Introduction
At Goddard Veterinary Nursing College (GVNC), we are committed to ensuring equal access and opportunity for all individuals, including those with disabilities. We recognise the importance of digital accessibility in providing an inclusive learning and working environment.
This policy outlines our commitment to digital accessibility and the steps we take to ensure accessibility in all our digital platforms and resources to include Microsoft Office 365.
Policy Statement
GVNC is committed to ensuring that all students, staff, and visitors have equal access to digital information and resources. We strive to comply with applicable accessibility standards and regulations, including but not limited to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at Level AA.
We aim to provide accessible digital content and platforms that accommodate a diverse range of abilities and assistive technologies as well as promoting a culture of accessibility awareness and provide resources and support to foster inclusive digital practices.
Accessibility Guidelines
Our digital platforms and resources adhere to the WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards. We ensure that our websites including Teams, and other digital resources are perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.
We strive to ensure compatibility and promote commonly used assistive technologies such as screen readers, magnifiers, and alternative input devices such as Microsoft Office 365 Immersive Reader. We endeavour to provide subtitles, transcripts, and audio descriptions for multimedia content such as YouTube videos to ensure accessibility for students with hearing or visual impairments.
GVNC will ensure that when creating and distributing digital documents that these are in accessible formats, including but not limited to PDFs, Word documents, and presentations, adhering to accessibility guidelines.
Responsibilities
All staff involved in creating or uploading digital content are responsible for ensuring accessibility. They are encouraged to follow accessibility guidelines and seek support from the Additional Learning Support Lead as needed.
When procuring or licensing third-party digital products or services such as whiteboards and e-libraries, we prioritise accessibility ensuring that we are adhering to accessibility standards.
Training and Support
We provide accessibility training and resources to all staff involved in creating and maintaining digital content such as PowerPoint presentations and hand-outs. This training includes best practices for creating accessible documents and utilising accessibility features in software tools such as Microsoft Office 365.
We offer support and guidance through the Additional Learning Support Lead, who can provide assistance, answer questions, and offer accessibility evaluations of digital content.
Monitoring and Reporting
We periodically evaluate our digital platforms and resources for accessibility compliance, employing techniques such as automated testing through use of the Accessibility Checker across Microsoft Office 365 applications including Word and PowerPoint as well as carrying out sampling using our internal quality assurance processes, and user feedback.
In cases where accessibility issues are identified, we will prioritise resolving these based on impact and resources available and resolve in a timely manner to ensure we continue to comply with accessibility guidelines.
We encourage students, staff, and visitors to report any accessibility barriers they encounter. Reports can be submitted to the Head of College, Emma Eve-Raw, who alongside the Additional Learning Support Lead, will investigate and address accordingly.
Review and Revision
This policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure its effectiveness and relevance. We will update the policy as needed to reflect changes in technology, regulations, and best practices.
By implementing this digital accessibility policy, GVNC aims to create an inclusive digital environment where everyone can fully participate in their learning.