canvas.swan.ac.uk

Accessibility Statement

This accessibility statement applies to https://canvas.swansea.ac.uk/.

Canvas has been developed by Instructure and is run by Swansea University. We want as many people as possible to be able to use the website canvas.swan.ac.uk, feel welcome and find the experience rewarding. For example, that means you should be able to:

Zoom in up to 200% without the text spilling off the screen.
Skip to main content on the website.
Adjust text spacing without affecting layout or usability.
Navigate the website using just a keyboard.

AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.

How accessible canvas.swan.ac.uk is?

The Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) by Instructure has been evaluated externally and by our internal specialist and both certify canvas.swan.ac.uk is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard.

We know some parts of canvas.swan.ac.uk aren't as accessible as they should be:

Not all images have appropriate text alternatives.
Some images are not accurately labelled as meaningful or decorative.
Some text and controls do not meet contrast guidelines.
Headings are sometimes used incorrectly, which can affect screen reader usage.
Screen readers do not get warnings of timed tests or quizzes without focus.
Screen readers do not get as detailed error messages as visual counterparts in quizzes.

A number of third-party plugins known as Learning Tool Interoperability (LTI) are used with Canvas which may not be as accessible as the Canvas application that has been tested for this statement. Please see the interactive tools section for full details.

Alternative Formats

If you need information on canvas.swan.ac.uk in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille, you can contact our Transcription Centre:

Email: braille@swansea.ac.uk
Twitter: @SUTranscription

Swansea University Transcription Centre
Amy Dillwyn Building, Swansea University,
Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, United Kingdom

How to find the transcription center: Swansea University Transcription Centre (SUTC)

We'll consider your request and get back to you in 7 days.

Reporting accessibility problems with canvas.swan.ac.uk

We're always looking to improve the accessibility of the Canvas Learning Management System. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we're not meeting accessibility requirements:

Email: ITservicedesk@swansea.ac.uk
Or call us on: +44 01792 60(4000)

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)

The university aims to provide professional information and guidance services for disabled students, students with specific needs and/or medical conditions. We can provide support if you would like to visit us or phone us.
Please contact the Disability Service:

Telephone: +44 (0)1792 60 6617
Email: wellbeingdisability@swansea.ac.uk

Technical information about the website’s accessibility

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

Compliance status

canvas.swan.ac.uk is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.

Non accessible content

Swansea University is committed to sustaining Level AA accessibility. The following information explains any areas of Canvas that to our knowledge are not conformant and what we're doing to make that happen.

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

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

The internal audit evaluated sample content within Canvas and the following criteria were found to be non-compliant.

WCAG 2.1 success criterion: 1.1.1 Non-text Content

Headings not marked up correctly

Some course landing page icons are not marked as decorative for alternative text, causing repetition or confusion for screen reader experience.

Unhelpful alt Descriptions Tags

Some image alternative tags have been completed with a generic file name rather than a representative description.

WCAG 2.1 success criterion: 1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded)

Lecture Videos were present that showed diagrams as part of lectures with no additional or alternative ways for a user to access this content. However, the university does offer transcription services to mitigate this.

WCAG 2.1 success criterion: 1.2.4 Captions (Live)

Captioning of live content is currently not available within Panopto.

WCAG 2.1 success criterion: 1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded)

Some videos may not have audio or alternative text descriptions available for visual content.

WCAG 2.1 success criterion: 1.3.1 Info and Relationships

Headings

The heading order is broken when the status message is used on the dashboard page.

Some course pages break heading hierarchy, with missing headings and have more than one H1 tag.

No headings are used on the Panopto Video listing page, even though contents appear to be marked up as headings.

Native App vs Website Experience

The Canvas native mobile uses a reduced accessibility structure resulting in only one heading being available and often no links or landmarks being available in mobile screen readers, although functional this results in a lesser experience on mobile devices with assistive technology. It also regularly does not support navigation through anything other than swipes, with no landmarks or links and only one heading used across pages. When compared to the web version this is a very stripped-down experience.

WCAG 2.1 success criterion: 1.3.2 Meaningful Sequence

Inbox tab order out of context

The Inbox is usable with a keyboard but has a tab order which displays a control out of context to the user's vision.

Calendar view unavailable

The calendar has no only has support for the Agenda view, which means the calendar view has an impacted meaningful sequence.

WCAG 2.1 success criterion: 1.4.1 Use of Color

Turnitin Errors

Error messages in the Turnitin Submission dialogue can only be identified by colour.

WCAG 2.1 success criterion: 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum)

Turnitin uses the message "You have no active papers in the assignments" which currently fails contrast guidelines.

WCAG 2.1 success criterion: 1.4.5 Images of text

Images of text are frequently used in content (Canvas Page and uploaded PowerPoint files) containing key information, making it inaccessible to screen reader users. Users are required to zoom into text as the image will not scale smoothly; the image may crop and scale poorly requiring lots of scrolling horizontally for those with motor impairments, too.

WCAG 2.1 success criterion: 1.4.12 Text Spacing

Text styles cannot be done to text content on New Quizzes.

