Event Booking System (back end) Accessibility statement

Website accessibility statement in line with Public Sector Body (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

This accessibility statement applies to https://www-test.events.ed.ac.uk/admin/. 

This site is managed by the Information Services Group at the University of Edinburgh. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to: 

  • Navigate most of the website using just a keyboard 

  • Experience no time limits when using the site 

  • Experience no flashing, scrolling or moving text 

  • On a mobile device, operate in landscape and portrait mode 

  • Navigate most of the website using speech recognition software (for example Dragon) 

  • Listen to most of the website using a screen reader (for example, JAWS) 

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

Customising the website 

AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability. This is an external site with suggestions to make your computer more accessible. 

AbilityNet - My Computer My Way 

With a few simple steps you can customise the appearance of our website to make it easier to read and navigate. 

Additional information on how to customise our website appearance 

If you are a member of University staff or a student, you can use the free SensusAccess accessible document conversion service: 

Information on SensusAccess 

How accessible this website is 

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

  • Website magnification leads to reflow issues depending on the browser in use, whereby horizontal scrolling is necessary to see all content; 

  • Colour contrasts do not necessarily meet the recommended Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 AA standard;  

  • It is not possible to navigate to all content using only a keyboard; 

  • Keyboard navigation could be clearer in informing users where they have reached on a page; 

  • The font is small in a few cases; 

  • Some parts may not be fully compatible with screen readers i.e. due to missing labeling of headings; 

  • Not all non-text content has text alternatives; 

  • Some parts of the website are not fully compatible with mobile accessibility functionality;

  • Some links my open new browser tabs or pop ups without alerting the users;

  • Not all links are correctly formatted hyperlinks. 

Feedback and contact information 

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

  • Email IS.Helpline@ed.ac.uk 

  • Call our Information Services Helpline +44 (0)131 651 5151 

  • British Sign Language (BSL) users can contact us via the on-line BSL interpreting service  

We will consider your request and get back to you within 5 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: 

  • Email IS.Helpline@ed.ac.uk 

  • Call our Information Services Helpline +44 (0)131 651 5151 

  • British Sign Language (BSL) users can contact us via the on-line BSL interpreting service  

We will consider your request and get back to you within 5 working days. 

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) directly: 

Contact details for the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS) 

The government has produced information on how to report accessibility issues: 

Reporting an accessibility problem on a public sector website 

Contacting us by phone using British Sign Language 

British Sign Language service 

contactSCOTLAND-BSL runs a service for British Sign Language users and all of Scotland’s public bodies using video relay. This enables sign language users to contact public bodies and vice versa. The service operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

contactSCOTLAND-BSL service details 

Technical information about this website’s accessibility 

The University of Edinburgh is committed to making its websites and applications 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 (WCAG) 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below. 

The full guidelines are available at: 

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA standard 

Non-accessible content 

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

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations 

  • Not all non-text content presented to users has alternative text 

  • Required form fields and buttons are not always announced as such 

  • Colour is used as the only visual means of conveying information, indicating an action, prompting a response, or distinguishing a visual element (although this only occurs on the maps) 

  • Colour contrast is not always sufficient between font and background colours, especially where the font size is small 

  • There are cases when text is presented as an image 

  • Site is not fully compatible with browser or mobile device customisation, meaning that users do not have full control and functionality when customising the site (AAA) 

  • Content cannot be presented without loss of information or functionality, requiring the user to scroll in two dimensions 

  • Visual information to identify user interface components, such as keyboard focus, do not always have a sufficient contrast ratio 

  • Not all content can be reached by keyboard in all browsers 

  • There are cases of keyboard traps within free-text boxes on forms 

  • ‘Skip to main content’ button is not available on the website 

  • Link purpose is not always clear  

  • The keyboard focus indicator is not always visible e.g. 

  • Links open new browser tabs and pop ups without warning  

  • When a user is asked to rectify a data validation error, suggestions are not always consistent or informative 

  • Content is not robust enough that it can be interpreted by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies 

Unless specified otherwise, a complete solution, or significant improvement, will be in place for those items within our control by October 2024. 

Disproportionate burden 

We are not currently claiming that any accessibility problems would be a disproportionate burden to fix. 

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

Maps  

This service has a mapping element. Currently, online mapping and mapping services sit outwith the 2018 accessibility regulations. 

“These Regulations do not apply to the following content of a website or mobile application of a public sector body— 

(d)online maps and mapping services, as long as essential information is provided in an accessible digital manner for maps intended for navigational use;”  (The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018)” 

The mapping service is not fully accessible, as it is not possible to interact with individual map features using assistive technologies. Although maps are currently not within the scope of the regulations, we will continue to strive to make the site as accessible as possible. 

There is additional information available in different formats, including maps, to download and information in the AccessAble - UoE app available for iOS and Android: 

AccessAble Information. 

What we’re doing to improve accessibility 

We will continue to address the accessibility issues highlighted, either through delivery of a solution or suitable workaround. Programme of work is underway to improve Events Management Service, which is considering applications to replace this technology. Until this time, we will prioritise improvements to the accessibility of the current platform where possible by October 2024. 

Whilst we are in the process of resolving these accessibility issues, or where we are unable, we will ensure reasonable adjustments are in place to make sure no user is disadvantaged. As changes are made, we will continue to review accessibility and retest the accessibility of this website. 

Preparation of this accessibility statement 

This statement was prepared on 31st July 2020. It was last reviewed on 10th October 2023. 

This website was last tested in April 2022. The test was carried out by the University of Edinburgh’s Applications Department , using the browsers Mozilla Firefox (91.7.1esr), Microsoft Edge (99.0.1150.55), Google Chrome (99.0.4844.84), and Internet Explorer (IE) (19043.1586) for comparative purposes. Internet Explorer is still commonly used by disabled people, due to its accessibility features and compatibility with assistive technology, as shown in a UK government survey: 

UK Government Assistive Technology Browser Survey 

However, a more recent world-wide usage level survey suggests the other browsers are used more widely. In particular, when using a combination of different screen readers and browsers, Chrome has increased in popularity, and is now the favoured one in overall use:  

WebAIM: Screen Reader User Survey 2021 

We tested: 

  • Spell check functionality; 

  • Scaling using different resolutions and reflow; 

  • Options to customise the interface (magnification, font, background colour, etc); 

  • Keyboard navigation and keyboard traps; 

  • Data validation; 

  • Warning of links opening in a new tab or window; 

  • Information conveyed in colour or sound only; 

  • Flashing, moving or scrolling text; 

  • Operability if JavaScript is disabled; 

  • Use with screen reading software (for example, JAWS); 

  • Assistive software (TextHelp Read and Write, Windows Magnifier, ZoomText, Dragon NaturallySpeaking, TalkBack and VoiceOver); 

  • Tooltips and text alternatives for any non-text content; 

  • Time limits; 

  • Compatibility with mobile accessibility functionality (Android and iOS). 

Change Log 

Since our initial testing and first Accessibility Statement, we have repeated the manual accessibility testing. Also, website has been improved in the following ways: 

  • Zoom function (without reflow) increased to 500%. 

  • Users should not come across flashing, scrolling or moving text. 

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