Accessibility statement

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

This accessibility statement applies to www.uclan.ac.uk

This website is partially compliant with the WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) 2.1, level AA due to the non-compliance listed below.

There are customisation tools available via your browser or personal device that will improve your online experience if you have a disability. AbilityNet - How to use My Computer My Way has step-by-step advice on making your computer, laptop, tablet or smart phone easier to use.

Our website is designed for as many people as possible in mind. We are committed to providing a website that is accessible to all users and one that provides a positive user experience. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:

Browse access guides to University buildings:

Visit AccessAble

Non accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible because it is not compliant with WCAG 2.1, level AA.

Scroll or swipe on small screens to see all table columns

Accessibility problem	Description	WCAG 2.1 AA success criteria
Scrollable element is not keyboard accessible	These pages have a scrollable section that can't be operated by keyboard. Example page: Health (DProf)	2.1.1: Keyboard
Hidden element has focusable content	A page element with the attribute aria-hidden="true" contains focusable elements (elements that can receive focus from a keyboard). Example page: Nursing	1.3.1: Info and Relationships 4.1.2: Name, Role, Value
Video player controls	When navigating with a keyboard it is possible to navigate away from the video with the focus still being on the video. Example page: Applicants page	2.1: Keyboard Accessible
Form accessibility	Some of our online forms have the following issues: Form questions not read out by screen reader Success message is not read out by screen reader Example page: Order a prospectus	1.3.5: Identify Input Purpose
Links and buttons	There are several instances of buttons which look like links, and links which look like buttons. Example page: Home page	1.3.1 Info and relationships
Breadcrumb text has low contrast	On some pages, where the breadcrumb sits over light images, the contrast of the breadcrumb is too low. Example page: Clearing	1.4.3 Contrast
Some menu options unavailable and scrolling required at 400% zoom	When viewed at 400% zoom or on a small screen the menu does not show all options and requires horizonal scrolling. Example page: Home page	1.4.10 Reflow
Opening the main menu moves focus to top of page	When using a keyboard and selecting a navigation item you have to scroll through the top level navigation items again before you get to the sub-items. Example page: Home page	2.4.3 Focus order
Drop down menus are not accessible by screen reader	Drop down filter menus can not be easily navigated using a screen reader. Example page: News	2.4 Navigable

What we’re doing to address these issues

We carry out our own testing on a regular basis using screen reader software, colour contrast analyser and keyboard only. We also use the automated tool SiteImprove to flag up any issues and review these monthly.

We have a roadmap of development and aim to have the above issues fixed as soon as possible and no later than May 2023.

We also have an audit planned by an external company and the results of this will feed into the development roadmap.

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

Whilst we make every effort to ensure our website is accessible, there is some content that we are not fixing straightaway as a priority. This content is currently exempt under accessibility legislation.

Portable Document Formats (PDFs) and other documents
Current accessibility regulations do not require us to update PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they’re not essential to providing our services. However, we are ensuring any new PDFs or documents we publish in the future will meet accessibility standards. If you have any issues in accessing older documents, please email the web team and we’ll endeavour to provide the information in an alternative format.

Live video
Occasionally, we host live video streaming from our website for large corporate events. In some cases, we are able to offer live captioning to our viewers. However, this is not available for all events and it is advised to check prior to the event if this is available.

Maps
Our website hosts a number of online maps or maps within PDFs. Where a map is available, alternative information is also displayed on the same page. If you require additional directional information to one of our campuses, please call us on +44 (0) 1772 201201.

In addition, we are working with AccessAble (formally DisabledGo) to ensure that all our visitors have clear information on the accessibility and access of our venues. AccessAble produce online access guides which are available on their website. We strive to remove any barriers to participation and are continually making positive changes to improve the client experience.

Third-party content
Our uclan.ac.uk website contains third-party content such as social media links and embedded content from other providers. Unfortunately, we do not have control over this and are not responsible under accessibility guidelines for this content. However, we do work with our third-party suppliers to improve accessibility and our user experience wherever possible.

If you require a more accessible format

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

via email to the web team
telephone on +44 (0) 1772 201201

We’ll consider your request and get back to you in 2 working days.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 3 May 2022 using information from a self-assessment carried out by the University of Central Lancashire and automated testing.

The statement was last reviewed on 7 December 2022.

Feedback and contact information

We’re 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 the web team.

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).