WCAG 2.1 success criterion: 2.1.1 Keyboard

The calendar page has a number of views including calendar and agenda. The calendar view does not support full keyboard navigation to move through the month. Users are warned of this and offered an agenda view.

WCAG 2.1 success criterion: 2.2.1 Timing Adjustable

The Canvas Quiz does not support adjustable timing for a timed quiz. Instructions state users that need more time will be given it, but no controls or ability to extend the time are offered. The quiz also submits once the time allotted has elapsed.

WCAG 2.1 success criterion: 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks

Panopto site does not have a skip to main feature. This means to reach the video content with keyboard navigation multiple tabs are required.

WCAG 2.1 success criterion: 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context)

Generic External Tool Link Naming Convention

Links for tests are labeled generically as "External Tool Link" on the Canvas Native mobile app.

WCAG 2.1 success criterion: 2.4.7 Focus Visible

Turnitin assignment page and modal does not use focus rings.

WCAG 2.1 success criterion: 2.5.5 Target Size

Neither Turnitin nor Panopto rescales or reflows when used on mobile phones. The result is a pointer size being below the required 44pt. This would also impact users with motor and visual impairments having to accommodate pinching, zooming and tapping small touch areas.

WCAG 2.1 success criterion: 3.1.1 Language of Page

Canvas uses En-GB as page language, whilst Turnitin uses En-US. This may impact screen reader users as dates may be announced differently.

Some pages use Welsh and English, but do not have the relevant lang attribute with HTML tags.

WCAG 2.1 success criterion: 3.3.3 Error Suggestion

Quiz Error Highlighting

Classic quizzes only state '2 questions have not been completed' with no highlighting of fields with errors.

New Quizzes have more detailed error messaging and state the questions that have not been completed, but have no highlighting of fields with errors.

WCAG 2.1 success criterion: 4.1.1 Parsing

A regular issue with Canvas pages is related to <div> being embedded with <button> tags in the global menu. This is also found in Turnitin, too.

WCAG 2.1 success criterion: 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value

Iframe Titles

Iframes for LTI do not use a title that describes content accurately; all LTIs are described as “tool content”.

WCAG 2.1 success criterion: 4.1.3: Status Messages

Timed Quiz Status Messages

Quiz question pages are timed, but do not have status messages or alerts to indicate the timer has started. The quiz also auto-submits with a message that is difficult to hear as it is submitted at the same time.

Turnitin Error Message

Turnitin presents an error message that is not focusable when a field is incorrect and also uses a pattern that disables the button until fields are completed. This means an error message is presented in line with the field that is incorrect and the error message is not focusable or announced to screen readers.

Disproportionate burden

An assessment has been made taking into account the size and resources available to the organization. Any content that is judged a disproportionate burden is stated in this section.

Navigation and accessing information

No issues or not applicable.

Interactive tools and transactions

No issues or not applicable.

Interactive tools

The interactive tools and applications integrated with Canvas are known as third-party LTIs and are judged to be a disproportionate burden, as the university does not directly develop these applications or control the way they are integrated into Canvas LMS. These third-party LTIs are separate learning products and value accessibility. These products have made substantial efforts to reduce any barriers to users and adhere to guidelines. Some of these products are essential to delivering online learning in courses offered by the university.
A link to each of the applications' accessibility features and statements has been provided for reference.

The university understands its duty of care to provide services that are accessible to all. When engaging with third-party products, we ensure they meet an acceptable level of compliance. If you feel there are barriers with any of the interactive tools, please contact us and we will work with the providers to address this.

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

An assessment has been made taking into account the size and resources available to the organization. Any content that is judged out of scope of the regulations is stated in this section.

PDFs and other documents

Some older PDFs used with module content may not meet accessibility standards. They may not be structured so they’re accessible to a screen reader, as they are provided by third parties.

Lecture notes are provided as PowerPoint files which in some cases do not meet accessibility standards, as they contain images of text or diagrams that are not designed in an accessible way. The university is committed to providing accessible content for all users. Replacing this content will take time, resources, and training. A program of training and awareness raising with content editors and teaching staff has been undertaken.

The university offers a transcription service to remove any barriers and support students with additional needs. They provide transcripts of module handbooks, PowerPoint presentations, handouts, journal articles, extracts, and full books in electronic formats, large print, braille, and accessible PDF files. We can also produce tactile diagrams.

Any new PDFs, PowerPoint files, or Word documents we publish will strive to meet accessibility standards.

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

We plan to improve accessibility on canvas.swan.ac.uk and have a 12 month roadmap, this includes working with content editors to increase understanding of providing inclusive learning content and working with third-party providers to address the non-compliances listed in this statement.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 31/07/2025. It was last updated on 01/08/2025.

The website canvas.swan.ac.uk was last tested between 14th to 31st July 2025 by our internal usability and accessibility specialist.

The Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) has been evaluated by a third-party authority is available as a VPAT statement from Canvas that summarizes the accessibility conformance of the application.

A number of third-party LTIs are integrated into Canvas which may not be fully compliant with the WCAG 2.2 AA Standard. Canvas has stated that they are working to maintain a conformant Learning Management System (LMS) and have a process of internal audits, logging, and resolving measures in place.

We used a consistent process and approach to deciding on a sample of pages to test. This is available on request.