statement Review

This accessibility statement was last reviewed on 14/08/2025 and is reviewed annually to ensure it remains accurate and up-to-date with our accessibility efforts.