DIME Online Accessibility Statement

DIME Online is a virtual learning environment (VLE) provided by the Digital Learning team at Falmouth University. The VLE is built upon third-party software called Canvas, developed by Instructure. This accessibility statement applies to users accessing DIME Online, via both a browser and the Canvas Student App.

The Digital Learning team wants everyone using our websites and digital resources to have a positive experience. For example, that means you should be able to:

• zoom in up to 300% 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)

Accessibility features in different devices

My Computer My Way on the AbilityNet website explains how people can make their computers, tablets and smart phones easier to use and is divided into the following sections: vision, hearing, motor and cognitive (learning differences). A wide range of devices are covered with downloadable factsheets

How accessible this website is

Existing accessibility issues within DIME Online can be categorised as:

• Canvas
• Third-party integrations
• Course content

For more information regarding the accessibility issues within these categories, please see section Non–accessible content, within this statement.

What to do if you can’t access information on this website?

All content presented on DIME Online, as well as its underlying system Canvas, has been developed to be as accessible as possible. However, if you experience difficulties and require an alternative format, please contact us for more information.

You can contact us via email at, dlsupport@falmouth.ac.uk

You may also contact us via phone on, (01326) 259 187

When you contact us a member of the team will aim to respond to you, via our Helpdesk, within three working days.

Reporting accessibility problems with this website

We're 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 us using our webform, on this link. You will get a confirmation within five working days that your report has been received and a full response within 20 working days.

Enforcement procedure

If you have reported an issue with the website but you are dissatisfied with the response you have received please contact us at dlsupport@falmouth.ac.uk. All feedback helps us to improve the website and our processes.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018. If you are dissatisfied with how we have responded to a complaint, please contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS)

Technical information about this website's accessibility

Falmouth University and the Digital Learning team are committed to making DIME Online accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 standard. Areas of non-compliance are listed below, with a description of how an element does not comply, why it is an exception or how we intend to resolve the issue.

Should any part of the website not work for you please contact us so that we can either correct it.

Non-accessible content

Canvas

Instructure provide a Canvas Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) which explicitly states how compliant Canvas is as a system against each of the WCAG 2.1 AA criteria. At the time of writing, WebAIM certifies Canvas to be "substantially conformant with the WCAG 2.1 AA criteria".

Third-party Integrations

Talis Aspire

Students access reading lists in DIME Online via a third-party tool called Talis Aspire. Talis provide a Talis Aspire Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) which explicitly states how compliant Talis Aspire is as a product against each of the WCAG 2.1 AA criteria. At the time of writing, Talis is partially conformant with the WCAG 2.1 AA criteria.

Course content

Course content uploaded by staff members to DIME Online is designed to be accessible. Course content is regularly reviewed to ensure that it is accessible. A test of three courses in DIME Online was conducted to assess accessibility compliance and the following issues were found:

Images without a description - WCAG 1.1.1, 1.4.5

Some images contain text-based information, or used to convey meaning, and have not provided a text alternative.

Info and Relationships - WCAG 1.3.1

Some of the content on pages and documents does not adhere to a typical heading hierarchy, so the structure and layout of sections may be confusing to those with assisted devices or tools.

Documents - WCAG 2.4.3, 2.4.6

Some documents in PDF format are untagged and therefore do not appropriately highlight the structure of the document, e.g. defining what is a heading, paragraph, list.

Tables used to present non-tabular data – WCAG 1.3.1, 1.3.2

Tables are being used on various pages to present data that is non-tabular and may be confusing to those with assisted devices or tools.

This statement has outlined the ways the Digital Learning team continue to improve the accessibility of DIME Online. To summarise, these include:

• Reacting quickly and effectively to feedback regarding non-compliant content.
• Periodically auditing our content for accessibility issues and correcting any issues.
• Falmouth University has invested in Ally, a third-party tool developed by BlackBoard, that allows users to access alternative versions of uploaded files.