Accessibility
Accessible from the first line of code
Make this site work for you
The same settings sit under “Display options” at the top of every page. Try them here: the whole site changes, and your choice is remembered next time.
These options are part of the site itself. Accessibility overlay plugins often conflict with the screen readers people already use, so there isn’t one.
Designed for the barriers the 2025 check found
Blindness or low vision
One H1 per page and headings in order, landmarks, real alt text, labelled form fields, and text that scales to 200% without breaking the layout.
Motor disabilities
Everything works by keyboard, with a skip link, a visible yellow focus ring, targets of at least 44px, and no drag-only controls or time limits.
Colour blindness
Brand colours are used as backgrounds behind navy text, never as text on white. Status always has a word too, such as “Open” or “Closed”.
ADHD and dyslexia
Every page starts with “In short”. Plain English, short sections and a predictable layout, plus options for spacing, an easier-to-read font and less movement.
Prototype only
Where the current site starts, and where this concept is
Google Lighthouse on a simulated mobile connection, median of three runs, measured 8 October 2026. A baseline, not a judgement.
| Measure | Current site | This concept |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility score | 83 | 100 |
| Performance score | 44 | 96 |
| Best practices score | 100 | 100 |
| SEO score | 92 | 100 (66 while deliberately hidden from search) |
| Homepage download size | 13.2 MB | 0.4 MB |
| Time until main content shows (mobile) | 37.5 s | 2.9 s |
| Layout shift while loading (lower is better) | 0.36 | 0 |
Automated tools catch only part of the picture. The full build adds manual testing with NVDA and VoiceOver, keyboard-only walkthroughs and checks with disabled people. See the plan.
Accessibility statement
The standard we meet
The site is designed to meet WCAG 2.1 level AA.
How we test
Automated checks on every release, manual testing with keyboards and screen readers, and testing with disabled people before launch.
Known issues
Some older PDFs are not yet accessible. Key reports are being published as web pages, starting with the impact report summary.
Other formats and reporting a problem
If you need information in another format, or something on the site doesn’t work for you, email info@firstport.org.uk or call 0131 564 0331.
Last reviewed: October 2026 (prototype draft).