Accessibility statement for The New Real
This accessibility statement applies to:
About this website
This website is run by the Library and University Collections Directorate, Information Services Group at the University of Edinburgh. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this application. For example, that means you should be able to:
- Change most colours and contrast levels.
- Navigate most of the website using just a keyboard.
- Listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver).
- Navigate most of the site using voice recognition software (for example, Dragon).
- Experience no time limits when using the website.
- Use the site without encountering any scrolling, flashing or moving text.
We’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand. However, some of our content is technical, and we use technical terms where there is no easier wording we could use without changing what the text means.
Customising the website
AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability. This is an external site with suggestions to make your computer more accessible:
AbilityNet – My Computer My Way
With a few simple steps you can customise the appearance of our website using your browser settings to make it easier to read and navigate:
Additional information on how to customise our website appearance
If you are a member of University staff or a student, you can use the free SensusAccess accessible document conversion service:
How accessible this website is
We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible:
- Some links rely on colour alone to indicate they are clickable and are not underlined by default.
- Some links do not consistently have sufficiently clear or discernible text when read out of context.
- It can be unclear where you have navigated to by keyboard due to poor or missing visible keyboard focus indicators.
- Search and form fields do not provide clear, in line error messages when fields are left empty or when no results are returned.
- Mandatory fields are not clearly identified, and users are not informed when required input is missing.
- Some information is conveyed using colour alone, which may not be perceivable by all users.
- Hover-based visual cues (for example link and PDF button highlighting) are not always matched by non-visual cues.
- Tooltips do not always appear with keyboard navigation or when navigating by assistive software.
- The site is not fully compatible with assistive software.
Feedback and contact information
If you need information on this website in a different format, including accessible PDF, large print, audio recording or braille:
- Email: Information.systems@ed.ac.uk
- Telephone: +44 (0)131 651 5151
- British Sign Language (BSL) users can contact us via Contact Scotland BSL, the on-line BSL interpreting service.
We’ll consider your request and get back to you in 5 working days.
Reporting accessibility problems with this website
We are always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems not listed on this page, or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, please contact:
- Email: Information.systems@ed.ac.uk
- Telephone: +44 (0)131 651 5151
- British Sign Language (BSL) users can contact us via Contact Scotland BSL, the on-line BSL interpreting service.
We’ll consider your request and get back to you in 5 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 complaint please contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS) directly:
Contact details for the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS)
The government has produced information on how to report accessibility issues:
Reporting an accessibility problem on a public sector website
Contacting us by phone using British Sign Language
British Sign Language service
Contact Scotland BSL runs a service for British Sign Language users and all of Scotland’s public bodies using video relay. This enables sign language users to contact public bodies and vice versa. The service operates from 8.00am to 12.00am, 7 days a week.
Technical information about this website’s accessibility
The University of Edinburgh is committed to making its websites and applications 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) 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.
The full guidelines are available at:
Non-accessible content
The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.
Noncompliance with the accessibility regulations
The following items do not comply with the WCAG 2.2 AA success criteria:
-
Some information is conveyed by colour only (for example, links and hover and focus states).
1.4.1 Use of Color -
Some tooltips do not appear when navigating by keyboard or by assistive software.
1.4.13 Content on Hover or Focus -
Some links do not have sufficiently clear or discernible link text when read out of context.
2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context) -
Keyboard focus indicators are not consistently visible, making it difficult for keyboard users to identify their current position on the page.
2.4.7 Focus Visible -
The visual appearance of keyboard focus does not always meet minimum visibility requirements, particularly within navigation elements.
2.4.11 Focus Appearance (Minimum) -
Some tooltips do not appear when navigating by keyboard or by assistive software.
3.2.2 On Input -
Search fields and form inputs do not provide clear, in line error messages when fields are left empty or when no results are returned.
3.3.1 Error Identification
3.3.3 Error Suggestion -
Mandatory input fields are not clearly identified, and users are not clearly informed when required information is missing.
3.3.2 Labels or Instructions
3.3.3 Error Suggestion -
Inconsistent compatibility was identified with some assistive technologies, affecting how content and controls are interpreted in certain browsers.
4.1.2 Name, Role, Value
We aim to improve our websites accessibility on a regular and continuous basis. See the section below (‘What we’re doing to improve accessibility’) on how we are improving our site accessibility.
We are working towards solving these problems and expect significant improvements by March 2027. The site is fully within our control.
Disproportionate burden
We are not currently claiming that any accessibility problems would be a disproportionate burden to fix.
Content that’s not within the scope of the accessibility regulations
At this time we believe no content is outwith the scope of the accessibility regulations.
What we’re doing to improve accessibility
We will continue to address and make significant improvements to the accessibility issues highlighted. Unless specified otherwise, a complete solution or significant improvement will be in place by March 2027.
While we are in the process of resolving these accessibility issues we will ensure reasonable adjustments are in place to make sure no user is disadvantaged. As changes are made, we will continue to review accessibility and retest the accessibility of this website.
Preparation of this accessibility statement
This statement was prepared on 23/04/26. It was last reviewed on 04/05/26.
The website was last tested on March 2026. The testing was carried out by Library and University Collections, Information Services Group at the University of Edinburgh using both automated and manual methods. The site was tested on a PC, primarily using Microsoft Edge alongside Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome.
Recent world-wide usage levels survey for different screen readers and browsers shows that Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Edge are increasing in popularity and Google Chrome is now the favoured browser for screen readers:
WebAIM: Screen Reader User Survey
The aforementioned three browsers have been used in certain questions for reasons of breadth and variety.
We ran automated testing using AXE Devtools and then manual testing that included:
- Spell check functionality;
- Scaling using different resolutions and reflow;
- Options to customise the interface (magnification, font, background colour, etc);
- Keyboard navigation and keyboard traps;
- Warning of links opening in new tab or window;
- Information conveyed in the colour or sound only;
- Flashing, moving or scrolling text;
- Use with screen reading software (for example JAWS);
- Assistive software (TextHelp Read and Write, Windows Magnifier, ZoomText, Dragon Naturally Speaking, TalkBack and VoiceOver);
- Tooltips and text alternatives for any non-text content;
- Time limits;
- Compatibility with mobile accessibility functionality (Android and iOS);
- Any drag functionality and alternatives;
- Consistent help function;
- Submission and re-entry of data;
- Any cognitive tests.