Accessibility statement for Dspace
This accessibility statement applies to rdmc.nottingham.ac.uk, which hosts several repository collections using the repository software Dspace.
The collections are the Nottingham Research Data Management Repository, University of Nottingham UK Exam Papers, University of Nottingham Ningbo China Exam Papers, University of Nottingham Malaysia Exam Papers and U-Now.
This website is run by University of Nottingham Libraries in partnership with our supplier Atmire.
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
- 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)
We’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.
AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.
How accessible this website is
We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible:
- Our repository contents are not all accessible. If you find an item you wish to access in an accessible format please email library-helpline@nottingham.ac.uk, requesting an accessible version and describing the resource you wish to access e.g. by providing a link to the relevant repository page. We’ll consider your request and get back to you within 10 working days.
- We recommend using the navigation sidebar to search if using assistive technology or navigating with a keyboard. This offers a search box and built-in browse options to narrow down to a list of relevant resources. We do not recommend using the settings cog on search and browse pages, which can be used to customise searches as it has poor accessibility.
- You may find it difficult to identify some elements of the page when using assistive technology due to a lack of text description.
- You may find it difficult to see some pages if visually impaired due to low contrast text – you may wish to use a browser plug-in or other assistive technology to enhance contrast.
Feedback and contact information
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 within 10 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, contact University of Nottingham Libraries via library-helpline@nottingham.ac.uk.
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).
Contacting us by phone or visiting us in person
Find out how to contact us www.nottingham.ac.uk/Library/help
Technical information about this website’s accessibility
University of Nottingham 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-accessible content
The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.
Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations
Text description
You may find it difficult to interpret some elements of the page when using assistive technology due to an absence of text description. We are reporting these issues to Atmire and will work with them to address.
- There is no text description on the University of Nottingham logo featured on all pages, or on the icon for the settings cog, the next and previous page buttons, or the ‘go’ button for the search box on search and browse pages. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.1.1 (non-text content) and criterion 4.12 (name, role and value). We are investigating a local fix for the logo and will address by November if possible.
- There is no text or description for the link on the University of Nottingham logo featured on all pages. In all pages except the homepage a second link to homepage is redundantly located next to the link on the University of Nottingham logo. There is no text description on the next and previous page buttons, the settings cog, or the ‘go’ button for the search box on all pages. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.4 (link purpose).
- The settings cog on search and browse pages lacks a label or instructions in its accessible name or description to show expected input. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.5.3 (label in name).
- The settings cog and next and previous page buttons on search and browse pages also lack description of purpose and how to use. The ‘Browse’ page ‘By issue date’ has a ‘(Choose year)’ filter with no accessible name or description to indicate what is expected from the user. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 3.3.2 (labels or instructions).
Navigation and accessing information
You may have challenges in navigating elements of the page if using a keyboard or assistive technology. We are reporting these issues to Atmire and will work with them to address.
- There is no bypass link or ‘skip to content option’ at the top of pages. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.1 (bypass blocks).
- Headings are not used in logical order within the page: there is a general absence of the <h1> heading, different sizes of text using the <h2> heading and uses of the <h4> tag before the <h2> tag. The settings cog and search box are also missing labels and descriptive text. These fail WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.1 (info and relationships).
- The settings cog on search and browse pages does not support the selection of a menu item via pressing space and the menu items accessed using it lack descriptions. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.1.1 (keyboard).
- The ‘Browse’ page ‘By issue date’ has a ‘(Choose year)’ filter which does not allow the user to deselect a value by tabbing away. Instead, it acts as if the last value was selected. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 3.2.1. (on focus).
- There are missing form labels for some input tags, particularly the search box. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.6 (heading and labels).
- There are duplicate tag IDs in dynamically generated lists. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 4.1.1 (parsing).
- Menu headings ‘Browse’, ‘My account’, ‘Discover’, ‘Arkivum files’, ‘Statistics’ and ‘Listings and Reports’ on all pages and author lists associated with publications on individual search results are very low contrast. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.4.3 (contrast).
Disproportionate burden
PDFs and the contents of other in-scope active collections
The PDFs and the contents of other in-scope active collections in Dspace have not historically been created with accessibility in mind and some collections are out of scope, as described below.
We have assessed the overall workload which would be needed to convert all PDFs and the contents of other in-scope active collections (such as research data) hosted in our portfolio of repositories which includes the Nottingham Research Repository, Nottingham ePrints and Dspace. We considered both retroactively converting legacy repository contents and converting new deposits to an accessible form on receipt within UoN Libraries to be a disproportionate burden within the meaning of the accessibility regulations.
Content that’s not within the scope of the accessibility regulations
The legacy open courseware initiative U-Now is not within scope as it forms a heritage collection of open courseware, and was last updated in March 2017.
University of Nottingham Ningbo China Exam Papers and University of Nottingham Malaysia Exam Papers are not within scope as they do not relate to a UK service provider.
What we’re doing to improve accessibility
We are actively reviewing content and have introduced new working practices with a focus on user needs and providing inclusive content to our diverse audiences.
We are improving our communications and advocacy with the communities who deposit contents in our repositories to improve the accessibility of deposited items going forward.
We encourage requests for accessible versions of repository contents.
We are engaging with Atmire to highlight and develop accessibility requirements. We are looking to optimise accessibility when upgrading our software to the new version of Dspace in 2021.
Preparation of this accessibility statement
This statement was prepared on 22 September 2020. It was last reviewed on 22 September 2020.
This website was last tested in September 2020. The test was carried out by University Nottingham Libraries.
We used this approach to deciding on a sample of pages: testing by stratified sampling.
We sampled example pages within the page types Dspace generates: the home page, different browse types and individual search result pages.