Inclusive Access Policy for Crystal Palace gardeners

Our Gardeners Crystal Palace team is committed to providing an inclusive online and physical experience for everyone. This accessibility statement explains how we approach accessibility across the Gardeners Crystal Palace area, including web content, in-person services and community outreach. We aim to meet the needs of people with a wide range of disabilities by following recognised standards and adopting practical adjustments where necessary.

We design our web and local services to align with WCAG 2.1 AA standards. That means we work to ensure sufficient contrast, logical structure and meaningful text alternatives. Our Crystal Palace gardeners and gardeners in Crystal Palace branches regularly review content to keep headings, lists and navigation consistent, and to ensure that important information is conveyed in multiple ways so it is usable by everyone.

The site and our local service information are structured for compatibility with common screen-readers and assistive technologies. We test support for major screen-reader applications and make content updates to help users who rely on spoken or braille output. In addition to screen-reader support, we consider people using magnification, speech recognition and other adaptive tools when organising pages and printed materials.

Keyboard navigation is a priority for both our online resources and in-person interactions. Users can access menus, booking forms and informational pages without a mouse; focus order is logical and visible. Gardeners Crystal Palace area staff receive training so that public events, garden visits and consultations are accessible to people who use keyboards, mobility aids or alternative input methods.

Key features we implement include:

• Consistent page structure and clear headings to aid orientation for screen-reader users.
• Keyboard focus indicators and navigable controls for all interactive widgets.
• Text alternatives for images and media, and captions or transcripts for audio and video where possible.

We also use simple, plain language and provide alternative formats on request so that information about plant care, accessible gardening workshops and community projects can be accessed by as many people as possible.

Our approach to accessibility is ongoing. We perform periodic audits across the Crystal Palace gardeners network and update practices to reflect new guidance. When we identify areas for improvement, we prioritise fixes that impact the most users and document progress transparently. Accessibility is treated as a design requirement, not an afterthought.

Where features are not fully accessible yet, we provide alternatives. For example, if an interactive map or booking interface is temporarily problematic for assistive technology, we offer clear steps to obtain the same information or make bookings through accessible channels. We aim to minimise disruption and keep everyone informed about workarounds and timelines.

For accessibility requests or to report barriers, please contact our accessibility team using the contact options provided on the site or by visiting your local Crystal Palace branch. We will acknowledge requests promptly, work with you to find a suitable solution and, where appropriate, provide information in alternative formats. Our commitment is to respond in a timely and respectful manner to support inclusion in the Gardeners Crystal Palace community.