Timetabler Application Accessibility Statement

Website accessibility statement inline with Public Sector Body (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018

This accessibility statement applies to   https://timetabler.is.ed.ac.uk/

This web application is run by the timetabling department at the University of Edinburgh. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this application. For example, that means you should be able to:

• Using your browser settings, change most colours, contrast levels and fonts[VG1]
• Use the website without encountering any time limits

We’ve also made the text as simple as possible to understand. However, some of our content is technical, and we use technical terms where there is no easier wording we could use without changing what the text means.

Customising the Application

AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability. This is an external site with suggestions to make your computer more accessible:

AbilityNet - My Computer My Way

With a few simple steps you can customise the appearance of the application using your browser settings to make it easier to read and navigate:

Additional information on how to customise our website appearance

University staff and students can use the free SensusAccess accessible document conversion service:

Information on SensusAccess

How accessible this application is

We know some parts of this application are not fully accessible:

• Accessing all content may not be possible by using the keyboard alone, as some content is inaccessible
• There are keyboard traps
• It is not always clear where the user has navigated to on the page when using keyboard
• Some items are coded incorrectly, meaning JAWS struggles to navigate around some areas of the site and cannot reach all content (some buttons lack discernible text)
• It is not possible to magnify all content to 200% without loss of content
• Reflow does not work up to 400%
• Not all non-text content has alternative text
• There are examples of information conveyed by colour only
• Some text moves and cannot be stopped or paused by the user
• Pop-ups open without warning the users and some links open in new tabs without warning
• Not all colour contrasts meet recommended minimum
• Site lacks descriptive labels and headings
• Tooltips are not enabled on all relevant items and cannot be accessed by keyboard navigation
• Some links and error messages open new browser tabs or pop ups without warning
• Not all colour contrasts meet the minimum standards
• Tooltips are not accessible by keyboard and assistive software

Feedback and contact information

If you need information on this application in a different format, including accessible PDF, large print, audio recording or braille:

• https://www.ed.ac.uk/timetabling-examinations/timetabling/contacts
• Email - timetabling@ed.ac.uk
• Address - University of Edinburgh, South Bridge, Edinburgh EH8 9YL
• British Sign Language (BSL) users can contact us via Contact Scotland BSL, the on-line BSL interpreting service:
• Contact Scotland BSL

We’ll consider your request and get back to you in 5 working days.

Reporting accessibility problems with this application

We are always looking to improve the accessibility of this application. If you find any problems not listed on this page, or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, please contact:

• https://www.ed.ac.uk/timetabling-examinations/timetabling/contacts
• Email - timetabling@ed.ac.uk
• Address - University of Edinburgh, South Bridge, Edinburgh EH8 9YL
• British Sign Language (BSL) users can contact us via Contact Scotland BSL, the on-line BSL interpreting service:
• Contact Scotland BSL

We’ll consider your request and get back to you in 5 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 please contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS) directly:

Contact details for the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS)

The government has produced information on how to report accessibility issues:

Reporting an accessibility problem on a public sector website

Contacting us by phone using British Sign Language

British Sign Language service

Contact Scotland BSL runs a service for British Sign Language users and all of Scotland’s public bodies using video relay. This enables sign language users to contact public bodies and vice versa. The service operates from 8am to 12 midnight, 7 days a week. 

Contact Scotland BSL service details

Technical information about this application’s accessibility

The University of Edinburgh is committed to making its websites and applications accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Compliance Status

This application is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.

