Accessibility Statement

This accessibility statement applies to the website of the Coventry University Group - www.coventry.ac.uk.

This website is owned and maintained by Coventry University Group. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. We are committed to improving our online experience for our visitors. We try and make the content as simple as possible to understand.

How you should be able to use this website

We strive to ensure our web pages are accessible to all users. On most of our web pages, you should be able to:

• Change colours, contrast levels and fonts
  Customise the appearance of the website to suit your needs, whether you require high contrast, specific font styles, or colour adjustments to improve readability and reduce eye strain.
• Zoom in without text disappearing off the screen
  Magnify the content on our website without losing any information. Our pages are designed to reflow text and adjust layouts automatically to ensure that all content remains visible and readable at various zoom levels.
• Navigate around the pages using a keyboard
  Use keyboard shortcuts to move through our website efficiently. This includes tabbing through links, form elements, and buttons, as well as using arrow keys to scroll through content. We have ensured that interactive elements are accessible via keyboard navigation.
• Navigate using speech recognition software
  Control and navigate our website using voice commands. This feature is particularly helpful for users with mobility impairments, allowing them to interact with the site hands-free.
• Listen to the content using a screen reader
  Access our content audibly through screen reader software. We have structured our web pages to be compatible with screen readers, ensuring that all text, images, and multimedia are properly described and accessible.

These features are part of our ongoing commitment to making our website as user-friendly and inclusive as possible. If you encounter any difficulties or have suggestions for further improvements, please contact us so we can continue to enhance our accessibility.

AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.

We use Siteimprove and manual checks to monitor the accessibility of our website.

Compliance status

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1 AA standard. The partial compliance is due to the non-compliances listed below. We are actively working to address these issues and improve the overall accessibility of our site.

Non-accessible content

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

Non-compliance with the accessibility regluations

We are aware that some parts of our website may not be fully accessible to all users. We are actively working to address these issues. Some specific examples include:

• Linked files
  Some information is only available in linked files such as Word documents or PDFs. These files may not be fully accessible to screen reader software. We are working on providing alternative formats for downloadable documents to meet WCAG 2.1 guideline 4.12 Non-text Content.
• Older documents
  Some older documents are not fully accessible to screen reader software. These documents are being reviewed and updated to meet accessibility standards. We are working towards providing alternative formats for older documents to comply with WCAG 2.1 guideline 4.12 Non-text Content.
• Navigation issues
  On older web pages, you cannot skip to the main content when using a screen reader. We are updating our website templates to include skip links which will allow users to bypass repeated blocks of content and reach the main content directly. This aligns with WCAG 2.1 guideline 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks.
• Media content
  Some videos and audio content do not have captions or transcriptions available. We are working to add captions and transcripts to all multimedia content to ensure it is accessible to users with hearing impairments. We are working towards adding captions and transcripts to all multimedia content to meet WCAG 2.1 guideline 1.2.5 Audio Descriptions (Prerecorded). For pre-recorded audio content.
• Live video streams
  Live video streams do not have captions. While live captioning can be challenging, we are exploring options to provide captions for live content where possible. However, we are exploring options to provide captions for all pre-recorded video content as per WCAG 2.1 guideline 1.2.4 Captions (Prerecorded).
• Responsive design
  Text on some carousel elements is clipped when resized up to 200%. We are modifying our design elements to ensure they are fully responsive and readable at all zoom levels. We are continually testing and improving our website's responsiveness to ensure text content can be increased to up to 400% without losing content or functionality, as outlined in WCAG 2.1 guideline 1.4.4 Resize text.

Third-party Tools

Our site uses third-party applications, which may not be fully accessible. We are committed to ensuring that the content provided through these applications is as accessible as possible. To achieve this, we actively collaborate with our third-party providers to enhance the accessibility of their platforms and ensure that accessible code is implemented. Additionally, we strive to select future suppliers who are fully compliant with accessibility standards.
Here are some of the third-party tools we currently use and our approach to managing their accessibility:

• Google Maps
  While Google Maps provides valuable location and navigation services, we recognise that it may not be fully accessible to all users. We work with Google to stay informed about their accessibility updates and advocate for improvements.
• Vepple
  Vepple is used for virtual campus tours We are in discussions with Vepple to address any accessibility concerns and ensure that their platform meets WCAG 2.1 AA standards.
• Success Factors
  As our human resources (careers) management tool, we are collaborating with SAP SuccessFactors to ensure that their platform is accessible and compliant with accessibility regulations.
• EmbedSocial
  EmbedSocial is used for integrating social media content into our site.
• CookieYes
  CookieYes is our cookie consent management tool.

We continually assess the accessibility of these third-party applications and work to address any issues identified. If you encounter any accessibility barriers while using these tools, please let us know so we can take appropriate action and work with our providers to resolve the issues.

We appreciate your patience as we work to improve the accessibility of our website. If you encounter any specific issues not listed here or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Requesting alternative formats

If you need information in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio or braille you can request an alternative format.

We’ll consider your request and get back to you in 10 working days.

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

While we strive to make our entire website accessible, some content falls outside the scope of the accessibility regulations.

