Accessibility Statement

Accessibility statement for Aberystwyth University’s Online Shop

This accessibility statement applies to all webpages with web address beginning shop.aber.ac.uk.

This website is run by Aberystwyth University. 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 using browser or device settings;
  • navigate most of the website using a keyboard or 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:

  • some pages skip a heading level
  • some fields do not identify their purpose programmatically, to allow browsers to help users fill in forms with known information
  • some buttons do not work when using screen readers
  • some text does not have sufficient contrast with the background colour
  • form controls do not appear sufficiently distinct from their surroundings
  • users are unable to skip to main content of the page
  • landmarks do not identify the primary content of the page
  • some pages contain link text which is repeated or unfriendly
  • some interactive components are too close to other interactive areas
  • pages do not reflow or resize based on viewing settings

Feedback and contact information

If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, contact Information Services.

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 in 10 working days.

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).

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

Aberystwyth University 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

The website has been tested against the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) [2.2] AA standard.

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliances and exemptions listed below.

Non-accessible content

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

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

Many of the improvements identified are outside the capability of the University to resolve, as it procures the system from a third-party provider. The University will work with the third-party provider (WPM) to seek to identify solutions for the following:

Colour

On all pages there is not sufficient colour contrast on parts of the text. This can mean that people with certain visual impairments will not be able to read this content. This doesn't meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum).

Components

Interactive components are too close to other interactive areas on some pages. This means that they may not be far enough apart from other interactive areas, to avoid them being used by mistake. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.2 success criterion 2.5.8 Target Size (Minimum). 

Forms

On the search form, a placeholder is used rather than a label. This can mean that it's not clear to people filling out the form what data they should enter into the field. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.1 Info and Relationships.

Some form fields do not have visible labels or identify what their purposes are programmatically. This can mean that it's more difficult for people using assistive technology to understand what data should be entered. This doesn't meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.5 Identify Input Purpose.

Form controls do not appear sufficiently distinct from their surroundings, so that people with visual impairments are still able to clearly see them. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.4.11 Non-text Contrast.

Some buttons do not work when using assistive technology. This means that people using assistive technology may not be able to complete the form with the information required. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.1.1 Keyboard.

Headings

Some pages skip a heading level or include multiple heading 1 elements. This is confusing when the pages are accessed using assistive technology. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.1 Info and Relationships.

Some pages use headings to highlight text that isn't really a heading. This is confusing when the pages are viewed using assistive technology. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.1 Info and Relationships.

Keyboard

Some pages have areas that cannot be accessed via keyboard. This includes sub-menus in the navigation. This means that the information contained in the sub-menus is not available to people navigating via keyboard. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.1.1 Keyboard.

Landmarks

There are no landmarks identified within the pages. This means that people using assistive technology may have difficulty orienting themselves and navigating the pages. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.1 Info and Relationships.

Language

Both English and Welsh text are available on the same pages. This can be confusing for people using screen readers as all the text will be read out based on the same language rules and pronunciation. This doesn't meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 3.1.1 Language of Page.

Information on the language of the page is not defined. This can mean that assistive technology is unable to present the text correctly. This doesn't meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 3.1.1 Language of Page.

Links

Some pages have multiple links using the same text. This is confusing when the pages are accessed using assistive technology. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context).

The majority of pages do not include links which allow users to skip to the main content of the page. This can make it difficult for people using assistive technology to navigate the page and find the main content. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks.

Tables

Tables are being used for layout throughout the site.  This means that it is confusing and frustrating for people using assistive technology. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.1 Info and Relationships.

Some table column headings are empty and do not contain a valid scope attribute. This is confusing when the pages are viewed using assistive technology as users won’t know what the header refers to. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.0 success criterion 1.3.1 Info and Relationships.

Text

When browser zoom is increased beyond 200%, text doesn't reflow. This means that people who need to enlarge text will have to scroll left to right to read it. This doesn't meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.4.10 Reflow.

Content that’s not within the scope of the accessibility regulations

PDFs and other documents

The accessibility regulations do not require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they’re not essential to providing our services.

Any new PDFs or Word documents we publish will meet accessibility standards.

Live video

We do not plan to add captions to live video streams because live video is exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations.

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

Our accessibility roadmap [add link to roadmap] shows how and when we plan to improve accessibility on this website.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 22/09/2020. It was last reviewed on 19/03/2025.

This website was last tested on 19/03/2025 against the WCAG [2.2] AA standard.

The test was carried out by Aberystwyth University. The most viewed pages were tested using automated testing tools by our website team. A further audit of the website was carried out to the WCAG 2.2 AA standard.