Advance HE Digital Learning Accessibility Statement

Advance HE Digital Learning is managed via Moodle Workplace with its E-learning courses maintained by Advance HE who primarily use Articulate Rise 360 as its development Platform, incorporating third-party resources, such as Genially, for additional content.

Introduction

Purpose

Advance HE is committed to ensuring digital accessibility and strives to continually improve the user experience for everyone by making its website and applications as accessible as possible in line with the UK 2018 accessibility requirements for public sector bodies and conforming to Level AA of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2.

Advance HE offers services and products to the European market and therefore ensures that it conforms with the European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882).

The Digital Learning is managed via Moodle Workplace with its E-learning courses are maintained by Advance HE who primarily uses Articulate Rise 360 as its development Platform, incorporating third-party resources, such as Genially, for additional content.

This Accessibility Statement (“the Statement”) applies to Advance HE’s Digital Learning Platform which includes information on the following third-party suppliers:

General Description

Advance HE provides access to e-learning, online, and blended courses through the Digital Learn Platform (“the Platform”). Additionally, Advance HE provides the sale of Articulate Rise packages for institutions to deliver on their own learning Platforms.

Advance HE’s goal is to make this content accessible to as many people as possible. For example, users can:

  • Zoom in up to 300% without the text spilling off the screen.
  • Navigate efficiently through the course using consistent menus or the search feature.
  • Navigate most of the course 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).
  • The website text has been developed as simple as possible to understand.

Moodle Workplace

Moodle Workplace is developed by the Moodle project and coordinated by Moodle HQ, with support from a global network of over 80 certified Moodle Partners.

Moodle Workplace has designed to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA. This reflects Advance HE’s commitment to making the Platform as inclusive and user-friendly as possible.

Using Moodle Workplace

Moodle Workplace includes a range of features that support accessible use, these are as follows:

  • Users can customise the display by adjusting colours, contrast, and fonts.
  • Users can also zoom in up to 300% without content spilling off the screen.
  • Pages are organised with headings, which help users using screen readers or other assistive tools to jump between sections quickly.
  • Links are labelled in a way that explains where they lead or what they do, which helps everyone understand their purpose, especially screen reader users.
  • Users can move through most of the Platform using just a keyboard, without needing a mouse.
  • The Platform works with text-to-speech tools that read content aloud when highlighted.
  • Moodle Workplace works with several common screen readers, including NVDA, JAWS, ChromeVox, and Orca, as well as built-in tools like VoiceOver (macOS and iOS) and TalkBack (Android).
  • Advance HE has also made the Platform text as simple as possible to understand.

Moodle Workplace Accessibility

Advance HE has made reasonable efforts to ensure Moodle Workplace is as accessible as possible for its users. This section outlines the key measures implemented within Moodle Platform.

Advance HE recognises that not every part of the Platform is currently meeting the highest accessibility standards. Advance HE will continue to work with Accipio to identify any improvement plans for the gaps in accessibility that may be present.

System-Wide Accessibility

Moodle Workplace is a large and flexible system, which can include custom developments, third-party plugins, and regular updates. These changes can sometimes affect how accessible the Platform is.

Moodle HQ, together with the wider Moodle developer community and the Moodle Accessibility Collaboration Group, tracks and manages known bug and accessibility issues. This helps guide ongoing improvements.

Accessibility of Uploaded Content

Alongside Moodle Workplace’s built-in tools, Course Teams can add learning materials like presentations, documents, videos, and interactive content.

While Advance HE encourages all colleagues to create accessible resources and provides mandatory training on preparing contract accessibly, they cannot guarantee that every item on the Platform fully meets accessibility standards.

Navigating Moodle Workplace and Its Contents

Moodle Workplace includes an accessibility block and assistive toolbar that allows users to:

  • Adjust font size and style.
  • Change colour contrast and apply overlays.
  • Enable text-to-speech functionality.

Advance HE aims to ensure that its content is compatible with screen readers. Where possible, Advance HE also includes alternative text descriptions for images.

Advance HE will use clear, legible fonts and maintain strong contrast between text and background to improve readability.

Support for People with Hearing Impairments

Advance HE has embedded videos typically include closed captions and/or subtitles to support users who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Inability to Access Moodle Workplace

Advance HE wants to ensure that everyone is able to access its content. Advance HE can also provide course materials in alternative formats upon request, including:

  • Accessible PDFs
  • Large print
  • Easy read versions
  • Audio recordings
  • Braille

Compliance Status

Moodle Workplace has been tested against the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA standard.

