Overview
Journal is a website-building service provided to Falmouth University by a third-party provider, CampusPress. The Digital Learning team supports users accessing and interacting with Journal. This includes guidance on creating new websites and troubleshooting any issues with service.
The Digital Learning team wants everyone using our websites and digital resources to have a positive experience. For example, that means you should be able to:
- zoom in up to 300% without the text spilling off the screen
- navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
- navigate most of the website using speech recognition software
- listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver)
Accessibility features in different devices
My Computer My Way explains how people can make their computers, tablets and smart phones easier to use and is divided into the following sections: vision, hearing, motor and cognitive (learning differences). A wide range of devices are covered with downloadable factsheets.
How accessible is Journal?
CampusPress has an accessibility statement on their own website which outlines in more detail how accessible Journal is.
Existing accessibility issues within Journal can be categorised as:
- WordPress core
- Themes
- 3rd Party Plugins
- User-generated content.
For more information regarding the accessibility issues within these categories, please see section “Non–Accessible Content”, within this statement.
What to do if you can’t access information in Journal?
If you need information from Journal in a different format, please contact the Digital Learning team using the following contact details:
- dlsupport@falmouth.ac.uk
- (01326) 259 187
We’ll process your request and get back to you within 3 working days.
Reporting accessibility problems with Journal
We’re 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 us using our webform. You will get a confirmation within five working days that your form has been received and a full response within 20 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, you can contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).
Technical information about this website’s accessibility
Falmouth University is committed to making its website 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 version 2.1 AA standard, due to the elements of non-compliance listed below.
Non accessible content
Due to the high number of user generated content across frequently used pre-September 2020 WordPress themes we have chosen to audit a sample of Journal websites against the WCAG 2.1 standards. This was done using WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation), a suite of tools recognised by the W3C (World Wide Wed Consortium) as suitable to facilitate the evaluation of a website’s accessibility.
The audit has highlighted parts of the journal website that do not, or do not yet, comply with accessibility regulations. The reasons for this and the steps we are taking to address any non-compliance is detailed under “Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations”, in this statement.
Images without description
Some linked images require a meaningful description, so as not to cause confusion (WCAG: 1.1.1). An example of this are the thumbnail profile images of staff and students.
We will continue to work with our supplier to apply updates that address this issue. Any linked images we create will all be given meaningful descriptions to meet the current standard.
Links without description
Some links require more meaningful descriptions so as not to cause confusion (WCAG: 2.4.4). An example of this are system links such as “Read more…” that may not make sense out of context.
We will continue to work with our supplier to apply updates that address this issue. New links we create will all be given meaningful descriptions to meet the current standard.
Redundant links
Some links for blog posts include duplicated, and therefore redundant links, this causes unnecessary repetition for those using screen readers (2.4.4).
We will continue to work with our supplier to apply updates that address this issue. Where we have the ability to combine links we will do so from September 2020.
Titles that are not headings
Some text appears as a heading but are not heading elements. Important document information, such as navigation and structure, can be lost to those using assistive technology (WCAG: 2.4.6).
This is as a result of WordPress themes that allow users to add text over images. From September 2020 we will be providing new themes that will not allow this. Any examples highlighted to us, within a user’s site, of sites created before September 2020 we will work with users to correct.
Contrast issues
There is low contrast on some headings due to text being overlaid an image. These would prove difficult to read for those with low vision, poor eyesight or colour blindness (WCAG: 1.4.3).
This is as a result of WordPress themes that allow users to add text over images. From September 2020 we will be providing new themes that will not allow this. Any examples highlighted to us, within a user’s site, of sites created before September 2020 we will work with users to correct.
Positive Tab index
Due to system menus for site owners the order of tabbed content can be confusing for those relying on them for navigation, decreasing keyboard accessibility (WCAG: 2.4.3).
This is as a result of the CampusPress platform that includes administration tools for site editors. Public viewing should not be affected by this element of non-compliance; however, we will continue to work with our supplier to address this from September 2020.
Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations
WordPress Core
WordPress is the underlying technology that powers Journal. WordPress maintains a list of ‘known’ accessibility issues within existing administrative and development features that can be found on the WordPress and CampusPress websites along with their own accessibility statement, for convenience links are provided below.
CampusPress outlines the steps they are taking to fix these issues on their website. We will continue to work with CampusPress to make our Journal pages as accessible as possible and ensure any new content, from September 2020 onward, is accessible by default.
Themes
Not all themes provided on Journal are accessible. WordPress maintains a list of accessible themes on their website.
From September 2020, the Digital Learning team will prevent new Journals from being created with non-accessible themes. It is therefore expected that from September 2022 no active Journal sites will use non-accessible themes. CampusPress also outlines the steps they are taking to fix existing issues on their website.
Third-party Plugins
Journal allows users to enable a number of 3rd party plugins – these typically enhance a site’s functionality, for example, to easily allow a user to quickly add a contact form to their site. Not all 3rd party plugins are fully accessible.
The Digital Learning team’s default Journal site template does not include any 3rd party plugins enabled by default; however, users, including staff members, may choose to activate a plugin.
The Digital Learning team does not have any control over the accessibility issues found within these plugins. CampusPress outlines the steps they are taking to fix these issues on their website.
Issues with user-generated content.
Both staff and students can create websites using Journal. The content on these sites is created and maintained by their respective owners and content is not validated by the Digital Learning team before publishing. It is therefore possible that a number of accessibility issues could exist within user-generated content, this includes:
- Images missing alternative text.
- Headings using an illogical hierarchy.
- Videos without captions.
- Poor use of colour creating low contrast.
The Digital Learning team will continue to advise & train staff regarding improving the accessibility of their content. This is in addition to the accessibility guidance that the university already provides to staff members when using other systems such as the Learning Space.
Disproportionate burden
For information, we have not classified any of the non-compliant content as a disproportionate burden to fix and we do not have any issues that would class as an exemption under law.
Content outside the scope of the accessibility regulations
As outlined in the “Issues with user-generated content” section of this statement, some content uploaded by staff and students may fall outside of the scope of the accessibility regulations. Examples may include:
- Pre-recorded video and audio published before 23rd September 2020.
- Some PDFs or other documents published before 18th September 2018.
- Assessment artefacts created by students, such as videos, graphics and other embedded media.
How we tested Journal
CampusPress have more information about how they test the service they provide under the sections Measures to Support Accessibility and Assessment Approach that can be found on their website.
What we’re doing to improve accessibility
This statement has outlined many of the ways the Digital Learning team are improving the accessibility of Journal. To summarise, these include:
- Working closely with our supplier CampusPress to identify new opportunities to make our implementation of the service more accessible.
- From September 2020, preventing new Journal sites from being created using non-accessible themes.
- Offering staff, a curated list of accessible templates to use for their teaching.
- Continuing to advise & train staff in creating accessible content that they publish on Journal.
- Periodically reviewing sample pages on Journal to check for accessibility issues and highlighting issues with site owners.
This statement was prepared on 29th July 2021. It was last updated on 25th October 2021.