Accessibility Statement for Subject Guides (LibGuides)

This accessibility statement applies to:

https://edinburgh-uk.libguides.com/

This website is run by the Library and University Collections Directorate, Information Services Group at the University of Edinburgh. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this application. For example, that means you should be able to:

• Change colours, contrast levels and fonts
• Navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
• Listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver)
• Navigate round the site using voice recognition software e.g. Dragon 
• Experience no time limits when using the website
• Use the site without encountering any scrolling, flashing or moving text 

We’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand. However, some of our content is technical, and we use technical terms where there is no easier wording we could use without changing what the text means.

Customising the website

AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability. This is an external site with suggestions to make your computer more accessible:

AbilityNet - My computer my way

With a few simple steps you can customise the appearance of our website using your browser settings to make it easier to read and navigate:

Additional information on how to customise our website appearance

If you are a member of University staff or a student, you can use the free SensusAccess accessible document conversion service:

Information on SensusAccess

How accessible this website is

We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible:

• Not all colour contrasts meet current standards
• There are examples of text as images
• Some images do not have alternative text
• Some new tab / windows open without alerting the user
• Not all hyperlinks are formatted correctly with meaningful hypertext
• Some information is conveyed by colour only e.g. links
• It is not possible to magnify all content beyond 175% without content overlapping
• Reflow is not operational to 400% because of overlapping content 
• Headings are not properly used, with some levels being skipped
• Keyboard navigation does not always follow a logical order
• Some selection displays have insufficient colour contrast
• Screen readers are not fully compatible with the website
• Voice recognition software is not fully compatible with the website
• Not all audio-visual content carries human-correct captions
• Not all audio-visual content has  audio-description. 
• Some files on the site are portable document format (PDF) files and are not fully accessible
• On Android devices landscape mode is not fully operational 
• Tooltips cannot be reached by keyboard or assistive software 

Feedback and contact information

If you need information on this website in a different format, including accessible PDF, large print, audio recording or braille:

• Email:  Information.systems@ed.ac.uk
• Telephone: +44 (0)131 651 5151
• British Sign Language (BSL) users can contact us via Contact Scotland BSL, the on-line BSL interpreting service.

We’ll consider your request and get back to you in 5 working days.

Reporting accessibility problems with this website

We are always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems not listed on this page, or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, please contact:

• Email:  Information.systems@ed.ac.uk
• Telephone: +44 (0)131 651 5151
• British Sign Language (BSL) users can contact us via Contact Scotland BSL, the on-line BSL interpreting service.

We’ll consider your request and get back to you in 5 working days.

Enforcement procedure

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’). If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint please contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS) directly:

Contact details for the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS)

The government has produced information on how to report accessibility issues:

Reporting an accessibility problem on a public sector website

Contacting us by phone using British Sign Language

British Sign Language service

Contact Scotland BSL runs a service for British Sign Language users and all of Scotland’s public bodies using video relay. This enables sign language users to contact public bodies and vice versa. The service operates from 8.00am to 12.00am, 7 days a week.

Contact Scotland BSL service details.

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

The University of Edinburgh is committed to making its websites and applications accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Compliance Status

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.

The full guidelines are available at:

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA standard

Non accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.

Noncompliance with the accessibility regulations

The following items do not comply with the WCAG 2.2 AA success criteria:

• Not all non-text items presented to users has alternative text
  • 1.1.1 – Non-text Content
• Some audio content does not have human captions 
  • 1.2.2 Captions
• There is no audio description provided for audio-visual content
  • 1.2.5 Audio Description
• The site cannot be viewed in landscape mode on Android devices
  • 1.3.4 Orientation   
• Some hyperlinks and headings are conveyed with colour only
  • 1.4.1 - Use of Color
• There may not be sufficient colour contrast between font and background colours, especially where the text size is small
  • 1.4.3 - Contrast (Minimum)
• Readability of the content is affected when site is magnified beyond 175%
  • 1.4.4 – Resize Text
• Some items are examples of text as an image and do not contain the appropriate alternative text
  • 1.4.5 – Images of Text
• Reflow is not operational up to 400%
  • 1.4.10 – Reflow
• Tooltips cannot be reached by keyboard or assistive software
  • 1.4.13 Content on hover or focus
• Some links do not contain meaningful hypertext to inform the user of their target location
  • 2.4.4 - Link Purpose (in Context)
• Headings are not formatted correctly and some heading levels are missed, which affects screen reader software
  • 2.4.6 - Headings and Labels
• It is not always clear where you have tabbed to using a keyboard
  • 2.4.7 Focus Visible
• Some hyperlinks open link in new tab / window, and some pop-ups do not alert the user this will happen
  • 3.2.2 - On Input
• The website is not fully compatible with assistive software as not all items are coded correctly e.g. not all form elements have labels, not all ARIA commands have an accessible name, not all ARIA attributes confirm to valid values, not all ARIA commands have an accessible name.
  • 4.1.2 – Name, Role, Value
• Not all portable document format (PDF) files are fully accessible
  • 4.1.2 – Name, Role, Value

We aim to improve our websites accessibility on a regular and continuous basis. See the section below ('What we're doing to improve accessibility') on how we are improving our site accessibility. 

We are working towards solving these problems and expect significant improvements by September 2025. The site is fully within our control.

Disproportionate burden

We are not currently claiming that any accessibility problems would be a disproportionate burden to fix.

Content that’s not within the scope of the accessibility regulations

At this time we believe no content is outwith the scope of the accessibility regulations.

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

We will continue to address and make significant improvements to the accessibility issues highlighted. Unless specified otherwise, a complete solution or significant improvement will be in place by September 2025. 

While we are in the process of resolving these accessibility issues we will ensure reasonable adjustments are in place to make sure no user is disadvantaged. As changes are made, we will continue to review accessibility and retest the accessibility of this website.

Preparation of this accessibility accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 20^th September 2021. It was last reviewed on 16^th September 2024.

The website was last tested in August 2024. The testing was carried out by Library and University Collections, Information Services Group at the University of Edinburgh using both automated and manual methods. The site was tested on a PC, primarily using Microsoft Edge alongside Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome.

Recent world-wide usage levels survey for different screen readers and browsers shows that Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Edge are increasing in popularity and Google Chrome is now the favoured browser for screen readers:

WebAIM: Screen Reader User Survey

The aforementioned three browsers have been used in certain questions for reasons of breadth and variety.

We ran automated testing using AXE Devtools and then manual testing that included:

• Spell check functionality;
• Scaling using different resolutions and reflow;
• Options to customise the interface (magnification, font, background colour, etc);
• Keyboard navigation and keyboard traps;
• Warning of links opening in new tab or window;
• Information conveyed in the colour or sound only;
• Flashing, moving or scrolling text;
• Use with screen reading software (for example JAWS);
• Assistive software (TextHelp Read and Write, Windows Magnifier, ZoomText, Dragon Naturally Speaking, TalkBack and VoiceOver);
• Tooltips and text alternatives for any non-text content;
• Time limits;
• Compatibility with mobile accessibility functionality (Android and iOS);
• Any drag functionality and alternatives;
• Consistent help function;
• Submission and re-entry of data;
• Any cognitive tests.

Change Log

Since our initial report, we have undertaken more extensive manual testing with assistive software to get a better understanding of the accessibility issues on this website. This section will receive updates as and when accessibility improvements are made to the website.