The Workplace is partially compliant with the WCAG 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.

In addition to this, Advance HE has conducted an audit on its Digital Learning Shop front page This audit identified that it has an 80% compliance score with WCAG 2.2. The areas of non-compliance have been identified below.

Non-accessible Content

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

Moodle Workplace

  • Navigation Using Headings

WCAG 1.3.1 Info and Relationships and 2.4.6 Headings and Labels 

  • In some areas, such as the quiz module, the heading structure may not fully support screen reader navigation. This is a known issue within Moodle and is being reviewed by the Moodle developer community.
  • Certain user-generated content, such as activity descriptions, resource pages, and labels, may lack proper heading levels. This can make it more difficult to navigate using assistive technology.
  • Advance HE regularly audits user-created content to ensure that descriptions, headings, and labels are accessible.
  • Navigation Using Links

WCAG 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context), 1.4.10 Reflow, 1.3.1 Info and Relationships and 2.1.1 Keyboard

  • Some user-generated links contain unclear or generic text (e.g. “click here”), which can be confusing for screen reader users who rely on link lists for navigation.
  • Advance HE regularly audit user-created content to ensure that link text and descriptions are accessible.
  • On smaller screens or when the page is zoomed, the main course menu bar drawer is cropped by the main page content. This has been raised with Advance HE’s Moodle theme provider to ensure an accessible option can be provided. This will be scheduled within Moodle’s development plan.
  • Keyboard Navigation

WCAG 2.1.1 Keyboard, 2.4.3 Focus Order, 1.3.1 Info and Relationships and 1.3.2 Meaningful Sequence

  • Some course layouts use collapsible sections. Content within these sections is not searchable from the main course page and can be more difficult to access using only a keyboard.
  • Additional steps may be required to reach and interact with collapsed content using keyboard navigation.
  • Where collapsible sections are used, instructional text is included to help users understand how to access the content.
  • Screen Reader Navigation

WCAG 1.3.1 Info and Relationships, 2.1.1 Keyboard, 2.4.3  Focus Order, 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context) and 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value

  • The SCORM toggle button within a course currently lacks descriptive text. This results in an empty button being presented to screen reader users, making it unclear what the button does.
  • The dropdown menu ‘More’ within a course uses role="menu", however this lacks required ARIA menu items.
  • On course pages, hidden elements marked with aria-hidden="true" contain focusable items.
  • Some embedded content on the site uses <iframe> elements that do not include a descriptive title attribute.
  • Order history icon on menu bar doesn't have link text. Also, the shopping cart icon does not receive focus and so a screen reader skips over it.
  • Listening to Content

WCAG 1.1.1 Non-text Content, 1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded), 1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded) and 1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded)

  • Some user-generated images, audio, and video materials do not include meaningful alternative text (alt text), captions, or transcripts. This can limit access for users relying on screen readers or other assistive technologies.
  • Advance HE regularly audits user-generated content to ensure that images, audio, and video materials meet accessibility standards.

WCAG 1.1.1 Non-text Content, 1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded), 1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded), 1.3.1 Info and Relationships, 1.3.2 Meaningful Sequence, 1.3.3 Sensory Characteristics, 2.1.1 Keyboard and 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value

  • Some user-uploaded documents (such as PDFs, Word documents, and PowerPoints), videos, or quizzes created with external tools may not always include appropriate alt text, captions, or semantic structure for screen reader compatibility.
  • Advance HE regularly audits uploaded materials to ensure that they are accessible.

Digital Learn Shop Front Page

WCAG 1.1.1 Non-text Content and 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context)

  • Images used as links on the shop front page do not have meaningful alternative text, making them inaccessible to screen reader users.

WCAG 1.1.1 Non-text Content and 1.4.5 Images of Text

  • Text displayed on shop front images is unclear or inappropriate, which may confuse users relying on assistive technologies.

WCAG 1.1.1 Non-text Content and 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context)

  • Arrow buttons at the bottom of the shop front page contain vague or poorly worded alternative text.

WCAG 1.3.1 Info and Relationships and 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value

  • The search field does not have an accessible name, making it difficult for screen reader users to understand its purpose.

Digital Learn Shop Product Pages

WCAG 1.3.1 Info and Relationships

  • Headings on product pages are not semantically marked up as level 4 headings, which affects navigation for users of assistive technologies.

Digital Learn Main Site Navigation Bar

WCAG 1.4.11 Non-text Contrast

  • The "Log in with My Advance HE" link has insufficient contrast when focused using a keyboard, making it difficult to perceive.

