Accessibility statement

This accessibility statement applies to the NIHR Communications Google site.

The NIHR Communications site is run by NIHR. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:

• change colours, contrast levels and fonts using browser or device settings

• zoom in up to 400% 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)

• Easily understand the text on each page of the website

AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.

How accessible this website is

Google Sites accessibility conformance

We have built this website using the Google Sites platform. The 2023 Google Sites accessibility conformance report confirms the platform either fully supports or partially supports the majority of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level A and AA requirements.

However, we recognise the restrictions of the Google Sites platform means some parts of the website are not fully accessible. We’ve listed some of the key issues below:

• Some elements on pages can’t be appropriately labelled. So, the meaning of some elements and their relationship to other aspects of the page can’t be conveyed to people who use assistive technologies

• The colour contrast ratio between the text area and the background in some places is less than 4.5:1. This means that users who are colour blind or have low vision may have difficulty reading the text

Website content accessibility conformance

Other than the restrictions imposed by the Google Sites platform, we have made every effort to ensure this site is accessible to everyone, including people using assistive technologies:

• You can skip to the main content using a screen reader and Google Sites supports a range of keyboard shortcuts

• You can Zoom in to all page content up to 400% without content being lost

• Google Sites can be used with several screen readers, including NVDA and JAWS. Visit the ‘use Google Sites with a screen reader’ article for more information

• We have made the written content as easy as possible to understand

However, we recognise some parts of the site are not fully accessible:

• Some linked videos do not have captions

• Some of the content we link to is in an inaccessible format or out of our jurisdiction, like pdf or an external website

Feedback and contact information  

Please email internal.comms@nihr.ac.uk if you find any problems not listed on this page, or if you think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements.

You can also email the address listed above if you need information on this website in a different format, like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille.

We’ll consider your request and get back to you in 10 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, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

The NIHR 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 version 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.

Non compliance with the accessibility regulations

• Untitled frames - some content is presented through the use of frames, these frames are not titled correctly - WCAG reference 1.3.1, 2.4.1

• Insufficient colour contrast - the combination of text and background colour should make content easy to read. On some pages the colours do not meet the minimum requirements - WCAG reference 1.4.3, 1.4.11

• Ambiguous button labelling - some button elements include additional characters or symbols included that may cause confusion - WCAG reference 1.1.1, 1.3.1, 1.3.5, 3.3.2, 4.1.2

• Captions - Captions are provided for all pre recorded audio content in synchronised media, except when the media is a media alternative for text and is clearly labelled as such - WCAG reference 1.2.2

Disproportionate burden

None

Content that’s not within the scope of the accessibility regulations

None

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

NIHR works closely with Shaw Trust Accessibility Services to maintain the accessibility standards of all of our websites. We review this site in line with the guidance we regularly receive from Shaw Trust.

Our site editors also regularly test their pages using the WAVE browser extension to ensure accessibility standards are maintained.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 22 August 2024. It was last reviewed on 16 September 2024.

This website was last tested on 22 August 2024.

The test was carried out by NIHR’s internal communications team. All pages were manually checked and then assessed using the WAVE browser extension.