Accessibility

Vhi is committed to making its website & mobile app accessible, in accordance with  European Union (Accessibility Requirements of Products and Services) Regulations 2023.

This accessibility statement applies to the Vhi website and to the “Vhi” app found on Apple’s App Store, and on Google’s Play Store.

It does not apply to any other content or websites published on any of its other subdomains.

The website and mobile app are designed to comply with the technical standard for websites and mobile apps, EN 301 549 v.3.2.1. This closely follows level ‘AA’ of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2 level AA.

Compliance Status

Both the website and mobile app are partially compliant with technical standard EN 301 549 v.3.2.1 and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2 level AA. See ‘Non-accessible content’ for more details.

Vhi is committed to providing a website & app that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of technology or ability.

We are currently working with Vially and Vision Ireland to ensure we meet accessibility standards. We are continually improving the user experience for everyone and adhering to the required accessibility standards.

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.2) defines requirements for designers and developers to improve accessibility for people with disabilities.

Preparation of this Accessibility Statement

The Statement is based on a combination of manual and automated accessibility testing, using multiple platforms;

  • Windows (JAWS, NVDA),
  • Mac (VoiceOver),
  • iOS (VoiceOver) and Android (TalkBack) and their native accessibility tools.

A detailed issue log was created to measure against WCAG 2.2 standards. These issues were presented to the development team who are amending these issues and bringing the website & app into WCAG 2.2 AA compliance.

This statement was created by Vially in June 2025.

The statement was last reviewed in June 2025.

 

Compatibility with browsers and assistive technology

This website & app is designed to be compatible with the following most used assistive technologies:

The latest version of Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Apple Safari browsers;

In combination with the latest versions of NVDA, VoiceOver and TalkBack.

Technical specifications

The accessibility of this website & app relies on the following technologies to work with the particular combination of web browser and any assistive technologies or plugins installed on your computer:

  • HTML
  • WAI-ARIA
  • CSS
  • JavaScript

Accessible Content

Non-accessible Content

Despite our best efforts to ensure the accessibility of this website & app, we are aware of some limitations, which we are working to fix. Below is a description of known limitations and potential solutions. Please contact us if you encounter an issue not listed below.

Known limitations for the Vhi website:

Images & Icons – Some parts of this website feature photos or icons that have incomplete alt text.

Heading Structure – Many pages on this website do not have a programmatically determinable heading structure, whilst other pages feature a heading structure that is in the wrong order.

Reading & Focus Order – Many pages on this website have interactable elements that are either placed in the wrong programmatically determinable order or are skipped entirely by a screen-reader. Other pages feature non-interactable elements that may appear in the wrong focus order on a screen-reader. Some pop-up dialogs do not automatically move the screen-reader focus to them when they are opened.

Visibility – Some pages on this website feature elements that have a low contrast ratio against the page background. Other pages have text elements that can become obscured by overlapping interactable buttons. Some pages also have invisible interactable elements in the programmatically determinable focus order.

Buttons & Links – Many text links and buttons elements on this website lack unique and descriptive labels that the screen-reader can identify and read aloud.

Input Fields – Many input fields on this website lack programmatically determinable names and roles. Some fields are improperly marked up with the wrong roles. Forms with required fields do not accurately convey this to the user, either visually or programmatically. Error messages are not read aloud automatically to the user when the error is made, or when the user tabs to the respective field. Some fields lack any error identification. The date picker tool found on some forms does not provide enough information to the user on how to navigate it with a screen-reader. Some combo-boxes on this website cannot be accessed when using Android’s Talkback screen-reader.

Page Titles – Some pages on this website lack titles that accurately describe their content. Some pages also lack heading elements that match the title of the page. 

Known limitations for the Vhi app:

Icons & Images – Many icons in this app are yet to be marked as decorative, whilst some vital images are missing alt descriptive text.

Heading Structure – Many sections of this app do not have a programmatically determinable heading structure, whilst other sections feature a heading structure that is in the wrong order.

Reading & Focus Order – The screen-reader focus will not always start at the top of the screen when the user navigates to a new section of the app. Some non-interactable content is read aloud in the wrong order by the screen-reader. Some interactable elements are skipped entirely by the screen-reader and are unable to receive focus. Content hidden in a dropdown is sometimes read aloud by the screen-reader even if the user does not choose to expand the dropdown. The screen-reader may have difficulty navigating the screen on this app, if the section has a navigation bar at the bottom. Some sections feature carousels that require the user to use their finger in a dragging movement, meaning that the content cannot be accessed otherwise.

Colour usage – Some links in this app use colour as their only visual identifier to distinguish themselves from the rest of the content on the screen. Error messages on some input fields may have a low contrast ratio.

Buttons & Links– Many text links and buttons elements in this app lack unique and descriptive labels that the screen-reader can identify and read aloud. Some elements have visual labels that heavily differ to their programmatically determinable labels. Dropdown buttons lack labels that inform the user of their roles as dropdowns, and are entirely unable to be expanded when the user is using an Android device.

Input Fields – Error messages are not read aloud automatically to the user when the error is made, or when the user navigates to the respective field. Some error messages aren’t descriptive enough of the error made. Many fields lack accurate, programmatically determinable names or roles. Some input fields lack instructions for the user on how to enter data on them whilst using a screen-reader.

Titles – Some sections of this app lack titles that accurately describe their content.

 

Feedback and Contact Information

We welcome feedback on the accessibility of this website & app. If you have any comments or find any problems not listed on this page, please contact us here

At Vhi we aim to make your contact with us as trouble free as possible. In support of this we are committed to:

  • Ensuring that access to our public offices is made as easy as practicable.
  • Operating a Loop system for our customers with hearing difficulties in a number of our public offices.
  • Maintaining the service provided to our blind or visually impaired customers by supplying some of our literature on audio cassette, CD, Braille or large font documents on request.

For full contact details including a link to our e-mail service, please click here.

The Assisted Decision-Making Act (ADMA)

 

Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015.

This Act provides a legal framework for people who need support with decision making.

The Decision Support Service was set up to support the rights and interests of people who may need assistance with decision-making.

The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 introduces three types of decision-making supports  to assist you or someone close to you make decisions about personal welfare, property and finances.

  1. Decision-Making Assistants
  2. Co-Decision Makers
  3. Decision-Making Representatives

There are also two other types of arrangements for those who want to plan ahead,

  1. Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA)
  2. Advanced Healthcare Directive

If you have an agreement in place that covers health related and/or policy decisions, please let us know.

You can send in a copy of the agreement to us via post/email.  Contact Us

More details on the Assisted Decision-Making Act can be found on the Decision Support Service Website 

 

In accordance with Section 26(2) of the Disability Act 2005, Vhi has appointed Carol McGrath as Access Officer. As Access Officer, Carol is Vhi's nominated point of contact for people with disabilities who require assistance or guidance in accessing our information and services.

 

Contact Details are as follows:

Carol McGrath

Vhi

Lower Abbey Street

Dublin 1

 

Telephone: 01 614 7346

E-mail: carol.mcgrath@vhi.ie

In accordance with Section 39(1) of the Disability Act 2005, Vhi has appointed Anne Marie Kirwan as Inquiry Officer.

 

As Inquiry Officer, Anne Marie will investigate a complaint made in relation to sections 25 - 28 of the Act. Our procedure for dealing with complaints is set out here.

 

 

Contact Details are as follows:

 

Anne Marie Kirwan

Vhi Healthcare

IDA Business Park

Purcellsinch

Dublin Road

Kilkenny

 

Telephone: 056 77 78918

E-mail: annemarie.kirwan@vhi.ie