WCAG 2.1.1 Keyboard and 2.4.7 Focus Visible

  • The shopping cart button cannot be focused or activated using a keyboard, making it inaccessible to non-mouse users.

WCAG 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value and 4.1.3 Status Messages

  • The shopping cart button lacks a defined interactive role, accessible name, and indication of its expandable state.

WCAG 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value

The link to the "Order History" page does not have a programmatically defined accessible name.
Non-Compliance

Course Accessibility

Support for People with Visual Impairments

Advance HE e-learning courses, developed using Articulate Rise 360, include several accessibility features to support users with visual impairments:

  • Adjustable Display: Users can use system settings and tools to adjust font size, change colour contrast, and apply overlays to improve readability.
  • Text-to-Speech: While Articulate Rise 360 does not have built-in text-to-speech functionality, our content is designed to be compatible with screen readers. For detailed information on compatibility, please refer to the Rise 360 VPAT.
  • Alternative Text: Where possible, Advance HE will include alternative text descriptions for images to ensure that visual content is accessible.
  • Clear Fonts and Strong Contrast: Advance HE uses clear, legible fonts and maintain strong contrast between text and background to enhance readability.

Support for People with Hearing Impairments

Advance HE embedded videos typically include transcripts, closed captions and/or subtitles to support users who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Videos do not routinely include audio descriptions, although does provide subtitles and a video transcript. Therefore, audio descriptions can be provided on request.

Compliance Status

This e-learning course is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.

Non-accessible Content

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

  • Video and Audio Content - Videos do not include a separate audio description track to describe on-screen visuals or actions. This may present challenges for users with visual impairments. However, Advance HE believes that the visual elements are not essential to understanding the core message of the videos. This will be reviewed periodically.

Non-Compliance

The following content list is currently non-compliant for the outlined reasons:

  • Audio Description (Prerecorded) (Level AA) - Video blocks cannot currently include an audio description. Audio descriptions to be included as text transcript separate to the video.
  • Focus Order (Level A) - When using Talkback for Android, the focus is placed on the body text instead of the continue button when submitting a quiz answer. Talkback focuses on two empty elements before announcing the flashcard stack. Articulate supports these other screen readers: JAWS 2024, NVDA 2024, VoiceOver in macOS and iOS. Articulate have planned for this work to be completed (See Articulate Roadmap).
  • Focus Visible (Level AA) - Course Activities and Interactions
  • Focus Visible (Level AA) - Sorting blocks do not include accessible instructions or status messages. Advance HE will provide accessible alternative versions of these activities where included.
  • Focus Visible (Level AA) - A black rectangle highlights the object that currently has focus when learners use keyboard navigation. There is no option provided to customise this yet as the black rectangle doesn't stand out against the page. This issue has been raised with Articulate. As Articulate is a third-party provider they will consider this as part of their accessibility plan (See Articulate Roadmap).
  • Headings and Labels (Level AA)- Some heading elements within Articulate Rise (e.g., <h2>, <h3>) are incorrectly wrapped inside paragraph (<p>) tags. This improper nesting can cause confusion for screen reader users, as assistive technologies. This issue has been raised with Articulate as a software bug. As Articulate is a third-party provider they will consider this as part of their accessibility plan (See Articulate Roadmap).
  • Information and Relationships (Level A) - Table header cells do not have the role of column header or row header as this describes its relationship to other cells in the table. Advance HE will provide an alternative to tables within courses.
  • Meaningful Sequence (Level A) - Sorting Knowledge Checks are not keyboard accessible. Advance HE will provide accessible alternative versions of these activities where included.
  • Keyboard (Level A) - Sorting Knowledge Checks lack accessible instructions and status messages. Advance HE will provide accessible alternative versions of these activities where included.
  • Keyboard (Level A) - Keyboard Drag Actions function cannot be operated with the keyboard. Advance HE is monitoring user feedback to assess the need for this feature in terms of accessibility.
  • Keyboard (Level A) - Paint on Genially function cannot be operated with the keyboard. Advance HE is monitoring user feedback to assess the need for this feature in terms of accessibility.
  • Language of Page (Level A)
  • The HTML markup currently defines "en" (English) as the default language for all course content. However, there is no available method to programmatically define the correct language in the HTML for non-English language courses. This issue has been raised with Articulate by the Articulate community.
  • Status Messages (Level AA) - Sorting Knowledge Checks do not provide a meaningful reading or interaction sequence for screen reader users. Advance HE will provide accessible alternative versions of these activities where included.
  • Status Messages (Level AA) - The screen reader is not announcing the result status after completing the quiz.  Articulate have planned for this work to be completed (See Articulate Roadmap).

