Website accessibility gets a boost

Visitors to the University’s website have an even more helpful browsing experience with new accessibility options.

Recite Me support options were introduced a year ago and can be found by clicking the ‘person’ icon located in the top right corner of any page of the University’s website.

They can be used with tools or on their own and cover 65 text-to-speech and styling options so users can pick and choose their own viewing experience. These include translations into 100 different languages, a screen reader and even a ruler so website users can concentrate on text one sentence at a time.

Now, two extra features have been added to this list:

• A page summariser. This automatically condenses webpage content into easy-to-read summaries. Web users can customise the reading level of the condensed text by choosing from Easy, Intermediate, or Advanced options.
• Tutorial bar. When users launch the accessibility toolbar, there is supplementary guidance on how to use it.

Since January last year, the Recite Me options have been accessed by 40,125 individual users, an average of 3,343 each month.

James Seymour, Director of Marketing and Student Recruitment, says: “The University’s website is our ‘window to the world’ where members of the public can find out about our events and research and budding students preparing to make what could be the biggest decision of their lives can see all we offer them, from day one at UON.

“Ensuring our website is easy to navigate and accessible to all is always a high priority for us, none more so with the UCAS application deadline fast approaching this week (Wednesday 29 January). Prospective students can find out more about the application process in this news article and more about the benefits of coming to university in this blog article.”