The e-accessibility working group oversees the provision of accessible digital systems and related training. We provide guidance on software and assistive technologies and accessibility statements for digital services, reporting on these activities to the EDI Committee.
We draw on representatives from professional support services, teaching and research staff and student groups. The group is chaired by Dr Richard Walker, Assistant Director for Digital Education.
The e-accessibility working group won the Blackboard Catalyst Award 2021 for Inclusive Education and the 2022 AdvanceHE Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE).
Find out more about Digital Accessibility
We aim to provide guidance and training across the University on meeting the 2018 regulations on digital accessibility. See the Training listed below and in the tab.
The Digital Accessibility Tutorial is available to staff through the HR LMS (Learning Management System). Everyone is encouraged to complete this once a year to ensure you stay updated on the current regulations and ways to improve digital accessibility for everyone.
We run several projects to embed digital accessibility good practice in departments through working with staff and with student interns. We conduct user research workshops and other user experience research to inform our activities.
Outputs like the Captioning Policy adopted by the University remind academics that it is a requirement to provide accurate closed captions on pre-recordings.
The 2018 regulations require us to have accessibility statements on our websites that tell people:
The statements also provide information on how to get in touch to request alternative formats of resources or to report a problem. The 2018 regulations are monitored by the Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO) and Government Digital Service (GDS) and enforced by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). Complainants can contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS) directly.
We should aim to link to the accessibility statements of any third-party suppliers and actively choose suppliers who meet the accessibility regulations.
One of the aims of the e-accessibility working group is to review, manage and recommend appropriate software requirements and licences to support e-accessibility across the University. Since the group started work in November 2018, we have acquired or installed the following:
We have also created a website for creating accessible equations with the tools we have explored:
The group coordinates and plans training for all staff to ensure key accessibility principles are adopted when using digital systems. Training events are advertised on the e-accessibility calendar and include both internal and external events.
A good starting point for anyone is to complete the online digital accessibility tutorial. This short animated introduction to digital accessibility covers:
Next, arrange a briefing for your team so that everyone is aware of how they can make improvements in relation to their areas of responsibility. You can also attend a generic accessibility briefing session. See the e-accessibility calendar for dates and to sign up.
You should also attend the two-hour workshop, Creating Accessible Documents, or complete the self-access version of the workshop on Yorkshare (coming soon). You can make arrangements for your team to receive a bespoke version of the workshop.
Finally, talk to people in your team and those around you about digital accessibility:
Making the internet a fairer place requires all of us to get involved! See Leading accessible practice in your department, Inclusive teaching and learning and Empowering learners.
Links for this tab:
The E-accessibility working group is undertaking an audit of the assistive technology and equipment available for disabled staff and students.
Part of this work includes promoting good practice with the tools we already have (Microsoft Office Accessibility checker, Grackle, Blackboard Ally, Texthelp Read&Write, Texthelp EquatIO etc.). Another aspect is to evaluate and champion for the most effective tools for the users who need them (see the Tools tab). Finally, we need to ensure our staff and learners know how to maximise the technology at their disposal to cater for their needs.
Links for this tab:
Maximise the technology with our Introduction to Learning Technologies site and the Digital Skills Guides.
A champion in your team or department can help to:
We hope that Departments will promote digital accessibility to their students too.
Contact Lilian Joy with your department or team champion. The list of champions will be added here soon.
Accessibility information from various teams at the University:
Image by Damien Zaleski on Unsplash
Useful links
Regulations
University policies
Training
- Digital accessibility tutorial (available via HR LMS)
- Creating accessible documents workshops
- E-accessibility calendar
- See the Training tab for more information
Research and resources
- Digital accessibility
- Digital accessibility A to Z
- User research workshop
- Student experience research
- Marketing's accessibility wiki
- See the Further links tab for more information