Here are specific areas where these exceptions apply:

• PDFs and Other Documents
  The accessibility regulations do not require us to make PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 accessible, provided they are not essential to providing our services. While these older documents may not be fully accessible, we are committed to ensuring that all new documents are created with accessibility in mind. For essential older documents that need to be accessed, we can provide alternative formats upon request. If you encounter an inaccessible document, please contact us, and we will work to provide the information in a suitable format.
• Live Video Streams
  Live video streams are exempt from the accessibility regulations, which means we are not required to provide captions for live broadcasts. For recorded content, we aim to provide captions and transcripts to ensure accessibility. If you need assistance with live content, please reach out, and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

We are dedicated to continuously improving the accessibility of our website and appreciate your understanding regarding these exceptions.

How we are testing this website

Ensuring our website is accessible to all users is an ongoing process. We employ a comprehensive approach that includes both automated and manual testing against the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA standard. Here’s how we do it:

• Automated testing with Siteimprove
  We use Siteimprove to perform automated scans on a representative sample of our web pages. This tool helps us identify common accessibility issues such as missing alt text, improper heading structures, and contrast errors. Siteimprove provides us with detailed reports and recommendations for improving accessibility.
• Manual checks with an accessibility checklist
  In addition to automated testing, we conduct manual checks of our web pages using a detailed accessibility checklist. This checklist covers a range of criteria, including keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility, and the presence of skip links. Manual testing allows us to catch issues that automated tools might miss.
• Colour contrast and visual checks with WebAIM
  We use tools such as WebAIM’s Colour Contrast Checker to ensure that our text and visual elements meet the required contrast ratios. This is crucial for users with visual impairments to comfortably read and interact with our content.
• External reviews for additional insights
  To ensure that our accessibility efforts are thorough and up to date, we are in the process of conducting an external review. External auditors bring a fresh perspective and can identify areas for improvement that we might have overlooked. This review will help us enhance our accessibility strategy and implement best practices.
• User feedback and continuous improvement
  We actively seek feedback from our users regarding accessibility issues they encounter. This feedback is invaluable in helping us understand real-world challenges and prioritise fixes. We encourage users to report any accessibility barriers they experience so we can address them promptly.

By combining these methods, we aim to create an inclusive online environment that is accessible to all users, regardless of their abilities. Our commitment to accessibility is ongoing, and we continuously work to improve our website based on testing results and user feedback.

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

With over 9,000 pages on our website, ensuring full accessibility is a substantial task that we are diligently working on. Here’s a detailed look at our ongoing efforts and future plans to improve accessibility:

• Raising awareness and training
  We are actively educating our content creators and subject matter experts about accessibility issues and best practices. This training aims to increase awareness across the organisation, ensuring that accessibility is considered from the initial stages of content creation through to publication. Regular workshops, webinars, and resources are provided to keep our teams informed about the latest accessibility standards and techniques.
• Integrating accessibility into new content
  Accessibility is a core component of our web development and content strategy. We are incorporating accessibility checks into our content management systems and workflows to ensure that new web pages and content meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards. This includes using new, accessible web content templates that support better navigation, readability, and interaction for all users.
• Auditing and updating existing content
  We are conducting a comprehensive audit of our existing web pages and templates to identify and address accessibility issues. This involves both automated scanning and manual reviews to ensure thoroughness. Identified issues are prioritised and fixed systematically. Our goal is to update and improve the accessibility of existing content as quickly as possible.
• Developing accessible web templates
  We are developing new web templates that adhere to accessibility standards. These templates are designed to be fully responsive, ensuring that content is accessible on all devices, including mobile phones and tablets. Features like keyboard navigability, proper heading structures, and ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes are built into these templates.
• Implementing user feedback
  We value feedback from our users and actively seek it to identify areas where accessibility can be improved. This feedback is crucial in understanding real-world usability and addressing specific barriers users might face. We have established a straightforward process for users to report accessibility issues and request alternative formats.
• Continuous monitoring and improvement
  Accessibility is not a one-time project but an ongoing commitment. We use tools like Siteimprove for continuous monitoring of our web pages to identify and fix accessibility issues. Regular external audits and user testing help us stay up to date with evolving standards and technologies.
• Future plans and goals
  Looking ahead, we plan to integrate accessibility into all aspects of our digital presence. This includes adopting new technologies and best practices, enhancing our multimedia content with captions and transcripts, and ensuring that all new digital projects are designed with accessibility in mind from the outset.

By embedding accessibility into our culture and processes, we aim to create an inclusive online environment that meets the needs of all users. We are committed to ongoing improvements and appreciate the patience and feedback of our users as we work towards making our website fully accessible.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was first prepared on 2 January 2019. It was last reviewed on 8 July 2024. It was prepared by Coventry University Group through self-assessment using Siteimprove and manual checks.

Feedback and contact information.

We’re committed to improving the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, you can report an accessibility issue.

If you need information on these websites in a different format or have a query, please get in touch:

• Lisa Salter, Head of Web and Digital Performance lisa.salter@coventry.ac.uk
• Enquiries: 024 7765 7688.

Enforcement procedure

If, after contacting us, you feel your issue hasn’t been sufficiently addressed, you can raise a concern or make a complaint by completing our complaint form. 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

Coventry University Group is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility regulations 2018.