KEYLINKS ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT

This accessibility statement applies to the Glasgow School of Art’s resource list platform, Keylinks (https://gsa.keylinks.org/#/). This website is run by GSA Library Services, and is a tailored version of a third-party service run by Keylinks.  

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 
  • zoom in up to 300% without the text spilling off the screen
  • navigate most of the website 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). Users of NVDA are recommended to use Chrome. 

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 non-text content lacks appropriate description 
  • Some landmarks and regions on the site lack appropriate names 
  • Some forms lack form labels 
  • Some content and headings are not presented in a logical sequence 
  • Some instructions for operating content rely on sensory characteristics  
  • The login form is pre-filled with generic information 
  • Some text does not meet the minimum contrast ratio (4:5:1) 
  • Many pages do not reflow horizontally and require scrolling on two axes at a width equivalent of 320 pixels 
  • Some content revealed on hover or focus is different depending on when the user hovers or uses keyboard focus 
  • The main menu is not Keyboard navigable 
  • Platform lacks bypass blocks 
  • Some links are not clearly described (such as menu icons) 
  • If a search has no results there is no alert for the user 
  • Labels and instructions for buttons are not provided in a manner that is compatible with a screen reader 

Feedback and contact information 

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 5 days. 

Reporting accessibility problems with this website 

We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, contact LTHelp@gsa.ac.uk 

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). 

Visiting us in person 

Our ground-floor Service Desk is fitted with a hearing loop. 

Technical information about this website’s accessibility 

Glasgow School of Art Library Services 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 

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below. 

Non-accessible content 

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

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations 

The website fails to meet criterion 1.1.1 Non-text content (Level A) as many of the icons on the menu do not have text alternatives that serve the equivalent purpose. 

The website also fails to meet criterion 1.3.1 Info and Relationships (Level A) as the main menu has improper ARIA usage and forms are missing appropriate form labels.  

Content is not presented in a meaningful sequence, which is a failure against criterion 1.3.2 Meaningful Sequence (Level A).   

Some content relies solely on sensory characteristics such as shape, size, and visual location in order to operate or understand it. This is failure against criteria 1.3.3 Sensory Characteristics (Level A). 

Several input fields such as forms and the login option do not have programmatic description of their input field, failing against criteria 1.3.5 Identify Input Purpose (Level AA).  

Some of the text used (the text reading ‘Go to Top’ on the resource list pages) does not meet the minimum contrast ratio of at least 4:5:1. 

Many pages do not reflow horizontally and scroll on both axes at a width equivalent of 320 pixels, failing against criteria 1.4.10 Reflow (Level AA). 

Some content which is presented on hover is not presented when it receives keyboard focus, which is inaccessible to keyboard users. This fails against 1.4.13 Content on Hover or Focus (Level AA). 

The main menu does not open when it receives focus, rendering it useless to users using keyboard navigation. This is failure against criterion 2.1.1 Keyboard (Level A). 

The website lacks bypass blocks, failing against criterion 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks (Level A). 

The website fails against criterion 2.4.3 Focus Order (Level A) as it does not present content in a logical order: for instance, there is a hidden login page that appears in the focus order and the search comes up first. 

Links are often provided out of context, for example the menu icons are not properly labelled, meaning that the website fails against criteria 2.4.4 Link Purpose (in Context) (Level A). 

When users enter search terms that do not generate results, no message is presented to the user, giving the impression the search has not been completed. This is a failure against criterion 3.3.1 Error Identification (Level A).  

Buttons in the menu and in the resource lists lack appropriate labels and names meaning that the website fails against criterion 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions (Level A). 

Status messages are not presented to users via assistive technologies such as screenreaders, failing against criterion 4.1.3 Status Messages (Level AA). 

Unfortunately, GSA Library Services is not able to resolve the failures listed above. We have reported these errors to Keylinks.  

Some of the PDFs presented on the Digital Content Store are not tagged appropriately and may not be fully accessible to users with a screen reader. Currently, GSA Library Services is offering training to all staff in creating accessible documents to remedy this issue. If you require access to a PDF which is not accessible, please contact LTHelp@gsa.ac.uk.  

Content that is not within the scope of the accessibility regulations 

The accessibility regulations 2018 do not require us to remediate inaccessible PDFs if they are not essential to our services and were published prior to 23 September 2018. Some PDFs that fall into this category may exist on Keylinks. 

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

Preparation of this accessibility statement 

This statement was prepared on 06/05/2022.  

This website was last tested in December 2021. The test was carried out by Glasgow School of Art Library Services. GSA Library Services used the WCAG Evaluation Methodology to decide on a sample of pages to test. Please contact lthelp@gsa.ac.uk if you would like to know more about the sampling method or our roadmap for fixing accessibility issues.