Accessibility Statement - Geospatial Aid Application (GSAA)
This website is run by Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), Northern Ireland. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:
- zoom in up to 200% without the text spilling off the screen
- navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
- navigate most of the website using speech recognition software
- clearly understand the content and instructions of the website.
AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.
How accessible this website is
We know some parts of this website aren't fully accessible:
- Tooltips are not accessible using a keyboard alone to tab. Some users may have difficulties understanding some error messages on the Land Details table, as they are contained in non-accessible tooltips (1.4.13: Content on Hover or Focus)
- On Land Details page, the back and next functionality cannot be tabbed to using a keyboard. The webchat icon cannot be accessed by tabbing alone. The scrollable 'summary' region must have keyboard access (2.1.1: Keyboard)
- Keyboard-only user may be unable to proceed in the application past the Land details page as they cannot tab to the 'next' button (2.1.2: No Keyboard Trap)
- No 'skip to main content' link observed (2.4.1 Bypass Blocks)
- Screenreader users may be unaware of how a new row is added to the land details table when adding a field to claim. (2.4.3 Focus Order)
- Due to the tabular nature of some content, you may need to scroll horizontally as well as vertically on mobile devices (1.4.10: Reflow)
- Error summaries are not given priority, so are not read out ahead of other page information, by screenreading software (3.3.1: Error Identification)
- Mapping functionality has button controls for zooming but no observed equivalent for panning/moving around the map area. (2.5.7: Dragging Movements)
- New windows are opened without warning the user in advance (links within the Declaration popup) (3.2.2: On Input)
- Status messages are added as toastr-style messages - some users may find these difficult to use as they are out of context with the main content and are displayed for a short time (4.1.3: Status Messages)
- PDFs generated by the application are not fully accessible
- The Single Application (GSAA) uses map functionality for plotting areas of land and features. It has not been possible to make this fully accessible.
What to do if you can't access parts of this website
If you need further information or assistance in using parts of this website, you can contact a DAERA Direct Regional Office.
- email DAERA Direct Regional Offices
- call 0300 200 7840
A DAERA member of staff will be able to help you with your request.
Reporting accessibility problems with this website
We're always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems that aren't listed on this page or think we're not meeting the requirements of the accessibility regulations, contact the DAERA customer helpline on 0300 200 7852 or email daera.helpline@daera-ni.gov.uk.
If you are unhappy with the quality of service received, in the first instance, you can make a complaint to DAERA.
Enforcement procedure
If you remain dissatisfied with the Department's final response to your complaint, you can refer your case to the Equalities Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI), which is responsible for enforcing accessibility regulations. You can contact them.
Contacting us by phone or visiting us in person
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural AffairsDundonald House
Upper Newtownards Road
Ballymiscaw
Belfast BT4 3SB
DAERA Headquarters map location
Call DAERA customer helpline on 0300 200 7852 or email daera.helpline@daera-ni.gov.uk.
If you have a hearing difficulty you can contact the Department via Text Relay using the Next Generation Text Service (NGTS).
- Making a call from a textphone dial 18001 + number.
- Making a call from a telephone dial 18002 + number.
There are also various Text to Speech applications available to use.
Technical information about this website's accessibility
DAERA is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications)(No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.
This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.
Issues with technology
- Tooltips cannot be tabbed to using a keyboard alone, which renders this content unavailable for some users. They also do not fulfil the hoverable requirement as information disappears when mouse is moved. Better identification or display of error/warnings should be considered for the Land Details table, to include textual identification and so as not rely on non-accessible tooltips for presenting the error suggestions to users. (1.4.13: Content on Hover or Focus)
- On Land Details page, the back and next functionality cannot be tabbed to using a keyboard. The webchat icon cannot be accessed by tabbing alone. Scrollable region must have keyboard access (2.1.1) – ensure elements that have scrollable content are accessible by keyboard. (2.1.1: Keyboard)
- Arguably, a keyboard-only user would be unable to proceed in the application past the Land details page as they cannot tab to the 'next' button.(2.1.2: No Keyboard Trap)
- No 'skip to main content' link observed. (2.4.1 Bypass Blocks)
- Adding a field to claim adds the fields in the table above, but focus does not shift to the row (it continues to the next button) – screenreader users may not realise this has occurred. (2.4.3 Focus Order)
- Mapping functionality has button controls for zooming but no observed equivalent for panning/moving around the map area. (2.5.7: Dragging Movements)
- Tooltips are using script (triggers="mouseenter:mouseleave) to set focus and specified mouse-based actions only. (3.2.1: On Focus)
- Issues with Name, Role, Value:
- Missing accessible name for comments box (Contact us for assistance)
- Modal window - ARIA dialog and alertdialog should have accessible name – add aria-label or aria-labelledby (Contact us for assistance)
- Interactive controls must not be nested. The whole of the ‘summary’ element includes the declaration checkbox and buttons, but is also focusable in its own right, which may cause issues.
- The error summary on Land details does not have role=‘alert’ so is not given priority by screenreading software.
- (Land details) Table header cells should not be empty – change to td or include a (hidden) title
- (Land details) Scope attribute should only be used on TH elements, not TD
- Status messages are added as toastr-style messages - this is not ideal as they out of context with the main body of the page, and are shown only for a short time. They do not persist and are not retained, so some users may have difficulty interacting with them. (4.1.3: Status Messages)
Issues with text
- ‘Click here’ is considered ambiguous. (2.4.4: Link Purpose (In Context))
- New windows are opened without warning the user in advance (links within the Declaration popup) (3.2.2: On Input)
Issues with PDFs and other documents
- Some PDFs generated from this application are not accessible. Issues that should be addressed include:
- Tagged PDF
- Primary language
- Tagged content and Tab order
- Alternate text
- Tables - Rows, TH & TD, Headers, Regularity
- Lists - List items, Lbl and LBody
- Headings - Appropriate nesting
Issues with images, video and audio
- No known issues
Issues with interactive tools and transactions
- The Single Application includes a mapping tool to allow the plotting and submission of land areas and other geographic features. The complexity of the interface and the need to amend detailed geospatial information visually cannot be made accessible to all users at this point. However, some of this functionality can be carried out by other means - i.e. using the Land Details page table to submit amendments.
Maps are considered exempt from accessibility regulations provided essential information is offered in an accessible format.
How we tested this website
This website was last evaluated on 6 February 2024. The evaluation was carried out by DAERA Digital Services Division.
We chose to sample those pages which were most commonly used, and most representative of the general functionality and layout of the web application. The sample pages were tested for code compliance using the Axe testing tool and WAVE (Web Accessiblity Evaluation Tool). The pages also underwent manual testing to ensure they adhered to the four Accessibility principles (Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust).
We tested:
- Sub-Menu
- Welcome page
- Scheme selection
- Questions
- Land details
- Confirmation and claim summary
- GSAA Map Viewer
- Print Prepopulated Data (PDF)
What we're doing to improve accessibility
The Department is actively engaged in improving the accessibility of its applications. As part of our 'Development Checklist', we require developers to design software with accessibility compliance built in. In those circumstances where compliance cannot be met, reasons for this should be documented, along with steps for addressing issues. We also carry out user research to ascertain user requirements and conduct usability workshopping before launching new applications.
This statement was prepared on 09 May 2021. It was last updated on 09 February 2024.