Full web accessibility policy

Disabilities and access technologies

Disabilities that may restrict people from accessing web content include blindness, colour blindness, dyslexia and lack of fine motor control. People with disabilities may need to use access technologies such as screen readers, Braille displays, voice recognition software, alternative keyboard/mice, etc, to view web pages; web content should be accessible to these technologies. This does not require special techniques or separate resources for disabled users; following simple principles of usable and accessible design is often all that is needed. These principles are universal and thus will also benefit non-disabled users.

"The power of the web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect"

Tim Berners-Lee, W3C Director and inventor of the World Wide Web

The University of Bristol websites provide a growing number of on-line services, including the dissemination of news, information, as well as learning resources, to a wide range of users (existing and prospective students, staff, parents and carers, etc).

It is therefore the duty of the University to ensure that these web-based resources are as accessible as possible to all users whatever their access requirements.

The University's Disability Policy states "As one of Bristol’s main employers, the University aims to be a caring and an equal opportunities employer. The University is committed to equal opportunities in employment within the constraints of legitimate job requirements. It will treat applications for disabled people in the same way as those from persons without a disability."
Under the Equality Act 2010, a person with disabilities must not be put at a "substantial disadvantage" compared to a non-disabled user. This includes access to information and services provided through the web: promotional, recruitment and general student information.
The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA)'s Code of Practice came into operation in Autumn 2000; it has been integrated into the QAA audit scheme in late 2001 and will seek to ensure that 'students with disabilities have access to a learning experience comparable to that of their peers'.
The Special Education Needs and Disability Act 2001 - which became law on 11^th May 2001 and comes into effect on 1^st September 2002 - states "The responsible body for an educational institution must take such steps as it is reasonable for it to have to take to ensure that [...] (b) in relation to student services provided for, or offered to, students by it, disabled students are not placed at a substantial disadvantage in comparison with students who are not disabled."

Policy Statement

It is the policy of the University to make reasonable adjustments in order to make all web-based information, services and learning resources on the University's website accessible to all users regardless of disability. The University requires that all new web content conforms to W3C/WAI's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0, Conformance Level "Double-A" with immediate effect, and that existing web content be gradually brought into line, as they are periodically updated.

Each Faculty, School, Centre and Service is responsible for taking reasonable steps for making its own website compliant with the guidelines. Web information providers will be familiar with the guidelines and apply them when creating web pages. Any third party contracted to design a website hosted by the University will be required to comply with these guidelines.

We will review the policy in the future to consider updating it to an advanced version of the W3C's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines once available.

Guidelines

The University's web guide for publishers is based on the W3C/WAI's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0. Following this guidance when creating new web content or when updating existing pages ensures that all University web pages are accessible to all users.

Implementation

Accessibility issues will be incorporated into the programme of web training courses and the University's guidelines for writing accessible web content will be disseminated through the web and seminars (eg Lunchbytes).

To facilitate the implementation of the web accessibility guidelines, the University provides ready-made web page templates for schools, centres and services. These templates are usable in combination with the adopted web Content Management System (CMS) and makes the maintenance and management of web resources much easier for web publishers.

Further help