Scope & Ownership
The University of the West of Scotland (UWS) is committed to making its websites and online platforms accessible, in accordance with The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the 'accessibility regulations').
This accessibility statement applies to UWS’s Report & Support platform. We run a number of other publically available websites and online platforms but these will have their own Accessibility Statements.
We want as many people as possible to be able to use this platform to find the relevant information, report incidents or seek support speedily and without hindrance.
Feedback and contact information
If you have a digital accessibility issue, question or comment relating to this platform please contact us using the details below:
- Telephone: 0141 848 3000
- E-mail: equality@uws.ac.uk
- Visitor address: People & Organisational Development / Equalities Coordinator, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley Campus, High Street, Paisley, PA1 2BE
- Postal address: People & Organisational Development / Equalities Coordinator, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley Campus, High Street, Paisley, PA1 2BE
If you are reporting an accessibility issue, please let us know, in as much detail as you can, what issues you are experiencing as this will help us help you. You can contact us if you:
- have positive feedback on the accessibility considerations made
- are experiencing issues with accessing information or using the website
- find an accessibility problem not listed in this statement
- need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF or MS Word (please note that we cannot, at present, supply content in every format but will do our best to accommodate your needs)
You can email us at equality@uws.ac.uk. We aim to respond to your email in 10 working days.
Enforcement procedure and complaints
We aim to meet the needs of all our website users as best we can. 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 are not satisfied with our response and would like to make a complaint, please check our complaints procedure. If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).
Technical Information about this website’s accessibility
UWS is committed to making this platform accessible, in accordance with The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.
Non-compliance with accessibility regulations
This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances and exemptions below.
Please contact us if you observe an issue not listed below.
This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances and exemptions below.
Please contact us if you observe an issue not listed below.
Alternative Text
There are a number of images on the platform that do not have appropriate alternative text. This fails success criteria 1.1.1 (Non-text Content).
Disproportionate Burden
None
Content not within the scope of the accessibility regulation
None
Preparation of this Accessibility Statement
There are a number of images on the platform that do not have appropriate alternative text. This fails success criteria 1.1.1 (Non-text Content).
Disproportionate Burden
None
Content not within the scope of the accessibility regulation
None
Preparation of this Accessibility Statement
This statement was prepared on 11th October 2021. It was last reviewed on 19 October 2021.
The platform undergoes regular accessibility testing by the supplier, Culture Shift. In addition, it undergoes automated accessibility testing through UWS’s automated website governance platform.
See details of digital accessibility assessments undertaken are presented below:
Ongoing Supplier Digital Accessibility Assessment
The UWS Report + Support platform is developed by Culture Shift. The platform essentially consists of two different websites: a semi-customisable public website and an admin dashboard. These websites are built in such a way to be compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, version 2.1 to the AA standard (this is in line with UK government guidance).
Culture Shift use the open source tool Pa11y on both the public website and the admin dashboard to check our compliance with these standards. When Pa11y identifies an issue, Culture Shift resolve these as a high priority bug.
Where customisations are made by the University to the public website we make sure these are in line with the accessibility statement on this platform (https://reportandsupport.uws.ac.uk/).
UWS Automated Digital Accessibility Assessment
The website is also assessed using a sector-leading, automated website governance platform to identify website errors, warnings - Siteimprove.
The website is also assessed using a sector-leading, automated website governance platform to identify website errors, warnings - Siteimprove.
Using the Siteimprove platform, an automated digital accessibility review of the website is undertaken every 5 days.
What we are doing to improve accessibility
We are committed to ensuring that our Report + Support platform is accessible to all. This requires regular and ongoing website accessibility monitoring and improvement activities. We are committed to working with Culture Shift to ensure that the platform maintains its high level of accessibility legislation and guideline compliance.