The University of Reading is committed to providing an inclusive environment, and to ensuring digital accessibility for as many users as possible. Digital accessibility is about removing and reducing barriers to enable users to engage with our digital services and content. Accordingly, we are committed to making our websites and mobile applications accessible in accordance with The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 No.952, and specifically WCAG 2.2 AA standards.
ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT
This accessibility statement covers our main website platform www.reading.ac.uk (and in due course will cover all our websites and mobile applications). You may also find specific statements on individual pages or other University of Reading websites, where more detail is helpful. They will each link back to this page and should be read in conjunction with this general accessibility statement.
ADVICE ON ACCESSING OUR CONTENT
To adapt our website content and functionality to your needs and preferences you can:
- change colours, contrast levels and fonts
- zoom in up to 200% 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).
AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability (My Computer My Way).
HOW ACCESSIBLE IS THIS WEBSITE?
This website is operated by the University of Reading. We know that some parts of this website aren't yet fully accessible. For example:
- The text will not reflow in a single column when you change the size of the browser window.
- You cannot modify the line height or spacing of text.
- Some older PDF, Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents are not fully accessible to screen reader software.
- Live video streams do not have captions.
- Some multimedia content doesn't yet have audio, captions or text description.
- Some of our online forms are difficult to navigate using just a keyboard.
- In some pages you cannot skip to the main content when using a screen reader.
THIRD PARTY TOOLS
Our website includes third party content and functionality.
Depending on the University's relationship with the third party, we cannot always guarantee its accessibility.
Where we choose to feature third party content or functionality on our website, we are responsible for taking steps to make sure that it meets accessibility standards.
However, where we are legally required to feature third party content or functionality we cannot reasonably accept responsibility for ensuring it meets accessibility standards. And where the University links to third party websites that may offer benefits to the University's users, we are not responsible for the accessibility of these or any other websites that the University doesn't manage. However, where it is within our control, we will make every reasonable effort to work towards meeting accessibility requirements.
Certain third-party tools, content and/or functionality are integrated/featured on our website, and these have their own accessibility statements.
If you would like to access third-party accessibility statements, please use the free searchBOX Finder service.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES
If you have any problems accessing our website, or related tools and functionality, please contact the IT Service Desk:
- email dts@reading.ac.uk
- call 0118 378 6262
- Self-service portal
- You can expect a response within two working days.
If you need content that is featured on our website in a different format, and you are having problems accessing the necessary format(s) (such as tagged PDFs, large print, easy read or audio recording), please contact the Web Accessibility Team at:
- WebAccessibilityTeam@reading.ac.uk
- call 0118 378 6262
- In most cases, you can expect a response within five working days.
If you cannot view the map on our 'contact us' page, call or email us for directions. You can find the contact details on our contact us page.
If you find any problems that aren't listed in this statement, or think we're not meeting the requirements of the accessibility regulations, please contact:
- legalservices@reading.ac.uk
- In most cases, you can expect a response within seven 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 enquiry, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service(EASS).
TECHNICAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS WEBSITE'S ACCESSIBILITY
The University of Reading is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.
Compliance status
This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliances and exemptions listed on this page.
NON-ACCESSIBLE CONTENT
We are working to achieve and maintain the AA standards of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2. However, we are aware that some parts of our website are not fully accessible currently.
The full list of known issues can be found on our digital accessibility website.
PDF DOCUMENTS
Our site contains documents dating back several years. Many of our older PDFs and Word documents don't meet accessibility standards - for example, they may not be marked up so they're accessible to a screen reader.
Work is ongoing to fix PDF documents that are essential to our providing our services. These will be converted to accessible pages, or an accessible alternative will be made available on request. Some of our content across the site will need to remain in PDF format where a durable format is needed (for legal reasons or otherwise).
Disproportionate burden
We are currently auditing our website and, if relevant, will list here any areas that we believe it would be a disproportionate burden to make fully accessible.
Navigation and accessing information
There's no way to skip the repeated content in the page header on some of our webpages (for example, a 'skip to main content' option).
It's not always possible to change the device orientation from horizontal to vertical without making it more difficult to view the content.
It's not possible for users to change text size without some of the content overlapping in some of the webpages.
Interactive tools and transactions
Some of our interactive forms are difficult to navigate using a keyboard. For example, because some form controls are missing a 'label' tag.
Our forms are built and hosted through third party software and 'skinned' to look like our website.
We've assessed the cost of fixing the issues with navigation and accessing information, and with interactive tools and transactions and believe that doing so now would be a disproportionate burden within the meaning of the accessibility regulations. We will make another assessment when the relevant supplier contracts are up for renewal.
CONTENT THAT'S NOT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE ACCESSIBILITY REGULATIONS
PDFs and other documents
The accessibility regulations do not require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they're not essential to providing our services.
The University will work to achieve and maintain WCAG 2.2 AA standards, but it is not always possible for all our content to be accessible. Where content doesn't appear to be fully accessible, please contact the web accessibility team at WebAccessibilityTeam@reading.ac.uk to request an alternative format.
Live video
We do not add captions to live video streams because live video is exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations.
Special collections and archives
Our historical library collections are exempt from the accessibility regulations.
Online maps
Online maps and mapping services are exempt as long as essential information is provided in an accessible digital manner for maps intended for navigational use.
Historical content
News, blogs and other content: Our website contains press releases, blog posts and other content published prior to the accessibility regulation coming into force. These are exempt from the accessibility regulations.
What we are doing to fix accessibility issues
We are continually monitoring our website for accessibility.
Staff responsible for content on the website, are required to undertake training in producing more accessible content and improving content already on the site.
In addition, we are working with our suppliers to fix issues relevant to the accessibility of content and systems and we are including accessibility requirements in our procurement processes.
We have introduced an accessibility issues ticketing system where raised issues are prioritised and scheduled for development and deployment. View our Accessibility Roadmap.
If you would like more detailed information on the steps we are taking to fix a particular issue please contact WebAccessibilityTeam@reading.ac.uk.
HOW WE TESTED THIS WEBSITE
We are currently auditing our websites per platforms. The test is carried out internally on a sample of pages using automated tools as well as manual testing.
This statement was prepared on 26 September 2019. It was last updated on 03 June 2024.
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