Accessibility Statement for OU Digital Archive (OUDA)

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

This accessibility statement applies to the Open University Digital Archive (OUDA) https://www.open.ac.uk/library/digital-archive/

We want as many people as possible to be able to use our websites and mobile apps, and accessibility is an essential part of our mission. On our Accessibility hub, you'll find everything you need to answer any questions you have about accessibility, whether you're a student or a member of staff.

To adapt the content to your needs or preferences you should be able to:

Change colours, contrasts levels and fonts.
Resize text up to 200% without impact on the functionality of the website.
Zoom in up to 400% without loss of information or functionality.
Navigate the website using just a keyboard.
- tab to ‘Skip to content’ links at the top of the page to jump over repetitive information to the main content.
- tab through the content; the current location will be indicated by a clear visual change.
- control the embedded media player to play audio and video materials.
Use a screen reader (e.g. JAWs, NVDA) to:
- listen to the content of web pages and use any functionality on the page.
- list the headings and subheadings in the page and then jump to their location on the page.
- bring up a list of meaningful links on the page.
Use transcripts or closed captions with most audio and video materials.
Download learning materials in alternative formats (e.g. Word document, PDF, ePub).

If you have a print disability we provide SensusAccess to students, which is an automated service that converts files from one format to another, for example, PDF to text, audio, Word or Braille.

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

Compliance status

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.

Non-accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reason(s):

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

Information and relationships

Some elements are not accessible because of how they have been coded. The technical name for this issue is ‘Interactive tools must not be nested’. This is in relation to the carousel on the homepage and the filter menu on the search results page, and may also apply to other features on other pages that haven’t tested. This is in breach of WCAG 2.2 Criterion 1.3.1 Info and Relationships (Level A) and will be resolved by July 2026.

On the Exhibition page (PhD Pioneers) there may be issues caused by the coding. The technical name for this is ‘certain ARIA roles must be contained by particular parents’. This is in relation to the ‘related content’ section. This is in breach of the WCAG 2.2 Criterion 1.3.1 Info and Relationships (Level A) and will be resolved by July 2026.

Bypass Blocks

Across all pages the ‘Skip to content’ button isn’t working, so users have to tab through all items to get to the main content. This is in breach of WCAG 2.2 Criterion 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks (Level A) and will be resolved by July 2026.

Labels or instructions

Across all pages the ‘Available online’ radio button in the search box is missing a label. This means that users that need screen readers or other assistive technology will not know what this button is for. This is in breach of WCAG 2.2 Criterion 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions (Level A) and will be resolved by July 2026.

Orientation and reflow

On the Exhibition page (PhD Pioneers), when zoomed to 400% or viewing the page in portrait orientation, the text boxes in ‘Explore themes’ get cut off. This is in breach of WCAG 2.2 Criteria 1.3.4 Orientation (Level AA) and 1.4.10 Reflow (Level AA) and will be resolved by July 2026.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 11 September 2020.

This statement was last reviewed on 23 March 2026.

This website was last tested on 23 June 2025.

A full audit was undertaken by the Library’s Digital Services team, focusing on the following sample pages:

Homepage
Search Results
Item Record
Exhibitions Landing Page
Exhibition Page
Frequently Asked Questions

These pages were chosen based on their usage and their importance to our Library service provision.

The following methods and tools were used:

Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool (WAVE)
Colour contrast analyser
Non-Visual Desktop Access (NVDA)
Manual zoom check
Manual keyboard navigation check

Feedback and contact information

If you find that a certain section of our website is not accessible and you can’t get access to the information that you need please use the form below to request support and we will ensure that you are provided with the information you require. You will need to provide your contact details and Personal Identifier if you are a student so we can get back to you. You should expect to hear back from us within 5 working days.

The OU is very experienced in meeting accessibility needs for our students. In many cases we are able to provide module and other study support materials in alternative formats for students who indicate a need for this when completing a Disability Support Form.

In addition, some module materials are available in different formats and can be downloaded from module websites. Students can contact their Student Support Team for advice.

If you are a student, or someone who has had contact with the University before, and have a complaint about the accessibility of our websites, you should raise a complaint via the complaints and appeals process.

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 are based in the UK, and you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).