Accessibility for PebblePad: Pebble+

Accessibility statement for PebblePad: Pebble+

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

This accessibility statement applies to:

https://v3.pebblepad.co.uk/spa

This application is run by the University of Edinburgh using the third-party system PebblePad. PebblePad is the University of Edinburgh’s centrally supported solution for digital portfolios. PebblePad has been developed by PebblePad. Pebble+ can be described as an online personal learning space where users can create different types of digital artefacts (e.g. blogs, files, webfolios, etc.) or decide to group these artefacts into collections to be shared with peers and tutors. 

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

• Zoom in up to 400% without the text spilling off the screen or without loss of content.
• Navigate to most of the content using keyboard only.
• Navigate most of the application using speech recognition software e.g. Dragon.
• Navigate most of the application using a screen reader e.g. JAWS.

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.
• Certain links open in a new tab without alerting the user of this.
• It can be difficult to see where you have navigated to when using keyboard.
• Some pages lack a skip to main content link.
• The application is not compatible with landscape orientation on mobile.
• 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.

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
• Mobile landscape orientation is not properly supported.
  • 1.3.4 – Orientation
• Some information is conveyed by colour only e.g. links.
  • 1.4.1 – Use of Colour
• Not all elements meet minimum contrast ratio thresholds.
  • 1.4.3 – Contrast (Minimum)
• Skip to main content links are sometimes missing.
  • 2.4.1 – Bypass Blocks
• Not all links will have a clear purpose.
  • 2.4.4 – Link Purpose (In Context)
• It can be difficult to identify where you have navigated to using keyboard.
  • 2.4.7 – Focus Visible
• Links open in a new tab without alerting the user of this.
  • 3.2.2 – On Input
• 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., ARIA references are broken, elements are not properly labelled, content not meant for end users is accessible to screen readers.
  • 4.1.2 – Name, Role, Value 

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

• Not all images will have alternative text/descriptions.
  • 1.1.1 – Non-text Content
• Not all media will 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
• 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 March 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 March 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 Pebble+ is a third-party system provided by PebblePad, we have no ability to make changes ourselves.

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 30th March 2026. It was last reviewed on 13th April 2026.

The website was last tested on 27th February 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 site 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.