Accessibility How we tested the digital estate for accessibility and what we tested

How we tested the digital estate

The University of Leeds hosts over 2,000 websites and applications. To test our compliance with the WCAG 2.1 Conformance Level AA Guidelines, we chose a sample of these websites and applications by asking these questions:

How many people use the website / application, and how often?
How important the website / application is to a person’s work or study?
Do the websites / applications cover every stage of the student journey, from applying to graduating?
Do the websites / applications tested include those used by staff, students, and members of the public?
When was the website / application created? Was it created after 23 September 2018?
Is the website / application in use, and can it be accessed?

Between 5 August and 6 September 2019, we tested:

Our main website platform, https://www.leeds.ac.uk
A range of websites, applications, and mobile applications. Read a more detailed list of tested websites and applications at the end of this page.

Our testing process

We assessed each webpage against the WCAG 2.1 AA Standard based test model. We supplemented this with additional testing using automated tools where possible.

For large, third-party applications we have sourced their accessibility statements that document their compliance levels.

We have also assessed websites and applications with assistive technologies including JAWS (Job Access With Speech), Dragon NaturallySpeaking and ZoomText.

We selected 61 applications, and tested a subset of pages (two, three, or four) from each application.

We selected 82 websites. We tested each website’s home page and a subset of pages within each website.

We also tested seven mobile applications.

We tested them against the WCAG 2.1 AA Guidelines, and using three assistive technologies:

JAWS (Job Access With Speech) – a screen reader
Dragon NaturallySpeaking – voice recognition software
ZoomText – a screen reader and magnifier

We used these tests to make an overall assessment about the University of Leeds’ websites and applications and to prioritise how we make them compliant.

Which sites and applications did we test?

Applications

We tested a range of applications from within the University’s online estate, including student and staff portals, our student information applications, online repositories, training systems, and library services. We have not provided a list here because many of these are not open to the public. If you have a specific question about an application, please contact IT Services:

Web: Use either the contact form for people who cannot log in to the IT site or the contact form for people who can log in.
Phone: Call the IT Service Desk on 0113 343 3333

Websites

We tested our main website platform, available at https://www.leeds.ac.uk, and a range of our sites as listed below.

Some of these websites have been updated, closed or merged with other sites since being tested. The following list is a record of the sample of sites that were assessed between 5 August and 6 September 2019. We have noted where there is a substantial difference between what was tested and what is live.

