1. Scope and ownership
2. Accessibility highlights
3. Changing the display
4. Keyboard controls
5. Screen reader navigation
6. Accessibility limitations
7. Alternative formats
8. Feedback and contact
9. Complaints and enforcement
10. Technical information about this website's accessibility
11. Non-accessible content
12. Disproportionate burden
13. Content not within the scope of the accessibility regulation
14. How we tested and what we are doing to improve
15. Preparation of this accessibility statement
Scope and ownership
This accessibility statement applies to cardiffmet.ac.uk developed by Cardiff Metropolitan University. We have designed our website to allow all users regardless of technology or ability to access the information they need.
We are actively working to increase the accessibility and usability of our website based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 AA through the procurement of a new website platform. Where we have identified issues with the current website's accessibility they are listed in this statement.
Some areas of our site have slightly different format and structure. Each team and academic school are responsible for their content creation. Where accessibility issues are identified we are working with our University Teams to provide support and training that will address these. If you have a specific query about an area on our site, please contact us.
Accessibility highlights
When using this site, you can:
Use colour combinations with a good level of contrast - see 'Changing the display' section for further information on how to adapt this to individual preference
Navigate the majority of the website using the keyboard - see 'Keyboard controls' section for further information on standard keys
Increase font size using the 'A A A' symbol at the top right of the screen
Make use of text alternatives for non-text content
Use a skip link to jump straight to content
Navigate through the website using a screen reader such as JAWS or NVDA - see 'Screen reader navigation' section for further information
Navigate through the website using speech recognition
Use the site your way
AbilityNet's
My Computer My Way provides advice and information on how to adapt your device to your personal preferences. You can also use the information below to tailor how you view this website.
Changing the display
You can use the controls in your browser to change the size of the text or appearance of the display. For example, in Chrome:
Open the Chrome browser
Select the three vertical dots in the upper-right corner of the window, then select 'Settings' from the drop-down menu
Navigate to the setting you want to change and select your preferences
You can also browse the accessibility options from the menu on the left side of the settings window and accessible browser extensions that allow further individualisation of the display
Keyboard controls
You can navigate through this website using the standard keys for your browser, for most these are:
'Tab' key to focus on the next link
'Shift' + 'Tab' to focus on the previous link
'Enter' to activate the currently selected link
Screen reader navigation
Headings
'H' to cycle forwards through the headings
'Shift' + 'H' to cycle backwards through the headings
'1' to navigate to the next level 1 heading (or a number between 1 and 6 to navigate to the next heading on this level)
'Shift' + '1' to navigate to the previous level 1 heading (or a number between 1 and 6 to navigate to the previous heading on this level)
'Insert' + 'F6' in JAWS or NVDA + 'F7' in NVDA to provide a list of all headings
Links
Landmarks
For JAWS 10-12 landmark keyboard navigation in virtual mode is:
next landmark ';' (semi-colon)
previous landmark 'Shift' + ';' (semi-colon)
list landmarks 'Ctrl' + 'Ins' + ';' (semi-colon)
For NVDA 2011.2 the landmark keyboard combination in virtual buffer mode is:
next landmark 'D'
previous landmark 'Shift' + 'D'
list landmarks (and list/headings) NVDA + 'F7'
VoiceOver users can navigate a page via landmarks by choosing 'landmarks' in the 'web rotor', then finger flicking up or down will move to the next or previous landmark
Accessibility limitations
Pages are not all responsive once magnified meaning you may need to scroll horizontally to view all the content on a page.
Language attributes for text in Welsh on our English language site and for English on our Welsh language site are not always present.
Accordion tabs used to show aspects of course information are not all easily navigable by keyboard using standard browser keys. You may need to move through the accordions using arrow/up/down keys also.
Interactive 360° visualisations using the Matterport platform are only partially accessible using a keyboard.
This statement has been compiled on the basis of an audit of a sample of the pages on this site. We are establishing a system for regular audits and review of this statement in line with the University's plan to replace the University website by September 2023 (exact dates to be confirmed). This statement will be reviewed again by 31 October 2022 and every three months thereafter until the new website is launched. Where issues are identified a prioritisation process will be undertaken to map our timeline for completing this.
If you need information on this website in a different format such as accessible PDF, large print, easy read or audio recording you can contact the department linked to the page you are viewing, contact us directly or make use of one of the in-built functions in your operating system:
Feedback and contact
If you would like to contact us directly regarding alternative formats or there are any accessibility issues not listed in this statement that you would like to make us aware of, please contact us via:
Email:
accessibility@cardiffmet.ac.uk
In person at the i-zone on Llandaff campus
We will consider your request and aim to respond in 3 working days
If you cannot view the maps on any of our pages, please contact us for directions
Complaints and enforcement
If you have requested an alternative format or have reported a problem with our website and are not happy with our response, please do get in touch to let us know and we will consider further information and support that we can provide for you.
