Moodle2 Accessibility Statement

ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT - VIRTUAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT (VLE)

This accessibility statement applies to Moodle VLE only. Available at moodle2.gateshead.ac.uk.

This VLE is run by Gateshead College. The VLE, Moodle, is a platform on which teaching and learning resources and activities are hosted. Moodle is designed to be accessible however, it is also highly customisable. Authors are free to create and upload content and resources of their choosing. As a result, it is not possible to guarantee that all content hosted on the VLE is fully accessible. This statement has been written with that in mind.

We want as many people as possible to be able to use this VLE. For example, that means you should be able to:

change colours, contrast levels and fonts using in-browser tools
navigate most of the VLE using just a keyboard
listen to most of the VLE using a screen reader. Moodle maintains a list of compatible screen readers

We advise authors to consider their use of language, the readability and accessibility of the content they create.

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

About Moodle

How accessible is this VLE?

Moodle is Gateshead College’s VLE hosted by OpenLMS. Moodle is led and coordinated by Moodle HQ. Moodle HQ is financially supported by a network of over 80 Moodle Partner service companies worldwide. Moodle's goal is to be fully accessible and usable for all users regardless of ability and was Moodle was built following WCAG 2.0 guidelines.

Moodle HQ maintains a list of known accessibility issues.

Moodle as a Platform

The Moodle platform is an open source system maintained by Moodle HQ and a community of volunteer developers. It consists of ‘core’ functionality, developed and incorporated by Moodle HQ, and plugins created by Moodle HQ, companies and individuals. Updates and new versions are released regularly however are applied once our provider, OpenLMS has extensively tested the updates before applying to production sites.

This accessibility statement will be updated as the platform evolves.

Moodle aims to be accessible, to provide equal functionality and information to all people. Moodle was built following WCAG 2.0 guidelines.

Content Hosted on Moodle

At Gateshead College, authors design and populate their own Moodle spaces. Authors may create and upload, link to or embed materials of their choosing to their Moodle spaces. Whilst we aspire for all teaching, learning and assessment resources hosted on Moodle to be fully accessible to all users, it is not possible to guarantee this.

As a result, we know we cannot guarantee that:

all content, activities and interfaces are navigable using just a keyboard
all files and content uploaded by authors is fully accessible to screen reader software
all non-text content has a text alternative
video and audio transcripts/captions have been checked and corrected for accuracy
text will reflow in a single column when you change the size of the browser window
you can modify the line height or spacing of all text
a colour contrast of 3:1

Students encountering accessibility difficulties should contact their module tutor as it may be necessary for an alternative format/activity to be provided.

Feedback and contact information

If you need information on Moodle in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille:

· email: eld@gateshead.ac.uk

· call: 0191 490 2424

If you are a student with existing arrangements or reasonable adjustments, please contact Learning Support.

Reporting accessibility problems with this VLE

We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of this VLE. If you find any problems that aren’t listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, contact:

· email: eld@gateshead.ac.uk

· call: 0191 490 2424

When you contact by email we will aim to acknowledge your request within 24 hours informing you who is dealing with your query and an estimated timescale of when you will expect a detailed response.

Once you have reported a problem with the VLE or asked for an alternative format, and are not happy with our response, you can use our complaints process to register your difficulty; this helps us improve our systems and will be escalated to our Student Services Team.

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 VLE’s accessibility

Gateshead College is committed to making its VLE accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

This VLE is not compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard. The non-accessible sections are listed below.

Compliance status

This website is not compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard. The non-compliances and exemptions are listed below.

Moodle as a platform is designed to be accessible with full WCAG 2.1 AA compliance coming in version 3.10. Whilst we are able to ensure Moodle is an accessible platform, the customisability and ability to upload content means it may be customised or host content that is not accessible.

Non-accessible content

Students encountering any of the potential accessibility issues below should please report it to eld@gateshead.ac.uk.

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.

Display

The Moodle platform is designed for responsive display. However, there are some circumstances where accessibility is more limited:

Due to the nature of the content that might be hosted in Moodle it cannot be guaranteed that text can be resized without assistive technology up to 200 percent without loss of content or functionality. This doesn’t meet WCAG success criterion 1.4.4 (resize text).
It cannot be guaranteed that content can be presented vertically and horizontally without needing to scroll. This doesn’t meet WCAG success criterion 1.4.10 (reflow)

Assistive Technologies

The Moodle platform is designed to support screen readers and other accessible tools. Moodle maintains a list of supported screen reader and browser configurations. However, there are some circumstances where accessibility cannot be guaranteed:

that input fields collecting information about the user can be programmatically determined (e.g. read by screen reader software). This doesn’t meet WCAG success criterion 1.3.5 (identify input purpose)
that the language of each passage or phrase in the content can be determined programmatically (e.g. read by screen reader software). This doesn’t meet WCAG success criterion 3.1.2 (language of parts)

Images, Graphics and Visual Elements

The Moodle platform provides facilities to make content accessible (e.g. addition of ALT text for images). However, due to the nature of the content hosted on the platform and the choices made by those authoring content, it cannot be guaranteed:

that text and images of text have a contrast ration of at least 4:5:1 or that large-scale text and images have a contrast ratio of at least 3:1. This doesn’t meet WCAG success criterion 1.4.3 contrast (minimum)
that images of text have not been used. This doesn’t meet WCAG success criterion 1.4.5 (images of text)
that all user interfaces and graphical objects meet the necessary contrast ratio. This doesn’t meet WCAG success criterion 1.4.11 (non-text contrast)