Disabled Students https://students.leeds.ac.uk/info/1000032/support_for_disabled_students
Disability Services https://students.leeds.ac.uk/info/10710/disability_services
Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/
Faculty of Biological Sciences https://biologicalsciences.leeds.ac.uk/
Engineering https://engineering.leeds.ac.uk/ - This website merged to form the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences after testing.
School of Earth and Environment https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/see
Leeds University Business School https://business.leeds.ac.uk/
Courses https://courses.leeds.ac.uk/
Student accommodation https://accommodation.leeds.ac.uk/
Physical Sciences https://physicalsciences.leeds.ac.uk/ - This website merged to form the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences after testing.
Faculty of Medicine and Health https://medicinehealth.leeds.ac.uk
Faculty of Social Sciences https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/
Sport http://sport.leeds.ac.uk
Careers http://careerweb.leeds.ac.uk
For Staff https://www.leeds.ac.uk/forstaff/
People Development https://peopledevelopment.leeds.ac.uk/
Human Resources http://hr.leeds.ac.uk/
Library https://library.leeds.ac.uk/
Alumni https://alumni.leeds.ac.uk/home
Student Education Service https://ses.leeds.ac.uk/
Lifelong Learning Centre https://www.llc.leeds.ac.uk/
Applications https://application.leeds.ac.uk/
For Students https://students.leeds.ac.uk/
SiriusWeb http://www.siriusweb.leeds.ac.uk/
Working with business https://www.leeds.ac.uk/info/3000/working_with_business
Wellbeing and support https://www.leeds.ac.uk/info/128003/campus_life/10/wellbeing_and_support
Applying (for international students) https://www.leeds.ac.uk/info/130117/exchange_and_study_abroad/118/applying
Training and Development http://www.leaptraining.leeds.ac.uk/
Timetabling https://ses.leeds.ac.uk/info/21630/timetabling
The Leeds Partnership https://www.leeds.ac.uk/forstaff/homepage/342/the_partnership
Sustainability https://sustainability.leeds.ac.uk/
Study abroad destinations https://students.leeds.ac.uk/info/10310/destinations
Student Opportunity and Enhancement https://students.leeds.ac.uk/#Opportunities
Leeds Institute for Teaching Excellence http://teachingexcellence.leeds.ac.uk/
Secretariat https://www.leeds.ac.uk/secretariat/student_cases.html
Strategy and Planning https://www.leeds.ac.uk/stratplan/
Finance https://www.leeds.ac.uk/finance/
The Leeds Curriculum https://ses.leeds.ac.uk/leedscurriculum
Meet in Leeds https://meetinleeds.co.uk
Communications https://comms.leeds.ac.uk
Staff counselling and psychological support service http://wsh.leeds.ac.uk/info/134/staff_counselling_and_psychological_support - The content available from this link has been updated after testing so no longer represents what was assessed.
Staff benefits https://www.leeds.ac.uk/info/114000/jobs/43/staff_benefits
Skills@Library https://library.leeds.ac.uk/info/1401/academic_skills
Security Services (Student) https://students.leeds.ac.uk/info/21504/living_in_the_uk/760/security_services
Reporting a Crime https://www.leeds.ac.uk/estate_services/security/ReportingaCrime.htm - Page removed since test.
Commercial & Campus Support Services (Security Services) https://commercialcampussupport.leeds.ac.uk/security/?cn-reloaded=1 - The content available from this link has been updated after testing so longer represents what was assessed.
REF 2014 https://ref2014.leeds.ac.uk/
Quality Assurance team https://ses.leeds.ac.uk/info/21070/quality_assurance
Print and Copy Bureau https://pcb.leeds.ac.uk/
Commercial and Campus Support Services https://commercialcampussupport.leeds.ac.uk/
Postgraduate Research and Operations https://ses.leeds.ac.uk/info/22226/research_degree_admissions_and_registration/1008/pgr_and_operations-admissions - The content available from this link has been updated after testing so longer represents what was assessed.
Masters Courses (student information) http://www.leeds.ac.uk/info/101000/masters_courses
Your personal tutor https://students.leeds.ac.uk/info/10109/study_support/797/your_personal_tutor
Personal tutoring http://www.leeds.ac.uk/soe//soe-personal-tutoring.html
New staff https://peopledevelopment.leeds.ac.uk/services/new-staff/
Open access explained https://library.leeds.ac.uk/info/14061/open_access/8/open_access_explained
Occupational Health http://wsh.leeds.ac.uk/OccupationalHealth
Managers' guidance https://hr.leeds.ac.uk/managers_guidance
Mediation (for staff) https://equality.leeds.ac.uk/support-and-resources/mediation-2/
LOGIK Centre https://www.logik.leeds.ac.uk/
Language Centre https://www.leeds.ac.uk/info/130567/language_centre
International Student Office https://students.leeds.ac.uk/info/10500/international_students/877/international_student_office
Support for international colleagues http://hr.leeds.ac.uk/info/6/support_for_staff/314/support_for_international_colleagues
International Foundation Year https://www.leeds.ac.uk/homepage/34/international_foundation_year
Global community https://students.leeds.ac.uk/globalcommunity
Facilities Directorate https://facilitiesdirectorate.leeds.ac.uk/
Estates and Facilities https://www.leeds.ac.uk/estate_services/ - The content available from this link has been updated after testing so longer represents what was assessed.
Equality Policy Unit https://equality.leeds.ac.uk/
Educational Engagement - Admissions Directorate https://ses.leeds.ac.uk/info/22060/about_the_student_education_service/859/admissions_directorate
Digital Education Service https://digitaleducation.leeds.ac.uk/
Delivered food (Great Food at Leeds) https://gfal.leeds.ac.uk/delivered-food/
Breakfast (Great Food at Leeds) https://gfal.leeds.ac.uk/product-category/breakfast/
Cleaning Services https://commercialcampussupport.leeds.ac.uk/cleaning-services/ - The content available from this link has been updated after testing so longer represents what was assessed.
Universities Chaplaincy in Leeds http://unichaplaincy.org.uk/
Student Counselling and Wellbeing Service https://students.leeds.ac.uk/info/100001/counselling_and_wellbeing

Further testing

A digital accessibility audit of the main University site was conducted by Shaw Trust and delivered in July 2022. Any non-compliances on the main University website will be addressed as soon as possible or as described in this statement.

Methodology

A combination of automated evaluation tools and pan-disability user testing with assistive technologies was used to conduct a comprehensive accessibility audit. Testing was performed to WCAG 2.1 AA conformance.

Scope

A representative sample of the website was tested along with some specific pages requested by the University.

Technical Testing

A Technical Consultant who possesses knowledge and experience of accessibility and web technologies conducted technical testing using one or more automated tools. These tools were used to scan pages for technical accessibility issues such as HTML/CSS parsing errors. The Technical Consultant then analysed and interpreted the results.

Manual User Testing

The website was manually tested by a team of experienced pan-disabled testers, many of which use assistive technologies. The team was made up of individuals with different disabilities to cover the widest range of accessibility barriers as possible. The testing team consisted of the following:

Keyboard Only User: The user has a motor impairment that limits he or she to using only a keyboard to operate a computer or device. To make operation easier, the user may utilise an adaptive keyboard.
Voice Activation User: The user has a motor impairment that limits him or her to using only voice commands to operate a computer or device via assistive technology such as microphone and dictation software.
Screen Reader User: The user has a visual impairment that limits him or her to using assistive technology such as a screen reader to operate a computer or device via keyboard control and feedback via synthesised audible descriptions of visual elements.
Low Vision User: The user has a visual impairment that limits his or her access to content presented at 100% magnification. The user utilises system/browser controls or assistive technology to increase screen magnification.
Colour Blind User: The user has a visual impairment that limits his or her access to content within a certain colour spectrum. The user utilises system/browser controls or assistive technology to change the content’s colour spectrum.
Deaf or Hard of Hearing User: The user has a hearing impairment that limits his or her access to audio content.
Learning Difficulties User: The user has a learning disability that limits his or her access to content that is presented in a way that requires a high level of literacy.

Manual auditing consisted of each member of the team performing tests and/or completing user journeys based on criteria relevant to their individual disability and accessibility guidelines. The testers used multiple browsers, browser tools and assistive technologies in an aim to locate issues. They then reported their findings and provided constructive feedback to help pinpoint and provide solutions to accessibility barriers.