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Accessibility: Aula's Statement

  • Updated

Aula strives to ensure that all learners and educators, regardless of age, ability, or situation, are empowered and engaged in their learning and teaching experiences. The purpose of this document is to describe Aula’s approach and the current state of accessibility in the Aula platform.

Conformance to Standards

Aula is designed and developed in accordance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level A and AA. All areas where Aula does not fully support WCAG 2.1 standards are transparently reported in this document and remediations are prioritised highly on our roadmap. As acknowledged by the Information Technology Industry Council (ITIC), the complexities of a Software as a Service (SaaS) platform such as Aula make the clear delineation of compliance or non-compliance difficult to achieve. To counter this challenge, Aula strongly believes that accessibility is not an end state, but a commitment to a continuous process of vigilance and improvement reflected in our approach.

Aula’s Approach to Accessibility

Aula’s designers and engineers are committed to building software that considers accessibility throughout the process. By following best practices and internationally recognized standards, Aula ensures compatibility with a wide range of assistive technologies, including keyboard-only navigation, screen readers, and native zoom and contrast features. This allows users to work with the tools they are comfortable with.

To ensure continued accessibility, we regularly audit the platform with third-party experts for compliance with WCAG 2.1 A and AA standards using tools like:

  • JAWS screen reader testing (Win 10/Chrome)
  • Keyboard-only navigation (Win 10/Chrome)
  • Color contrast testing (Win 10/Chrome)
  • Full browser zoom testing (Win 10/Chrome)
  • aXe automated testing

Aula understands that accessibility is more than just compliance; it’s about usability. We test with users who rely on assistive technologies to ensure real-world accessibility. If any user encounters difficulties, we encourage them to contact our support team for assistance or escalation to our development team for timely resolution.

Measures Taken to Ensure Accessibility

To ensure accessibility across our platform, Aula has taken the following measures:

  • Regular Audits: We partnered with Dig Inclusion, a specialist accessibility consultancy, to conduct regular WCAG 2.1 AA audits of our platform.
  • Continuous Monitoring: We actively monitor and update the platform to improve accessibility and address any reported issues.
  • User Feedback: We encourage feedback from our users, which helps inform further improvements and accessibility updates. Aula understands that accessibility is more than just compliance; it’s about usability.

Aula has been tested in various environments to ensure its accessibility, including:

  • Desktop and laptop computers with different operating systems (Windows, macOS)
  • Popular screen readers, such as JAWS and NVDA
  • Keyboard-only navigation
  • Text resizing and color contrast tools

Technical Prerequisites

For the best experience, Aula recommends using the following web browsers:

  • Google Chrome
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Safari
  • Microsoft Edge

The platform supports keyboard navigation and is compatible with most modern assistive technologies, including screen readers and magnifiers. 

Legal Compliance

Aula's accessibility efforts align with relevant national and local laws, including the Equality Act 2010 (UK) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the United States, which protect the rights of individuals with disabilities to have equal access to digital services.

We are committed to providing a fully accessible platform and continuously strive to improve the accessibility of our services.

Known Limitations

While Aula strives for full compliance, we recognize certain limitations, including:

  • Form Labels: Some forms do not have fully descriptive labels, which may affect usability for screen reader users.
  • Contrast Ratios: A few graphical elements may not meet the minimum contrast ratio required for visibility, which could affect users with visual impairments.
  • Status Messages: Some status messages are not fully compliant with accessibility standards for automatic announcement by assistive technologies.

We are working to address these issues in future updates and welcome feedback to guide our ongoing efforts.

Contact Information

If you encounter any accessibility issues while using Aula, or have any feedback or suggestions to help us improve accessibility, please contact us at support@aula.education

 

See Also:

Aula Education Ltd. Accessibility Conformance Report, Sept 2020

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