Accessibility for ATLAS

Accessibility statement for PebblePad: Active Teaching, Learning, and Assessment Space (ATLAS) 

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

This accessibility statement applies to:

https://atlas.pebblepad.co.uk/atlas/ed/

This application is run using the third-party system PebblePad by the University of Edinburgh. ATLAS has been developed by PebblePad. ATLAS is an online space used to manage institutional assessment of artefacts submitted by learners. Tutors can use ATLAS to design assessment workflows where they can assess and provide feedback for the collections of artefacts submitted by their students. 

We want as many people as possible to be able to use this application. For example, that means you should be able to:

• Customise most of the application using browser settings.
• Use the application without encountering any cognitive function tests.
• Use the application without encountering any inactivity time outs.
• Navigate most of the application using voice recognition software e.g. Dragon.

We’ve also made the application text as simple as possible to understand. However, some of our content is technical, and we use technical terms where there is no easier wording we could use without changing what the text means.

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

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

• Some elements do not meet WCAG 2.2 AA minimum contrast ratio thresholds.
• The application is not fully compatible with assistive software such as screen readers and voice recognition software.
• Some information may be conveyed by colour only e.g. links.
• Link hypertext is not always meaningful.
• Not all images have alt text.
• Not all videos have human corrected transcripts and human corrected captions.
• Not all videos have audio description.
• Some heading levels may be skipped.
• Text as an image may be found in the application.
• There may be flashing, moving or scrolling content found in the application.
• The application is not compatible with portrait orientation on mobile and lacks full compatibility in landscape on mobile.
• Not all content can be reached by keyboard.
• Keyboard navigation does not always follow a meaningful order.
• It can be difficult to tell where you have navigated to by keyboard.
• The application does not reflow up to 400%.
• Some pop ups and new browser tabs open without the user being alerted beforehand.

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

• Information Services online contact form: Get Support Form
• Email: IS.Helpline@ed.ac.uk
• Telephone: 0131 651 5151
• British Sign Language (BSL) users can contact us via Contact Scotland BSL, the on-line BSL interpreting service.

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

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, please contact:

• Information Services online contact form: Get Support Form
• Email: IS.Helpline@ed.ac.uk
• Telephone: 0131 651 5151
• British Sign Language (BSL) users can contact us via Contact Scotland BSL, the on-line BSL interpreting service.

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

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

British Sign Language service

Contact Scotland 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 from 8.00am to 12.00am, 7 days a week.

Contact Scotland BSL service details.

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.

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.

The full guidelines are available at:

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA standard

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

The following items do not comply with the WCAG 2.2 AA success criteria:

• Some images are missing alternative text.
  • 1.1.1 – Non-text Content
• Navigation sometimes does not follow a logical order.
  • 1.3.2 – Meaningful Sequence
  • 2.4.3 – Focus Order
• Landscape and portrait orientation on mobile both lack proper support.
  • 1.3.4 – Orientation
• Some information in conveyed by colour only e.g. links.
  • 1.4.1 – Use of Color
• Not all elements meet minimum contrast ratio thresholds.
  • 1.4.3 – Contrast (Minimum)
• Content does not reflow up to 400%.
  • 1.4.10 – Reflow
• Not all content can be accessed through keyboard-only navigation.
  • 2.1.1 – Keyboard
• Keyboards focus indicators are not always clear.
  • 2.4.7 – Focus Visible
• Links open in a new tab without alerting the user of this.
  • 3.2.2 – On Input
• Buttons/links and focus indicators are not consistently identified.
  • 3.2.4 – Consistent Identification
• Some forms have missing form labels.
  • 3.3.2 – Labels or Instructions
• Content is not robust enough that it can be interpreted by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies e.g., table headers are empty, select elements lack an accessible name.
  • 4.1.2 – Name, Role, Value

Students upload content directly into ATLAS and it is not possible to guarantee it is accessible despite guidance being provided. For example:

• Not all images may have alternative text/descriptions.
  • 1.1.1 – Non-text Content
• Not all media may have human-corrected transcripts, human-corrected captions and audio descriptions.
  • 1.2.1 – Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded)
  • 1.2.2 – Captions (Prerecorded)
  • 1.2.5 – Audio Description (Prerecorded)
• Some text may be as presented as an image.
  • 1.4.5 – Images of Text
• There may be moving content the end user cannot pause.
  • 2.2.2 – Pause Stop Hide
• Not all links will have a clear purpose.
  • 2.4.4 – Link Purpose (In Context)
• Heading levels may be missed.
  • 2.4.6 – Headings and Labels

We aim to improve the accessibility of our websites on a regular and continuous basis. See the section below ('What we're doing to improve accessibility') on how we are improving our site accessibility.

We are working towards solving these problems and expect significant improvements by April 2027 for those elements within our control. For those elements outwith our control we will continue to liaise with the supplier to seek resolution. There are no parts of the application other than content added under our control. 

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

At this time we believe no content is outwith the scope of the accessibility regulations.

We are working towards solving these problems and expect significant improvements by April 2027 for those elements within our control. We will continue to work with the supplier, PebblePad, to address the accessibility issues highlighted and deliver a solution or suitable workaround. As ATLAS is a third-party system provided by PebblePad, we have no ability to make changes for those issues which relate to the platform itself.

While we are in the process of resolving these accessibility issues 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.

This statement was prepared on 13th April 2026. It was last reviewed on 14th April 2023.

The application was last tested on 8th April 2026. The testing was carried out by the Interactive Content Service within the Information Services Group at the University of Edinburgh using both automated and manual methods. The application was tested on a PC, primarily using Google Chrome alongside Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Edge.

A recent world-wide usage levels survey for different screen readers and browsers shows that Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Edge are increasing in popularity and Google Chrome is now the favoured browser for screen readers:

WebAIM: Screen Reader User Survey

The aforementioned three browsers have been used in certain questions for reasons of breadth and variety.

We ran automated testing using WAVE WebAIM and AXE browser extension (for Google Chrome) and then manual testing that included:

• 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 new tab or window.
• Information conveyed in the colour or sound only.
• Flashing, moving or scrolling text.
• Use with screen reading software (for example JAWS).
• Assistive software (TextHelp Read and Write, Windows Magnifier, ZoomText, Dragon Naturally Speaking, TalkBack and VoiceOver).
• Tooltips and text alternatives for any non-text content.
• Time limits.
• Compatibility with mobile accessibility functionality (Android and iOS).
• Any drag functionality and alternatives.
• Consistent help function.
• No need to re-enter data already submitted.
• Any cognitive tests.