We want as many people as possible to be able to use Brightspace, and you should be able to:
- change colours, contrast levels and fonts
- zoom in up to 300% without the text spilling off the screen
- navigate most of the platform using just a keyboard
- listen to most of the platform using a screen reader.
Brightspace help has advice on using accessibility features within the platform. The following pages may be particularly helpful:
D2L’s Brightspace accessibility report (PDF, 408 KB) provides detailed compliance information. AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.
Getting in touch about accessibility problems
Alternative formats
If you need information on this platform in a different format such as accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille, please contact us
Reporting accessibility problems
We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of this platform, however we know that some parts of the platform are not currently fully accessible. For example:
- it can be challenging to navigate through the contents list using a keyboard
- some bespoke font formatting throughout courses impacts on the ability for font size and spacing to be adjusted through your browser
- some older PDF documents may not be fully accessible to screen reader software
- most older videos of classroom practice are not available with audio description.
If you find any problems not outlined on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, please contact us
Technical information about this platform’s accessibility
Teach First is committed to making its online platforms accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.
This platform is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances outlined below.
Limitations to accessibility
Content that is non-compliant with the accessibility regulations
Some images in our initial courses (2020) do not have a text alternative. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.1.1 (non-text content). We plan to include text alternatives for all images in our 2021 courses and beyond. When we publish new content, we’ll make sure our use of images meets accessibility standards.
Some images in our initial courses (2020) are used to present text. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.4.5 (images of text). We plan to include text alternatives for all images in our 2021 courses and will not use images to present text. When we publish new content, we’ll make sure our use of images meets accessibility standards.
Some tables in our initial courses (2020) do not have appropriate headers or are not used for tabular data. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.1 (info and relationships). As we publish new content, we’ll make sure our use of tables meets accessibility standards.
Whilst the platform does allow keyboard navigation through the content area, it can be challenging to navigate through the contents list using a keyboard. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.2 (meaningful sequence), 2.1.1 (keyboard) and 2.1.2 (no keyboard trap). Brightspace’s using keyboard navigation guidance provides instruction on how best to do this.
Content that’s not within the scope of the accessibility regulations
The following content types on Brightspace are exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations:
- Office files created before 23 Sep 2018 may not be fully accessible to assistive technologies. When we create or update documents, we’ll make sure they meet accessibility standards.
- Pre-recorded media, such as videos of classroom practice, from before 23 Sep 2020 do not include an audio described version. When we create or update video content, we plan to include audio described versions for all videos where there is relevant visual content. Please note that ‘talking head’ videos do not contain visual content that requires audio description.
- We currently do not plan to add captions to live video streams.
What we’re doing to improve accessibility
Improving accessibility is at the forefront of blended learning strategy and we are continually upskilling our teams to ensure that accessibility standards are met.
We have developed an action plan on how we are going to address improving the accessibility of our digital learning platforms and materials and conduct regular tests and audits of our platforms. This platform was last tested in June 2022 across a sample of programmes and courses. We are planning to introduce a new Brightspace template across all courses by February 2023 to improve usability and accessibility on the platform.
This statement was prepared in June 2021. It was last reviewed in June 2022. The next revision is due in February 2023.