We believe that the web should be an open, inclusive and fair space for all. By designing and building the Plymouth Marjon University website progressively we have ensured that all users have access to a consistent experience, regardless of technology or network conditions.
This website was developed in line with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA. By identifying the core functionality and ensuring that it is available using the simplest technologies and building accessible user interfaces, it ensures that everyone has equal access.
Whether though sight, hearing or touch; is user-friendly, this website is easy to comprehend and robust and accessible across devices from mobile to the largest of desktops.
1. The same primary, secondary and tertiary navigation is repeated on all pages appearing in the same place each time, with the same functionality, essential to make navigation predictable and consistent.
2. Interactive elements have touch points no smaller than 45px square.
3. User interface components repeat using the same labels each time.
4. Signposting has been designed with clear titles and call to action buttons.
1. Content appears and is operated in predictable ways.
2. The page design is based on a 12 column grid, ensuring reusable modules align, making content navigation fluid and understandable.
3. Paragraph text is set at 18px, 2px bigger than WCAG guidance for improved legibility.
4. Text line length has been restricted to a maximum width of 66.6% of the content area width to avoid hard-to-read line lengths.
1. The contrast ratio between text and its background is at least 4.5 to 1 (conformance level AA.)
2. The existing Marjon colour palette remains untouched however where necessary, larger fonts are used to read at lower contrast.
3. We have avoided using colour alone to make critical information understandable.
1. Full browser width images have been avoided, resulting in faster page load.
2. 16:9 or square format images have been used to ensure a consistent and predictable page layout.
3. Images with text overlays have been avoided, other than the main hero image on the home page, which has been made accessible by ensuring a suitable and minimum contrast.
1. Form design has been given extra attention to improve accessibility including clear labelling and browser default inputs, selectors, radio buttons, check boxes and buttons.
2. Forms have ‘steps’ so users can understand where they are in the process of submitting information.
1. Embedded widgets from Twitter and YouTube have been mainly left untouched, allowing for their already accessible code and UI to perform correctly and accessibly.
2. Video transcripts options are available on videos and are displayed in a clear and accessible way.
The website has additional accessibility options, enabling visitors to change display colours, fonts, text sizes and text spacing.
Conformance evaluation of web accessibility requires a combination of semi-automated evaluation tools and manual evaluation. The website was tested in the design, prototype and build stages.
Initially a prototype was tested with eight users, all of whom had disabilities. During build conformance was tested against WCAG 2.1 Level AA. Testing spanned automated tools and manual reviews. We also checked heading structures and semantic HTML via the W3C validator here.
The website was built using modules. Separating each part of a page into either re-usable blocks or individual blocks. As each module was built, it was tested and ensured semantic HTML was being used, based upon the approved designs. The CSS used within the site is all standard CSS3, supported on all major browsers, with some fallbacks for older versions of IE. No CSS frameworks were used.
Vanilla JavaScript and jQuery were used to build the site and add additional accessibility conformance to items such as the menu, and the custom accessibility tools.
Based upon the WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines, each part of the site was based upon the four foundations of accessibility conformance where applicable:
We know some parts of this website aren’t currently fully accessible:
If you need information on this website in a different format email marketing@marjon.ac.uk. We’ll consider your request and get back to you in five working days.
If you need information on our courses or applying to study at Marjon you can call +44 (0)1752 636890 (10am–4pm) or email admissions@marjon.ac.uk.
If you can’t view any of the maps you can call us on +44 (0)1752 636700 or email info@marjon.ac.uk for directions.
Our Contact page lists other departments you can call for information.
We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems that aren’t listed on this page or think we’re not meeting the requirements of the accessibility regulations, contact marketing@marjon.ac.uk.
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).
This statement was first published on 19 September 2019 and last updated on 19 October 2020.
