Accessibility Statement

Our standard

This website has been designed and built to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 at Level AA — the current W3C Recommendation, which supersedes WCAG 2.1. Accessibility is treated as part of the Institute’s public interest role, not as an optional extra.

The WCAG 2.2 additions, specifically

WCAG 2.2 introduced criteria that earlier versions did not test. Each has been checked on this site. Target size: every button, link, and control measures at least 24 by 24 CSS pixels, including the smallest — the text-size controls in the bar at the top of each page. Focus not obscured: the site uses no sticky or fixed elements, so nothing can cover an item you have moved focus to with the keyboard. Dragging movements: no function on this site requires dragging. Consistent help: the contact route and the site search appear in the same position on every page. Redundant entry: no form asks you for the same information twice. Accessible authentication: this website has no login, and its enquiry form uses no cognitive puzzle or image test of any kind.

Features built into every page

Every colour combination used for text has been tested and meets or exceeds the Level AA contrast ratio of 4.5:1, and most exceed the stricter Level AAA threshold of 7:1 — body text on white measures 18:1. A skip link at the top of every page moves keyboard users straight to the main content. All functionality can be operated by keyboard alone, and focus is always visible. Every image carries alternative text, or is marked as decorative where it carries no information. Headings follow a logical order, form fields have visible labels, and the site is built to reflow to a single column on small screens without loss of content.

The Ask the IAM assistant in the corner of every page answers only from this website’s own content and runs entirely in your browser: nothing you type is sent or stored. It is a dialog you can open and close with the keyboard, and it announces its answers to screen readers.

Two controls in the bar at the top of every page let you adapt the site to your own needs: a display mode control offering day, night, or automatic (following your device setting), and a text size control offering five sizes from 87.5% to 140%. Your choices are remembered on your own device and are never transmitted to the Institute. The site also respects the reduced-motion preference set in your operating system.

Reading this site in another language

The Institute has members in many countries, and this website is published in English. It does not install an automatic translation tool, and there is a considered reason for that as well as a practical one.

Your browser already does this, and does it better. Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari, and Firefox all translate a page into your own language on request, without the site needing to add anything. Every page here declares its language as British English, which is what those browsers use to detect the source language accurately. In Chrome or Edge, right-click anywhere on the page and choose Translate to…, or use the translate icon in the address bar. In Safari, use the translate button in the address bar. In Firefox, open the page actions menu and choose Translate Page. On a phone, the same options appear in the browser menu. This runs on your own device, costs nothing, and sends no information about you to the Institute or to any third party.

Why no translation widget. Adding one would mean loading code from another company on every page, which would weaken the security protections this site relies on. It would also produce unreviewed machine translations of material that people act on — admission criteria, fee tables, the Code of Ethics, the Regulations. A mistranslated condition in an entry requirement is not a cosmetic problem; someone could apply on the strength of it.

Which text governs. Where any translation of an Institute document or page differs from the English, the English text prevails. This is stated in the IAM Professional Standards and applies to any translation, whether produced by a browser, by a third party, or by the Institute itself.

If language is a barrier for you, write to us at enquiry@instam.org and tell us which language you need. We will help, and we are interested to know which languages our members and applicants would most like to see the Institute publish in.

Reasonable adjustments beyond the website

The Institute makes reasonable adjustments to its application and assessment processes for applicants and candidates with a disability, under the IAM Reasonable Adjustments and Special Considerations Policy. Requests are treated confidentially and are not visible through corporate or centre facilities. To discuss an adjustment, write to membership@instam.org.

Known limitations

Some archive photographs reproduced on this site are historical scans whose image quality cannot be improved; descriptive alternative text is provided for each. Documents published on the IAM Portal are produced in accessible formats wherever possible, but some older material may not yet meet the same standard; we will supply an accessible version of any document on request.

Reporting a problem

If you encounter a barrier on this website, or need information in an alternative format such as large print or an accessible document, please contact us at enquiry@instam.org. Tell us the page address and what went wrong, and we will respond within five working days and tell you how and when we will put it right.

Enforcement

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may raise the matter under the Appeals and Complaints route published by the Institute. In the United Kingdom, the Equality and Human Rights Commission is responsible for enforcing accessibility requirements.

Review

This statement is reviewed at least annually, and whenever the website changes materially.