Ensuring our digital content is accessible to all
The University has joined forces with other public sector bodies to ensure Kent becomes a digitally inclusive county.
The Kent Digital Accessibility Working Group – made up of the University and its ‘Kent Connect’ partners including local authorities, police and fire – aims to meet rules outlined in the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations (2018).
Members of the group from across the University are already working on a training plan for all organisations involved, as well as adding to the team of experienced accessibility auditors across the county to ensure that all Kent websites are accessible to all.
The Kent Digital Accessibility Working Group are also taking steps to ensure the University’s own digital content is fully accessible.
The aim is to improve access for all and this work compliments the Kent Inclusive Practices (KIPs) that the University has already endorsed.
In addition, the new web template – Site Editor – is designed to be highly accessible, and digital guidelines are being shared with schools and departments to help prepare content for those webpages. i.e. a review current content and removal of obsolete information
The following principles can and should be applied to all digital material at Kent to help ensure a fully inclusive environment. They include:
· Keep content simple
· Keep it efficient
· Make sure the text is accessible to other applications
· Structure your text with style sheets/semantic tags
· Ensure text can be personalised and reflows when magnified
· Use short image descriptions known as alt-tags
· Test it!
You can see the digital guidelines for more detailed support and information.
The working group also have created a Digital Accessibility e-learning package in Moodle to give more detail about the regulations and how they will be rolled out across the University of Kent.
For any questions in relation to the guidance please contact a member of the Kent Digital Accessibility Working Group.
Technical accessibility statement