Navigation and Access

The Moodle platform is designed to provide accessible navigation, however, due to the content, possible customisations and choices of authors, it cannot be guaranteed:

that all headings and labels describe topic or purpose. This doesn’t meet WCAG success criterion 2.4.6 (headings and labels)
that the keyboard focus indicator is always visible. This doesn’t meet WCAG success criterion 2.4.7 (focus visible)
that navigation mechanisms (how you move around the VLE) are consistent. This doesn’t meet WCAG success criterion 3.2.3 (consistent navigation).
that all components with the same functionality will be labelled consistently This doesn’t meet WCAG success criterion 3.2.4 (consistent identification)

Statuses and Error Messages

The Moodle platform alerts users when an error has been made for example, not entering text into a required field. However, we feel the error messages need to be improved. At present, we cannot guarantee:

that all input error messages are accompanied by suggestions for correction This doesn’t meet WCAG success criterion 3.3.3 (error suggestion)
that all status messages, such as error messages, can be read by assistive technologies such as screen readers. This doesn’t meet WCAG success criterion 4.1.3 (status messages)

Audio and video content

It cannot be guaranteed that all pre-recorded audio and video content is accompanied with a text alternative, captions or audio description. Content authors are required to use hosting platforms that provide automatically generated transcripts (YouTube) or that an alternative or captions/subtitles are provided. However, we cannot guarantee that one is provided for all content.

This doesn’t meet the following WCAG success criterion:

1.1.1 (non-text content)
1.2.1 (audio-only and video-only – pre-recorded)
1.2.2 (captions – pre-recorded)
1.2.3 (audio description or media alternative – pre-recorded)
1.2.5 (audio description – pre-recorded)

Third Party Services and Systems

Turnitin

Moodle currently integrates with a similarity checking service, called Turnitin. Turnitin generates Similarity Reports on submitted assignments via the Feedback Studio Interface. For information on the accessibility of the Feedback Studio interface, please see Turnitin’s accessibility guidance.

Disproportionate burden

Whilst we aim for content hosted on Moodle to be accessible, ensuring the items below are fully accessible would place a disproportionate burden on content authors and Gateshead College. We will continue to review this list and seek out efficient and cost-effective solutions.

Audio and video transcripts and captions

Automatically generated transcripts and captions, generated automatically by the hosting platform YouTube, are unlikely to be 100% accurate with many factors impacting the accuracy of machine transcription.

We have assessed the cost of checking and correcting automatically generated transcripts and captions. We believe that doing so would be a disproportionate burden within the meaning of the accessibility regulations. We will continue to keep this under review and we will undertake another assessment in 2021.

This doesn’t meet the following WCAG success criterion:

1.1.1 (non-text content)
1.2.1 (audio-only and video-only – pre-recorded)
1.2.2 (captions – pre-recorded)
1.2.3 (audio description or media alternative – pre-recorded)
1.2.5 (audio description – pre-recorded)

The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 section 4.2. Application.

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

PDFs and other documents

Older PDFs and Word documents don’t meet accessibility standards - for example, they may not be structured so they’re accessible to a screen reader. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 4.1.2 (name, role value).

The accessibility regulations don’t require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they’re not essential to providing our services.

Pre-recorded Audio and Video content published before 23 September 2020

Pre-recorded audio and video content are unlikely to be accompanied with a text alternative, captions, audio description or sign language interpretation. This doesn’t meet the following success criterion:

1.1.1 (non-text content)
1.2.1 (audio-only and video-only – pre-recorded)
1.2.2 (captions – pre-recorded)
1.2.3 (audio description or media alternative – pre-recorded)
1.2.5 (audio description – pre-recorded)
1.2.6 (sign language – pre-recorded)
1.2.7 (extended audio description – pre-recorded)
1.2.8 (media alternative – pre-recorded)

We don’t plan to create a text alternative, captions, audio description or sign language interpretation to pre-recorded audio or video content that was published before 23 September 2020 because pre-recorded audio and video content published before 23 September 2020 are exempt from the regulations.

Live Audio and Video

Live audio and video streams do not have captions. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.2.4 (captions - live).

We don’t plan to add captions to live video streams because live video is exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations.

Third Party Content

Content embedded or integrated in to the VLE, such as SCORM interactive content or packages purchased from third party companies, could fail multiple WCAG 2.1 success criterion. We don’t plan to redevelop or edit content we have not developed, funded or have no control over because third party content is exempt from the regulations.

What we are doing to improve accessibility

We are dedicated to improving the accessibility of this VLE for all users. To do so we will:

upgrade Moodle to version 3.10 as soon as our provider OpenLMS release this version which is WCAG 2.1 AA accredited
repeat a disproportionate burden assessment to reassess the cost of checking and correcting automated transcripts and captions in 2021
provide guidance to authors on designing and creating accessible content in the VLE
assess, and redevelop where it is possible, practicable and cost-efficient, existing features, integrations, interfaces and developments based on the WCAG 2.1 success criterion
remove or restrict customisations on the VLE to reduce the creation of inaccessible spaces and content
assess proposed new features, integrations, interfaces and developments based on the WCAG 2.1 success criterion

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 4^th September 2020. It was last reviewed on 14^th January 2021.

This VLE was last tested in September 2020. The test was carried out by the eLearning department within Gateshead College.

The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 relate and use language specific to websites therefore, it is not possible to complete a direct assessment of the VLE against the regulations. It has been necessary to translate and interpret the regulations to apply to a VLE context.

We used this approach to deciding on a sample of pages to test. We created a VLE space and assessing the available functionality in the following against the WCAG success criterion:

Activities
Resources
Course Formats
Commonly used third party content and integrations

We tested:

our main VLE platform, available at moodle2.gateshead.ac.uk.