Visitor and Identity Management System 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 www.vrs.mis.ed.ac.uk and https://www-test.vrs.mis.ed.ac.uk/. 

This site is managed by the Applications directorate within 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: 

  • Use text-to-speech assistive technologies (including Job Access with Speech (JAWS) and NonVisual Desktop Access (NVDA)) when operating this website;  

  • Utilise speech-to-text assistive software (for example, Dragon NaturallySpeaking) when using this website; 

  • Customise appearance using browser settings; 

  • Experience no time limits when using the site. 

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 using your browser settings 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; 

  • there are pop-ups that arise without warning; 

  • some content is not navigable by a keyboard only, for example, the calendar function; 

  • there are pop ups that arise without warning; 

  • colour is used as a means of conveying information; 

  • tooltips are not enabled by default; 

  • the website is not compatible with mobile accessibility functionality. 

Feedback and contact information 

If you need information on this website in a different format, including accessible PDF, large print, 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’ll consider your request and get back to you in 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’re not meeting accessibility requirements, contact the Information Services Helpline: 

  • 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 please 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 

The following items to not comply with the WCAG 2.1 AA success criteria: 

  • 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 

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

  • It is not possible to resize text to 200% without loss of content  

  • 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 buttons and icons, do not always have a sufficient contrast ratio 

  • Not all content is accessible using only a keyboard 

  • There are keyboard traps 

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

  • It is not always clear to tell where the user has navigated to or reached when using the keyboard 

  • Pop ups appear without the user being alerted when the user interacts with an item and some links open new tabs 

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

  • Icons, form elements and buttons are not labelled correctly 

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 

We are not currently claiming that there is any content outwith the scope of the accessibility regulations. 

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. A project is underway to deliver a replacement application using SharePoint technology where accessibility will be a priority. 

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 26th June, 2022. It was last reviewed on 12th October 2023. 

This website was last tested in June 2022. The test was carried out by the University of Edinburgh Disability Information team, using the browsers Mozilla Firefox (91.7.1esr), Microsoft Edge (99.0.1150.55), Google Chrome (99.0.4844.84), and Internet Explorer (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 

Automated testing, using the WAVE Evaluation Tool extension on Google Chrome browser, was also undertaken to supplement the findings. 

We tested: 

  • Spell check functionality; 

  • Scaling using different resolutions and reflow; 

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

  • 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). 

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