Accessibility Statement for Gardener Bow

This Accessibility Statement explains how the Gardener Bow area supports inclusive access to public space and services. It covers the approach we take across the local GarDener Bow neighbourhood and the wider Gardener's Bow precinct to meet common accessibility needs. Our aim is to make information, routes, and facilities perceivable, operable, understandable and robust for everyone who uses the Gardener Bow area.

We follow WCAG 2.1 AA standards for digital content and apply the same principles when planning physical access. Where possible, content about the Gardener Bow area is created with semantic markup, meaningful headings, clear language and colour contrast that meets AA thresholds. We use scalable text, consistent layouts and accessible documents so that more people can access information about services and routes in Gardeners Bow.

Our commitment to accessibility includes support for screen readers and assistive technologies. Pages and documents describing the Gardener's Bow environment include ARIA landmarks, descriptive alt text for images, and well-structured headings so screen-reader users can navigate quickly. We test content with common screen readers to improve compatibility and ensure key information is available in accessible formats.

We also prioritise keyboard navigation and tangible wayfinding across the Gardener Bow area. Typical keyboard features we implement are:

• Skip links to bypass repetitive content and reach the main information quickly.
• Clear focus indicators so keyboard users can see which element is active.
• Logical tab order and accessible forms for reporting or requesting assistance.

In the physical environment, considerations include level access points, tactile paving at crossing points, contrast markings on steps and accessible seating near public routes. Our planning for the Gardener Bow neighbourhood emphasises clear sightlines, audible signals at some crossings, and maps that are readable in multiple formats.

To support diverse needs we offer alternative formats on request: large print, audio descriptions and plain-language summaries. While this statement describes general practice across the Gardener Bow area, specific site-level adjustments are handled on a case-by-case basis to provide the most useful support.

We actively test and monitor accessibility. This includes automated checks, manual audits and involving people who use assistive technologies in reviews. Findings inform ongoing improvements to digital pages about Gardener Bow and to on-street features in Gardener's Bow. Accessibility is an ongoing process and we update our approach as standards and community needs evolve.

If you need assistance or wish to request an accessible format or reasonable adjustment for access in the Gardener Bow area, please contact us using the channel you used to reach this service or via your usual point of contact. We aim to respond promptly and to make agreed adjustments in a timely manner.

Accessible requests may cover digital materials, printed guides, on-site directions or support at events in the Gardener Bow locality. We will consider each request seriously and work to provide alternatives that enable participation. This statement is reviewed periodically and updated to reflect improvements in accessibility across the Gardener Bow community.