Advance HE will provide accessible alternatives for these knowledge checks where they are used.
The items mentioned above are subject to ongoing review and improvement as part of Advance HE’s continuous quality cycle and Accessibility Roadmap.
If users identify any other issues, please contact the Digital Development Team via the details provided below.

Course Testing

Advance HE incorporates WCAG 2.2 AA standard into every stage of development when designing and building new courses. These courses are reviewed against WCAG 2.2 AA and best practice guideline for accessibility.
Advance HE actively chooses to design courses using accessible components. When a decision is made to choose a non-accessible component or interactivity in favour of design and user experience, Advance HE will include an accessible alternative version of the component or interaction.
Advance HE also works with users and associates to help validate its accessibility requirements and ensures there it is compliant with its obligations under the relevant standards.

Exemptions

Advance HE is committed to making all aspects of the digital learning services accessible; however, it has identified that there are various aspects of its offering which are out of scope with the appropriate compliance regulations, including the European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882).

Archived

Brightspace will be exempt from accessibility obligations due to this Platform being shut down and currently acting as an archive facility, as per Article 02/4(e) of the European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882).

Third-party content

The Moodle Workplace Platform contains third-party content:

  • Links to external websites.
  • Embedded YouTube content that hasn’t been created by Advance HE.
  • Content hosted on other websites, such as PDF documents.

Advance HE does not have control over and are not responsible for the accessibility of this content and therefore exempt under Article 02/4(d) of the European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882), however will work with third-party suppliers as far as possible to address accessibility concerns.

Content Published Prior to 28 June 2025

Under the European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882), any published content which is classified as “Pre-Recorded, Time-Based Media” and “Office File Formats” which were published prior to the 28 June 2025 are out of scope (Article 02/4(a/b)).

However, Advance HE will ensure that any edited or new content will be in line with accessibility obligations under the European Accessibility (Directive (EU) 2019/882).

Improvement Plan

Advance HE are aware that some areas of their e-learning course still require improvement in terms of accessibility and are actively working to address these issues through a plan to implement the following improvements:

  • Some of older videos do not have captions, however new videos created will include captions and a video transcript.
  • Currently, sorting activity blocks lack accessible instructions and status messages. Advance HE is committed to addressing this by providing alternative accessible versions of these activities in future course designs and updates.
  • Advance HE have recently updated our course development guidelines to include accessibility guidance.
  • Advance HE have included an accessibility review as part of the course development process.
  • Advance HE regularly review the accessibility compliance of the development tools that are used including Articulate Rise 360.
  • Working towards compliance with WCAG 2.2 Level AA across all learning Platforms and tools.
  • Reviewing and updating existing content to bring it in line with accessibility standards.
  • Embedding accessibility throughout the design and development process of digital content.
  • Reviewing the tools Advance HE use to build learning content to ensure they support accessible design.
  • Listening to and learning from users with a diverse range of needs and assistive technologies and acting on their feedback.

In addition to this, Advance HE has appointed an external audit firm (AbilityNet) to conduct an audit on its Platform.

Following the completion of this audit, this Statement and subsequent Roadmaps will be updated in line with the findings, conformity statements and recommendations for improvement. View the Advance HE Accessibility 2030 Roadmap.

Further Information

If users experience a barrier, find an issue not mentioned here, please get in touch using the contact details below.

For further has advice on making users’ device easier to use if they have a disability, please refer to AbilityNet.

To request an alternative format or report an accessibility issue, please contact the Digital Development Team on the contact information below:

  • Email: [email protected]
  • Address: Advance HE IC 2.12 Innovation Centre, Innovation Way, York Science Park, York, YO10 5DG.

The Digital Development Team will aim to respond to any requests or concerns within seven working days.

Complaints Procedures

In the first instance, should a user have a complaint regarding how Advance HE has responded to their concerns and request, they can raise a complaint as per the Advance HE’s Complaints, Comments and Matters of Concern Policy by emailing the Compliance team on [email protected].

After the inhouse complaints procedure has concluded, and should the user continue to be unsatisfied with the service, they can raise their concerns to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) who is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’). Users can contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

For Northern Ireland users, they can raise their complaint with the Equalities Commission for Northern Ireland who are responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’) in Northern Ireland.