Next review due: January 2025
This accessibility statement applies to https://bepartofresearch.nihr.ac.uk and volunteer.bepartofresearch.nihr.ac.uk.
This website is run by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:
- change colours, contrast levels, and fonts
- zoom in up to 300% without text spilling off the screen
- navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
- navigate most of the website using speech recognition software
- read most of the website on devices without a screen, such as a braille computer
- listen to most of the website using a screen reader, including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver
We have made the website text as simple as possible to understand.
If you have a disability, AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use.
How accessible Be Part of Research is
We know that the following parts of the Be Part of Research website could be more accessible:
- The third party feedback tool we use to collect feedback and conduct surveys, Hotjar, is not as accessible as it could be. Although we use the product in its most accessible format.
- Some information on the Be Part of Research website is provided by connected services (ISRCTN and ClinicalTrials.gov). For example, information about specific studies. We do not have control of how accessible this content is.
- Some study information on the Be Part of Research website is provided by a connected service (NIHR Central Portfolio Management System) and we have limited control of how accessible it is.
- We use a third party newsletter sign-up tool, Mailchimp. We limit the use of this tool and provide alternative ways to sign up to the newsletter.
- Videos across the site are hosted by a third party website (youtube.com) which is not as accessible as it could be. We do provide alternative ways to engage with this content.
We are aware of the following issues and work is currently underway to improve these:
- Endless loading of studies on the search results page: On the study search results page we have an endless load feature that is not fully accessible. This feature can make it impossible for users to reach the bottom of the page. We are currently working on providing a solution to this for all users. However as an interim solution, users can get out of the endless load and navigate to the footer using the escape (Esc) key. Within the results page, we have also included a visually hidden message to inform users that they are entering an endless load of search results and how to exit this. 3.2.2 On Input and 4.1.3 Status Messages of WCAG 2.2.
- “Areas of research” selection: When creating a volunteer account, people using keyboard navigation need to use the Esc key to close the selection. 2.1.2 No Keyboard Trap of WCAG 2.2.
- Video and audio missing text alternatives: Absence of text alternatives in the form of a transcript to accompany videos means that users who are hard of hearing or deaf will not be able to access the information provided. Closed captions are provided, but as they are generated by a third party video platform they may not be accurate. We are currently working to rectify this. 1.1.1 Non-text Content, 1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Pre-recorded),1.2.2 Captions (Pre-recorded), 1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Pre-recorded) of WCAG 2.2.
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- JAWs Screenreader using videos: For JAWs screenreader users, when tabbing out of the last video on a page their focus is taken to the top of the page. This only affects JAWs users on a small number of pages and will result in a low level of content loss. 3.2.1 On Focus, 2.1.1 Keyboard of WCAG 2.2.
Feedback and contact information
If you would like to give feedback about the Be Part of Research website, please send an email to bepartofresearch@nihr.ac.uk.
If you need information in a different format, such as accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille - please send an email to bepartofresearch@nihr.ac.uk. We will consider your request and respond to you within 5 working days.
Reporting accessibility problems with the Be Part of Research Website
We continually aim to improve the accessibility of the Be Part of Research website. If you find any problems that are not listed on this page, or think we are not meeting accessibility requirements, please email us at bepartofresearch@nihr.ac.uk.
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 not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).
Technical information about this website's accessibility
The NIHR is committed to making websites accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018
Compliance status
This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliances and exemptions listed below.
Non-accessible content
The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.
Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations
We know there are some sections of the website that do not fully meet accessibility standards and these are provided by third party suppliers. We are working with our partners to make their tools more accessible in the future. These are as follows:
- We use a third party feedback collection tool, Hotjar. The full functionality of the tool is available to all users.Please find below the exact errors caused that cannot be fixed due to this being a third party service:
- The pop up tool used to collect feedback about our service, Hotjar, is unannounced by screen readers when there is a change on screen, 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value of WCAG 2.2.
- We use a third party newsletter sign-up tool, Mailchimp. We limit the use of this tool and provide alternative ways to sign up to the newsletter. Please find below the exact errors caused that cannot be fixed due to this being a third party service:
- A failure to notify screen reader users if there is an error when completing the form to subscribe to the Be Part of Research newsletter results in the user being unaware that the request has not been submitted successfully. 3.3.1 Error Identification, 3.3.3 Error Suggestion of WCAG 2.2.
- Videos across the site are hosted by a third party website, youtube.com. On the majority of content we provide alternative ways to engage. Please find below the exact error caused that cannot be fixed due to this being a third party service:
- The videos are shown in the element lists and are read out as content by screen readers. However the controls for the video player do not display in the form field element list. These controls are hidden on the video until a user accesses the video, as they are part of the functionality of the YouTube player. Therefore, we cannot amend the accessibility of video controls. 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value of WCAG 2.2.
Disproportionate burden
The study information on Be Part of Research, sourced from ISRCTN, ClinicalTrials.gov and the NIHR Central Portfolio Management System (CPMS), is provided by third parties. We do not have control over how accessible it is, including the complexity of the language. We are taking steps to improve how easy to understand the language from these sources is when displayed on our service.
We are also working with the research community to encourage study information to be provided in less complex language.
On our study page, there is a print/download button that links to a PDF that does not include its file type and size information. This feature can still be used by all users but is not fully accessible. We are investigating solutions to improve this that do not negatively impact the performance of the service
Preparation of this accessibility statement
This statement was prepared on 2 September 2019. It was last reviewed on 27th September 2024.
The Be Part of Research website and registry, was last tested by The Shaw Trust in August 2024.
