Accessibility statement

E-accessibility working group

Various members of the eaccessibility group smiling and posing for the photo on a sofa.

The e-accessibility working group oversees the provision of accessible digital systems and related training. We provide guidance on software and assistive technologies and accessibility statements for digital services, reporting on these activities to the Accessibility Coordination Group.

We operate as part of the University’s Disability Inclusion Framework and draw on representatives from professional support services, staff and student groups. The group is chaired by Dr Richard Walker (Programme Design and Learning Technology Team). 

We are pleased to announce that the e-accessibility working group has won the Blackboard Catalyst Award 2021 for Inclusive Education and the 2022 AdvanceHE Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE). 

Blackboard Catalyst Award WinnerCollaborative Award for Teaching Excellence 2022 from AdvanceHE.

Find out more about Digital Accessibility

Key outputs

Key outputs

We aim to provide guidance and training across the University on meeting the 2018 regulations on digital accessibility. See the Training listed below and in the tab.

The Digital Accessibility Tutorial is available to staff through the HR LMS (Learning Management System). Everyone is encouraged to complete this once a year to ensure you stay updated on the current regulations and ways to improve digital accessibility for everyone.

We run several projects to embed digital accessibility good practice in departments through working with staff and with student interns. We conduct user research workshops and other user experience research to inform our activities.

Outputs like the Captioning Policy adopted by the University remind academics that it is a requirement to provide accurate closed captions on pre-recordings.

Accessibility statements

Accessibility statements

The 2018 regulations require us to have accessibility statements on our websites that tell people:

  • how accessible the sites are,
  • what areas are not yet accessible and
  • what we are doing to fix them.

The statements also provide information on how to get in touch to request alternative formats of resources or to report a problem. The 2018 regulations are monitored by the Central Digital and Data Office and enforced by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). Complainants can contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS) directly.

We should aim to link to the accessibility statements of any third-party suppliers and actively choose suppliers who meet the accessibility regulations.

Our accessibility statements

Tools

Tools and practices for accessibility

One of the aims of the e-accessibility working group is to review, manage and recommend appropriate software requirements and licences to support e-accessibility across the University. Since the group started work in November 2018, we have acquired or installed the following:

  • Siteimprove - Carries out automatic testing on the University website. (Note that user testing was also conducted.)
  • Blackboard Ally - An accessibility checker for instructors using Blackboard. This also generates alternative formats for students and an accessibility report at an institution level.
  • Mathtype - Mathtype licences allow instructors and students to type accessible maths in Microsoft Office.
  • Texthelp Read&Write and EquatIO - Texthelp tools aid reading, writing and listening to text and maths online.
  • Xerte - An open-source e-learning authoring tool that allows us to create accessible and interactive content more easily.
  • Kortext - The University has provided core funding for this year’s pilot for first year undergraduate and PGT online textbooks.
  • Grackle - An accessibility checker for Google Docs and Slides.

We have also created a website for creating accessible equations with the tools we have explored:

Training

Training on digital accessibility

The group coordinates and plans training for all staff to ensure key accessibility principles are adopted when using digital systems. Training events are advertised on the e-accessibility calendar and include both internal and external events.

Awareness

A good starting point for anyone is to complete the online digital accessibility tutorial. This short animated introduction to digital accessibility covers:

  • the 2018 regulations,
  • how to produce digital content that is universally accessible and
  • how to make improvements that can help everyone.

Next, arrange a briefing for your team so that everyone is aware of how they can make improvements in relation to their areas of responsibility. You can also attend a generic accessibility briefing session. See the e-accessibility calendar for dates and to sign up.

Workshop

You should also attend the two-hour workshop, Creating Accessible Documents, or complete the self-access version of the workshop on Yorkshare (coming soon). You can make arrangements for your team to receive a bespoke version of the workshop.

Change your practice

Finally, talk to people in your team and those around you about digital accessibility:

  • Do research into what helps those around you. You can read about how the PDLT and Library ran their user research workshop and follow their guide on how to run digital accessibility user research
  • Make a plan to improve your digital skills further with the staff digital skills framework
  • Promote greater attendance at the digital skills training sessions for staff and students.

Making the internet a fairer place requires all of us to get involved! See Leading accessible practice in your department, Inclusive teaching and learning and Empowering learners.

Links for this tab:

Assistive technology

Assistive technology

The E-accessibility working group is undertaking an audit of the assistive technology and equipment available for disabled staff and students.

Part of this work includes promoting good practice with the tools we already have (Microsoft Office Accessibility checker, Grackle, Blackboard Ally, Texthelp Read&Write, Texthelp EquatIO etc.). Another aspect is to evaluate and champion for the most effective tools for the users who need them (see the Tools tab). Finally, we need to ensure our staff and learners know how to maximise the technology at their disposal to cater for their needs.

Links for this tab: 

A staff and a student looking at Zoomtext screen magnifier functions together.

Champions

Department and Team Champions

A champion in your team or department can help to:

  1. Ensure all staff are aware of the accessibility regulations 
    • Promote the Digital Accessibility Tutorial and Creating Accessible Documents workshops
    • Promote the regular monthly meetup where people can help each other to resolve sticky issues
  2. Promote assistive technologies for use by staff and students in the department eg Blackboard Ally, Texthelp etc
  3. Provide a sense of where people are at in becoming more accessibility savvy and organise any further training that the department may require

We hope that Departments will promote digital accessibility to their students too.

Contact Lilian Joy with your department or team champion. The list of champions will be added here soon.

An online meeting with some of the e-accessibility champions.

Useful links

Regulations

University policies

Training

Research and resources