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, contact the
Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).
Cardiff Metropolitan University is committed to making its website 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 version 2.1 - AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.
Non-accessible content
The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.
Some images do not have a text alternative, so people using a screen reader cannot access the information. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.1.1 (non-text content). We will add alternative text as we review each page. When we publish new content, we'll make sure our use of images meets accessibility standards.
When videos are hosted on YouTube then automatic captions are available and we have provided additional open captions in some instances. If you encounter a video without captions and need assistance accessing the content, then please get in touch and we will provide the information in an alternative format. All new videos published after September 2020 will be made more accessible. Some historic videos on our site do not provide alternative media failing WCAG success criterion 1.2.3. We are working with our content editors to replace and amend these as we review each page.
There are no audio descriptions for videos published before September 2019 as not all video players support the additional audio description track. This fails WCAG success criterion 1.2.4. All new content will be more accessible, and we will correct and update all historical content as we review each area of our website.
Some third-party software platforms do not meet all the requisite accessibility criteria; for example, our forms are built and hosted through third-party software and are not all labelled appropriately to enable navigation through keyboard alone or accessible with a screen reader. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.1 (information and relationships). We are working with the University Schools and Teams as well as our third-party providers to correct this.
Pages do not reflow when magnified to 400%; this fails WCAG success criterion 1.4.10. The platform that hosts our website does not allow us to change this at present, we are in the process of procuring a new website platform which is expected to be live by September 2023 and will rectify this issue.
Table mark-up has been used in some areas for layout; this fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.3 and may pose difficulties for screen reader users navigating around the site. We are providing guidance to our content editors to allow them to make corrections and provide accessible new content as they review their respective areas of the site.
Heading structure is variable across the site; this fails WCAG success criterion 2.4.6 and 1.3.3. We are providing guidance to our content editors to allow them to make corrections and provide accessible new content as they review their respective areas of the site.
Language attributes are not provided for header links that allow users to swap between English and Welsh versions of the site. This fails WCAG success criterion 3.1.2. We are correcting this across the site as we review each page in both languages.
Form input in not labelled on the Library and Information Services home page; this fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 4.1.2. This will be corrected as the team reviews and updates their pages.
Text can overlap when re-sized up to 200% and some functionality may be lost; this fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.4.4. We are in the process of procuring a new website platform which is expected to be live by September 2023 and will rectify this issue.
Accordion items are marked incorrectly on our course details pages. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.3. we are in the process of procuring a new website platform which is expected to be live by September 2023 and will rectify this issue.
Table headers on our finance information pages are not programmatically determinable meaning headers are not announced to screen reader users. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.3 We will correct this and/or provide the information in text as we review this area of the site and ensure it is not replicated in other areas as each page is reviewed.
Disproportionate burden
We recognise that the accessibility of our website is not perfect, and we are working hard to correct the identified issues that we can on our current platform. We are in the process of procuring a new website and this will address those areas that cannot be amended on our current platform. Although we are not claiming it would be a disproportionate burden to ever fix these issues, we are aware that the process of establishing a new website takes time. Our anticipated date for implementation of the new site is September 2023.
The new website project is being prioritised because it will provide an inclusive, widely accessible digital environment for all users by design. As such there may be some areas of non-accessibility of the current website that we are unable to address or give priority to at present as to do so would detract staff resource from the new website project. This will ultimately offer the best solution for all users encountering accessibility difficulties.
Should you encounter any difficulties with accessing parts of our website please do contact us and we will support you to find the information you need and consider interim fixes on a case-by-case basis.
Content not within the scope of the accessibility regulation
PDFs published before 09/2018 that are not essential to our services may not meet accessibility standards. As we replace or remove these we will update and meet accessibility standards.
Where maps are shown on our website, we also provide contact details if you need help finding us.
Some aspects of our website include third party content. We are working with our providers to meet accessibility standards and will publish this information on those pages and are making best endeavours to improve and replace non-accessible content.
SearchBOX is an independent directory of third-party suppliers' accessibility information.
How we tested and what we are doing to improve
This website has undergone audits conducted by AbilityNet and Alistair McNaught Consultancy as well as in-house testing during 2021, 2021 and 2022.
Preparation of this accessibility statement
Preparation of this accessibility statement: This statement was prepared on 8th October 2020.
This website was last tested in November 2022 by Cardiff Metropolitan University.
It was last reviewed on January 31 2023.
This page will be updated as further accessibility improvements are made.