The full guidelines are available at:

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA standard

Non accessible content

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

Noncompliance with the accessibility regulations

The following items to not comply with the WCAG 2.2 AA success criteria:

• Not all non-text content presented to users has alternative text
  • 1.1.1 - Non-text Content
• Some items are not coded correctly and therefore do not interact with assistive software as expected
  • 1.3.1 – Info and Relationships
• There are examples of information conveyed by colour only
  • 1.4.1 – Use of Colour
• There may not be sufficient colour contrast between font and background colours, especially where the text size is very small
  • 1.4.3 - Contrast (Minimum)
• Above 200% magnification, content is lost because of overlapping items
  • 1.4.4 - Resize Text
• Reflow is only enabled up to 150% on some pages, and on others users must scroll horizontally at 100% magnification
  • 1.4.10 – Reflow
• Tooltips cannot be reached by keyboard navigation, and they are not enabled on all relevant items
  • 1.4.13 – Content on Hover or Focus
• Not all content can be reached when navigating by keyboard
  • 2.1.1 - Keyboard
• There is moving text that cannot be paused or stopped by the users
  • 2.2.2 – Pause, Stop, Hide
• There is no skip to main content link on the site
  • 2.4.1 – Bypass blocks
• The site does not have a heading structure to help with navigation
  • 2.4.6 – Headings and Labels
• Visual information to identify user interface components, such as keyboard focus, do not always have a sufficient contrast ratio, or some items have no keyboard focus at all
  • 2.4.7 - Focus Visible
• Pop ups and new tabs open without the user being alerted
  • 3.2.2 On Input
• Data validation mechanisms appear as pop ups which are inaccessible to some users and are not consistent
  • 3.3.1 Error Identification
• The site is not fully compatible with screen readers as not all elements are correctly labelled.
  • 4.1.2 – Name, Role, Value

Unless specified otherwise, a complete solution or significant improvement will be in place for those items within our control by July 2026. We will continue to work with the suppliers regarding items out with our control. The supplier provides releases every 2 months with enhancements.

Disproportionate burden

We are not currently claiming that any accessibility problems would be a disproportionate burden to fix.

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

Maps

The site has addresses of events but also has an integrated map functionality, which may not be fully accessible. However, maps are currently not within the scope of the accessibility regulations, as long as information needed for navigation is provided in an alternative format: 

Items outwith the scope of the accessibility regulations

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

We will continue to address the accessibility issues highlighted, alongside working to deliver a solution or suitable workaround. Unless specified otherwise, a complete solution or significant improvement will be in place for those items within our control by July 2026. We will continue to work with the suppliers regarding items out with our control. The supplier provides releases every 2 months with enhancements.

While we are in the process of resolving these accessibility issues, or where we are unable, we will ensure reasonable adjustments are in place to make sure no user is disadvantaged. As changes are made, we will continue to review accessibility and retest the accessibility of this application.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared 2nd April 2024. It was last reviewed on 8th July 2025.

The application was last tested in July 2025. The testing was carried out by the Disability Information Team at the University of Edinburgh using both automated and manual methods. The site was tested on a PC, primarily using Microsoft Edge alongside Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome.

Recent world-wide usage levels survey for different screen readers and browsers shows that Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Edge are increasing in popularity and Google Chrome is now the favoured browser for screen readers:

WebAIM: Screen Reader User Survey

The aforementioned three browsers have been used in certain questions for reasons of breadth and variety.

We ran automated testing using AXE (Google Chrome extension) and then manual testing that included:

We tested:

• Spell check functionality;
• Scaling using different resolutions and reflow;
• Options to customise the interface (magnification, font, background colour, etc);
• Keyboard navigation and keyboard traps;
• Data validation;
• Warning of links opening in new tab or window;
• Information conveyed in the colour or sound only;
• Flashing, moving or scrolling text;
• Use with screen reading software (for example JAWS);
• Assistive software (TextHelp Read and Write, Windows Magnifier, ZoomText, Dragon Naturally Speaking, TalkBack and VoiceOver);
• Tooltips and text alternatives for any non-text content;
• Time limits;
• Compatibility with mobile accessibility functionality (Android and iOS);
• Any drag functionality and alternatives;
• Consistent help function;
• No need to re-enter data already submitted;
• Any cognitive tests.

Change Log

• Skip to main content links were added
  • 2.4.1 – Bypass blocks