TABLE OF CONTENTS
- 1 Personalisation and accessibility settings
- 2 Font selection
- 3 Keyboard navigation
- 4 Screen reader and assistive technology support
- 5 Accessibility checker in the rich text editor
- 6 Platform improvements
- 7 Standards and compliance
This article gives an overview of the features and technical measures itslearning has implemented to support accessibility. Each section describes what is available and links to detailed instructions where relevant.
1 Personalisation and accessibility settings
Although itslearning is designed to be accessible to everyone, there are several ways you can adjust the platform to better suit your personal preferences. Under Your settings > Customise itslearning, you will find options such as a simplified tree structure, a basic editor, and higher contrast.
Note: These settings do not yet apply to all pages. Coverage is being expanded and improved on an ongoing basis.
2 Font selection
itslearning supports a choice of four typefaces to improve readability across different user needs. The available fonts are Lato (the platform default), Atkinson Hyperlegible (an accessibility-focused typeface with highly distinguishable letter shapes), PT Serif (a serif option with broad language support), and Open Dyslexic (a typeface that can improve readability for some users with dyslexia).
Users can select their preferred font under Your settings > Customise itslearning > Appearance, provided their administrator has not restricted this permission. Administrators can set the site default font and control whether individual users or groups are permitted to change it.
Note: Open Dyslexic is intended for individual user selection based on personal preference. It is not recommended as a site-wide default.
Read more: Accessibility – Font Settings
3 Keyboard navigation
itslearning can be fully navigated using a keyboard. The platform responds as expected to the Tab, Enter, Space, and arrow keys. All content is coded using correct semantic HTML structure, meaning headings, paragraphs, and interactive elements are consistently marked up to support predictable navigation behaviour.
Groups of links, such as navigation menus, are organised in lists and include options to skip over them where appropriate. This reduces the number of keystrokes required to reach the main content of a page.
Read more: Keyboard navigation patterns
4 Screen reader and assistive technology support
itslearning has been tested with a range of assistive technologies, including screen readers, braille displays, serial navigation aids used by individuals who are blind or dyslexic, and various forms of magnification and alternative visual presentation. Standard browser-based features such as zoom are fully supported.
Testing is conducted in collaboration with leading accessibility experts in Norway, who evaluate the platform together with disabled users. This approach combines expert evaluation with practical user testing to verify that the platform works as expected with assistive technologies in real-world conditions.
Alternative input methods are also supported. Where practical testing with disabled users produces results that differ from formal guidelines, itslearning prioritises the outcomes from user testing.
5 Accessibility checker in the rich text editor
Admin setting: Administration > Edit Global Settings > Features and Security > Tools and Content > Enable accessibility plugin in rich text editor
When the accessibility checker plugin is enabled, an icon appears in the rich text editor toolbar on all pages where the editor is available. Users can run an accessibility check on the content they have created, which opens a wizard identifying any accessibility-related issues in the editing area. Some issues can be fixed automatically by the wizard.
The plugin uses the axe® rule engine developed by Deque Systems, a widely used standard for automated accessibility testing. If the option is not visible in Global Settings, contact itslearning Support, as it may require activation for your site.
Read more: Accessibility Checker (Plugin)
6 Platform improvements
As part of ongoing accessibility improvements, itslearning is removing iframes from the areas of the platform where teachers and students spend most of their time. iframes (inline frames) can create barriers for assistive technologies, including screen readers and keyboard navigation tools, as they make it harder to communicate content clearly and navigate in and out of embedded areas.
The removal of iframes also brings direct improvements for all users: pages receive unique, descriptive titles that appear when bookmarked; the browser back button behaves more consistently across the platform; and page scrolling works without the top menu remaining fixed in place. The administration area and course card pages were updated first, with further areas updated through 2025.
Read more: Improving Accessibility – iframe Removal
7 Standards and compliance
itslearning's accessibility work is guided by the WCAG 2.1 guidelines developed by the W3C, and aligns with the EU Web Accessibility directive. Development follows the W3C-WAI accessibility guidelines as the baseline standard for the platform.
User feedback on accessibility is welcomed and addressed as a priority. itslearning's full commitment to accessibility, including the formal accessibility statement, is published on the itslearning website.