Accessibility statement

Greenwich Explore website

The Greenwich Explore website is run by the University of Greenwich. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website.

For example, that means you should be able to:

  • Zoom in up to 300% without the text spilling off the screen
  • Navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
  • Navigate most of the website using speech recognition software
  • Listen to most of the website using a screen reader

We have also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.

AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability. AbilityNet is a UK Charity that exists to help disabled people use digital technology.

How accessible this website is

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

  • You cannot modify the line height or spacing of text
  • Some older images lack text alternatives
  • Most older PDF documents are not fully accessible to screen reader software
  • Some older videos do not have captions
  • Some of our online forms are difficult to navigate using just a keyboard and lack separate labels
  • Some of our pages lack sufficient colour contrast
  • Some of our pages use colour to convey information
  • Some of our pages ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) have hidden elements
  • Some of our pages contain duplicated ARIA ID's and labels
  • Some of our online forms are not accessible due to incomplete markup
  • Some of our links do not have discernible text
  • Some of our pages contain unstructured list items

What to do if you cannot access parts of this website

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

We will consider your request and get back to you in two 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 are not meeting accessibility requirements, please contact us using any of the means listed above.

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).

Technical information about this website's accessibility

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

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances below.

Line height and text spacing

While text can be magnified, it is not possible for users to modify text spacing or line height. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.4.12 (text spacing).

We are looking at solutions to this issue.

Older images lacking text alternatives

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 plan to add text alternatives for all images by September 2020. When we publish new content we'll make sure our use of images meets accessibility standards.

PDFs and other documents

Most of our older PDFs and Word documents do not meet accessibility standards. For example, they may not be marked up so they are accessible to a screen reader. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 4.1.2 (name, role value).

Video captions

Some of our older videos don't have accurate edited captions or transcripts. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.2.1 (audio-only and video-only pre-recorded), 1.2.2 (captions pre-recorded), 1.2.3 (audio description or media alternative pre-recorded) and 1.2.5 (audio description pre-recorded).

The accessibility regulations do not apply to recorded videos published before 23 September 2020. Any new videos we publish will have edited captions and transcripts.

Online forms

Some of our older online forms are difficult to navigate via keyboard or lack clear input labels. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.5.3 (Keyboard) and 2.5.3 (Label in Name).

We plan to phase out all non-compliant forms by September 2020. When we publish new forms we'll make sure they meet accessibility standards.

Colour contrast

Some of the pages on this website use themes that lack a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 between text and background colours. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.4.3 (Contrast).

We are reviewing all the themes this website, and plan to phase out all non-compliant themes by September 2020. When we use new themes, we'll make sure they meet accessibility standards.

Colour contrast

Some of the pages on this website use themes that use colour as the sole indicator of visual information, for indicating an action or prompting a response. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.41 (Use of Colour).

We are reviewing all the themes used by this website, and plan to phase out all non-compliant themes by September 2020. When we use new themes, we'll make sure they meet accessibility standards.

ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) have hidden elements

Some of our pages have hidden elements with focusable content which will be problematic for screen readers. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 4.1.2 (Name, Role Value).

We are reviewing all the themes this website, and plan to phase out all non-compliant themes by September 2020. When we use new themes, we'll make sure they meet accessibility standards.

ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) duplicated ID's and labels

Some of our pages contain duplicated ARIA ID's and labels which will be problematic for screen readers interpretations. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 4.1.1 (Parsing).

We are reviewing all the themes this website, and plan to phase out all non-compliant themes by September 2020. When we use new themes, we'll make sure they meet accessibility standards.

Incomplete markup on forms

Some of our online forms are not accessible due to incomplete markup which will be problematic for screen readers interpretations. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 4.1.1 (Parsing).

We plan to phase out all non-compliant forms by September 2020. When we publish new forms we'll make sure they meet accessibility standards.

Links without discernible text

Some of our pages contain links that do not have accessible text which will not be visible to screen readers. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.4 (Link Purpose(In context)) and success criterion 4.1.2 (Name, Role Value).

We plan to add text for all links by September 2020. When we publish new content we'll make sure our use of links meets accessibility standards.

Unstructured list items

Some of our pages contain unstructured list items which will be problematic for screen reader perceiving different formatting. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.1 (Info and Relationships)

We are reviewing all the themes this website, and plan to phase out all non-compliant themes by September 2020. When we use new themes, we'll make sure they meet accessibility standards.

Additional accessibility considerations

WCAG 2.1 defines three levels of conformance: level A, level AA and level AAA. Although our goal is WCAG 2.1 Level AA conformance, we have also applied some level AAA success criteria:

  • Images of text are only used for pure decoration or where a particular presentation of text is essential to the information being conveyed
  • We are adding full transcripts to our videos
  • Functionality of the content is operable through a keyboard interface without requiring specific timings for individual keystrokes

How we tested this website

This website was last tested on 20 September 2019. The test was carried out by the University of Greenwich based on a sample of most-visited pages and course pages. All flagged priority issues were investigated and, where possible, addressed.

What we are doing to improve accessibility

We have a rolling programme of updating the content and design of this website in accordance with the guidelines set out by the WCAG and will continue to assess and improve our accessibility based on these guidelines, user testing and user feedback.

This statement was prepared on 20 September 2019. It was last updated on 20 September 2019.

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