University College Cork is committed to making its websites accessible, in accordance with the European Union (Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications of Public Sector Bodies Regulations 2020). The content on this website is designed for everyone to find, read, and understand. Where we have identified issues with the website’s accessibility or compatibility with assistive technologies they are listed in this statement. Any issues we have identified with the website’s accessibility or compatibility with assistive technologies are listed in this statement.

Scope and Ownership

This statement applies to content published on www.ucc.ie. The university runs a number of other publicly available websites, but these will have their own accessibility statements.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 1 July 2024 and last reviewed on 6 August 2024

How we test the www.ucc.ie site

We aim to have our website meet the WCAG 2.1 Level AA Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. We assessed our site with these standards as our target. This assessment was performed using a range to tools including: 

• WAVE and Accessibility Insights for Web
• Google Chrome and Edge Web Browsers
• Manual Keyboard navigation tests
• National Disability Authority (NDA) Axe Monitoring Tool
• The output of the NDA’s own audit of selected UCC website pages

We have also completed accessibility audits and have carried out user testing on the site. We will continue to do this on a regular basis.

Compliance status

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 level AA, due to the non-accessible content below.

Non- accessible content

• Hyperlinks: Some of our hyperlinks have non-unique text such as “Download” or “Click Here”
• Images: Not all images on ucc.ie have alt text. If an image does not have alt text defined, then a user using assistive technologies will not be able to establish what is conveyed in the image.
• Tables: Some tables on ucc.ie do not have table headers defined. This makes it difficult for people using screen readers or voice recognition software to read the content of the table.
• PDFs: PDFs are less accessible than HTML pages for people using assistive technologies. Training is being carried out in the university to teach people how to create accessible PDFs.
• Downloadable documents: We have a number of downloadable documents, such as documents, spreadsheets, and presentations on ucc.ie – these files are also less accessible than structured HTML for people using assistive technologies. We are working with website moderators to ensure any documents added to the site going forward are as accessible as possible.
• Infographics: We have a number of graphics on ucc.ie with text which do not have correct descriptions, meaning a user using assistive technologies will not learn of the information contained in the graphic.
• Video: We have a number of videos embedded on our site that do not have captions or transcripts associated with them, making them less accessible to users of assistive technology.

This is not an exhaustive list of inaccessible content.

Exempted content

PDF documents that were published before 23 September 2018 are exempt from these guidelines except where it is related to a service that a member of the public must use.

Videos or audio published before 23 September 2020 are exempt from these guidelines.

How we are going to improve accessibility on www.ucc.ie

We are working with our website moderators across all units of UCC to ensure they are publishing content in HTML pages rather than using less accessible formats like PDF. In the small number of instances where we have to use Word/PDF, then we will use necessary tools to ensure they are accessible.

Staff commissioning video on behalf of the university are directed to ensure the vendor include captions and transcripts for increased accessibility.

Our website training stresses the importance of planning and structure to help ensure the content being created by our moderators is accessible. The training also includes instructions on accessible tables, the use of alternative formats for highly visual items such as infographics and correct use of alt text.

Feedback and contact information

University College Cork is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for persons with disabilities.

If you have comments or complaints about the accessibility of this website, please email decomms@ucc.ie 

If you wish to request particular content in an accessible format, please include the following details:

• Your required format
• The content you wish to receive (include URL of content)
• Your name and email address

We will make all reasonable efforts to fulfil your request.

If you are not happy with our response, you can make a complaint to the Ombudsman under the Disability Act.