Public Sector Web Accessibility Regulations

As some of you are aware public authorities, which includes universities, are subject to a new regulation: the Public Sector Web Accessibility Regulations.  In broad terms this requires that all material that we publish on our website, intranet and VLE should be as accessible as possible.

A group has been established which is overseeing the work required to ensure that the University is meeting the requirements of the Regulation by prescribed deadlines i.e. there is specific work looking at material on Blackboard and also the University’s published policies and procedures.

To assist with this work ‘Guidance on writing accessible documents’ has been published on the ICT Accessibility Tools webpage.

If you, your team, department are responsible for content on the University’s webpages either hosted on Contensis or Reddot then you need to ensure that any documents (guidance notes, forms, information sheets, briefing notes etc) are accessible.  This work needs to be completed by September 2020 and relates to new documents, documents published since September 2018 or any older documents which are used on a day to day basis.

Please draw up a list of any documents you are responsible for publishing and undertake the following checks:

• Is the document still relevant and up to date?  If not then consider removing it from the website
• Check the document using the MS Word Accessibility Checker
• Make any necessary amendments using the new Guidance and the advice you will find when you use the Accessibility Checker
• Consider making a note on the document of the revision number, date, owner and that the document has been accessibility checked (this can be included in the footer).
• Republish your document

Please note ALL new documents due to be published on the website or intranet need to meet the requirements of the Regulation i.e. pass the Accessibility Check requirements.

Further information and help and guidance for ensuring other types of documents are also accessible is available via the IT Accessibility Tools webpages.