This accessibility statement applies to the NIHR Evidence website. This website is run by the NIHR, with F1000Research as the site service provider. We want as many people as possible to be able to use our website, and we have designed it to be accessible. On this website, you should be able to:
- change colours and contrast levels
- add text spacing for easy reading
- read most of the website using a screen reader, including the latest versions of JAWS, NVDA, and VoiceOver
- zoom in up to 300% with text staying visible on the screen, and most images scaling without resolution loss
We've made the website text as simple as possible to understand, using plain English wherever possible.
Some of our content is technical, and contains scientific terms and language. In some instances we have not been able to simplify the wording without changing the meaning of the text.
If you have a problem accessing any documents then AbilityNet has advice to help you make your device easier to use.
How accessible this website is
We know that some parts of the website aren't fully accessible:
- We have a number of older Themed Reviews in PDF formats that are not fully accessible to screen reader software
- Some content is embedded in our website, such as videos, and you cannot easily scale these on screen
- If you are using Safari as a browser there might be issues tabbing all the way through the page and down to the footer
Feedback and contact information
If you have problems accessing information on this website, or would like any of our work in a more accessible format please email us details of your request to Evidence@nihr.ac.uk. We will consider your request, and aim to respond within 5 working days
Reporting accessibility problems
We are always looking to improve the accessibility of the website.
If you find any problems which aren't listed on this page, or think that we're not meeting the requirements of the accessibility regulations, then please email Evidence@nihr.ac.uk with the details to let us know and help us improve.
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).
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 2.1 AA standard, due to the exemptions listed below.
Non-accessible content
In September 2022, we engaged the Simple Usability to assess our website for accessibility. They evaluated a sample of representative pages and content types. The audit incorporated testing with assistive technologies, automated tools, manual evaluation across a range of browsers, devices, and display adaptations.
The report found that https://evidence.nihr.ac.uk/ was non-compliant with WCAG legislation in the below areas:
| Success Criterion | WCAG level |
|---|---|
| 1.1.1: Non-text Content | Level A |
| 1.2.3: Audio Description or Media Alternative | Level A |
| 1.3.1: Info and Relationships | Level A |
| 1.3.4: Orientation | Level AA |
| 1.3.5: Identify Input Purpose | Level AA |
| 1.4.1: Use of Colour | Level A |
| 1.4.3: Contrast (Minimum) | Level AA |
| 1.4.4: Resize text | Level AA |
| 1.4.5: Images of Text | Level AA |
| 1.4.10: Reflow | Level AA |
| 1.4.11: Non-text Contrast | Level AA |
| 1.4.12: Text Spacing | Level AA |
| 1.4.13: Content on Hover or Focus | Level AA |
| 2.2.2: Pause, Stop, Hide | Level A |
| 2.4.1: Bypass Blocks | Level A |
| 2.4.3: Focus Order | Level A |
| 2.4.4: Link Purpose (In Context) | Level A |
| 2.4.7: Focus Visible | Level AA |
| 2.5.3: Label in Name | Level A |
| 3.2.2: On Input | Level A |
| 3.3.1: Error Identification | Level A |
| 3.3.2: Labels or Instructions | Level A |
| 4.1.2: Name, Role, Value | Level A |
| 4.1.3: Status Messages | Level AA |
In line with the requirements, we will address priority issues by December 2022. Following this work, we will address issues on less-visited pages or that are less impactful by June 2023.
Non-accessible documents
Our site favours the HTML format for documents.
PDFs are not able to comply with the requirements of the web accessibility standard, and we do not generally upload new PDFs. Where we do create printable PDF versions, these are to supplement the HTML version, and we have made sure all the content in the PDF is also produced in HTML. This occurs for the following Themed Reviews:
- Living with Covid - second review [HTML and PDF]
- Moving Forward - A Guide for the Public [HTML and PDF]
- Better Health and Care for All [HTML and PDF]
- Better Health and Care for All - Easy Read [HTML and PDF]
- Improving Care by Using Patient Feedback [HTML and PDF]
- Moving Matters - Interventions To Increase Physical Activity [HTML and PDF]
- Help at Home - Use of assistive technology for older people [HTML and PDF]
- Staffing on Wards: Making decisions about healthcare staffing [HTML and PDF]
Content that’s not within the scope of the accessibility regulations
The accessibility regulations do not require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they’re not essential to providing our services. For this reason, we do not plan to fix the below documents:
- Moving Forward - Physiotherapy for Musculoskeletal Health and Wellbeing [PDF]
- Forward Thinking - Support for people with severe mental illness [PDF]
- Comprehensive Care - Older people with frailty in hospital [PDF]
- Advancing Care - Research with care homes [PDF]
- Roads to Recovery - Organisation and quality of stroke services [PDF]
- Better Beginnings - Improving health for pregnancy [PDF]
- On the Level - Evidence for action on type 2 diabetes [PDF]
- Care at the Scene - Research for ambulance services [PDF]
- Better Endings - Right care, right place, right time [PDF]
Any new PDFs or Word documents we publish will meet accessibility standards.
Preparation of this accessibility statement
This statement was prepared in April 2020. It was last reviewed in October 2022.
This website was last tested in September 2022. The test was carried out by Simple Usability.
They evaluated a sample of representative pages and content types. The audit incorporated testing with assistive technologies, automated tools, manual evaluation across a range of browsers, devices, and display adaptations.