Using UVACollab's Accessibility Features

Desktop versus Mobile View

UVACollab has a responsive design to adapt to different screen sizes, so certain elements only display when an internet browser window is larger than 770 pixels in width.  In the descriptions below, Desktop View will be used to refer to the display when an internet browser window is larger than 770 pixels in width.  Mobile View will refer to the display on smaller windows.

Organization of UVACollab

Always present in UVACollab are the following:

  • Quick access Skip to... links
  • One of the following two items, depending on whether or not you are logged into UVACollab:
    1. Before logging in: Login links
    2. After logging in: the My Sites menu and your profile picture and name (a menu you access to Log Out)
  • List of favorite sites (on Desktop View)
  • Tool Menu for the current site
  • Expand/Collapse Tool Navigation button (for sighted users, on Desktop View)
  • Content area
  • Footer

Important Access keys for main navigation

The major elements of a UVACollab site can be accessed via Access keys (see note for more information on how to use Access keys):

Content - This access key takes you to the area that contains the site where you are working.

  • Landmark: main (“Jump to Content”)
  • Access key:  [C]

Tools - Every UVACollab site has a Tool Menu with a list of links to the current site's tools.

  • Landmark: navigation (“Tools”)  
  • Access key:  [L]

My Sites menu - After you log in, you can use this menu to access your active sites.

  • Landmark: navigation (“My Sites”)
  • Access key:  [W]

Note: The exact keyboard commands to trigger an Access key depend on your computer operating system and internet browser.  Commonly used browsers tend to use the following commands:

  • Most Windows browsers: Shift + Alt + [the Access key]
  • Most Mac browsers: Ctrl + Option + [the Access key]

The information on Access keys in this note was provided by WebAIM.org (opens new window).  You can learn more about Access keys on their website, Keyboard Accessibility © WebAIM (opens new window).

Location: The quick access links are the first three links on the page. They are announced by text-to-speech software after the page title.

These links enable the user to reach frequently used areas of UVACollab.

Pictured above is how one of these (normally invisible) links displays on the page if you navigate using the Tab key on your keyboard in Chrome after logging in to UVACollab.

Before you log into UVACollab, two Login links are available, UVA Login and Other Login.

Location: On Desktop View, the Login links follow the access key links and the University of Virginia logo (Go to UVA home page link) on the portal.  On Mobile View, the Login links are immediately after the access key links.

For more information on using a UVA Login, see UVA Logins, and for more information on using the Other Login, see Guest Password Email and Login.

My Sites

When logged in on Desktop View, the My Sites menu follows the access key links, replacing the Login links.

On Mobile View, the My Sites menu follows your profile picture and name (described below).

You can expand the My Sites menu to access your active sites.

Your profile picture and name (use this menu to Log Out)

When logged in on Desktop View, your profile picture (which displays your initials by default) and name follow the My Sites menu.

On Mobile View, your profile picture and name are at the top of the screen.

Selecting either your profile picture or name opens a menu with the following options:

  1. Your profile picture and a Profile link that you can select to edit your picture or profile.  For more information about editing your picture and profile, see How do I add or edit my profile photo from the header bar? and How do I set up my profile?
  2. A My Connections link that will take you where you can search for, add, and manage your connections.
  3. A Calendar link that will take you to your aggregated calendar for all enrolled sites.
  4. A Preferences link that will take you to a page where you can edit your UVACollab notifications, time zone, language, and active sites.  For more information, see How do I set my preferences?
  5. A Tutorial link to start the UVACollab introductory tutorial (this tutorial also appears the first time you log into UVACollab).
  6. A Log Out link to log you out and take you to back to the Gateway page of UVACollab.

Favorite sites list (on Desktop View)

  • Location:  On Desktop View only, the favorite sites list appears after your name.
  • Landmark: navigation (“Sites list begins here ”)  
  • Heading: Level 1 (“Sites list begins here ”)

This list contains the links to sites you most commonly use.  You can select which sites appear in the list by following the steps in How do I see and access my sites?  Each favorite site's tab will take you to the site. The site that's currently open will have a star icon that can be toggled on to make it a favorite site, or toggled off to remove it from the favorites list. If you Tab into the menu and press the Down arrow key, supply you with a submenu of that site’s tools so that you can go straight to that tool on the selected site.

Using the Up and Down arrow keys, you can navigate the submenu to the site specific tool links. These links can be activated using the Enter key.

If you have a large number of favorite sites, only the first ten sites will display in this list.

Tool Menu for the current site

  • Location: On Desktop View, the Tool Menu appears to the left of the screen.  On Mobile View, it can be accessed by selecting Tools near the top of the screen.
  • Landmark: navigation (“Tools list begins here”)
  • Heading: Level 1 (“Tools list begins here”)
  • Access key: [L]

Pictured above is the Tool Menu of a Home site, in both Desktop View and Mobile View.

Note: The Help tool will always be present as the last item in the Tool Menu no matter what site you are on. This enables quick access to the UVACollab help documentation.

Expand/Collapse Tool Navigation (for sighted users, on Desktop View)

Location: On Desktop View only, at the bottom of the screen underneath the Tool Menu is a button to collapse or expand the menu.  When collapsed, the Tool Menu displays with icons only, no text.

The Expand/Collapse Tool Navigation button display switches between << (to collapse the Tool Menu) and >> (to expand the Tool Menu), depending on the state of the menu.

Note: Using the Expand/Collapse Tool Navigation button will have no effect on page navigation for users of screen reading software as all tools will still be available and announced.

Content area

The content comes after the Tool Menu.  

  • Location: On Desktop View, the content displays to the right of the Tool Menu.  On Mobile View, the content appears underneath the Tools link.
  • Landmark: main
  • Heading: Level 1 “Content begins here”
  • Access key: [C]

At the top of the content area for most tools, you will find:

  1. The title of the tool you are currently viewing.  This is also a Tool Home link that returns you to the main page of the tool when clicked.  Pictured above is an example of an Assignments (Tool Home) link.
  2. The title will be followed by a Help button, which opens a new tab or window (depending on your internet browser preferences) with help documentation for the current tool.

Access keys to navigate the content area

Most content views use some or all of these Access keys:

  • Delete, remove, or cancel - Access key: [X]
  • Edit or revise - Access key: [E]
  • Help - Access key: [0]
  • Refresh - Access key: [U]
  • Save - Access key: [S]
  • View or preview - Access key: [V]

Note: The exact keyboard commands to trigger an Access key depend on your computer operating system and internet browser.  Commonly used browsers tend to use the following commands:

  • Most Windows browsers: Shift + Alt + [the Access key]
  • Most Mac browsers: Ctrl + Option + [the Access key]

The information on Access keys in this note was provided by WebAIM.org (opens new window).  You can learn more about Access keys on their website, Keyboard Accessibility © WebAIM (opens new window).

The footer contains a list of links:

  • Gateway, which takes you to the main page (homepage) of UVACollab,
  • Contact Support, to email UVACollab Support,
  • Report a Barrier, which takes you to a page where you can report accessibility issues you encounter,
  • UVA Home to access the UVA Home page.

Rich-Text Editor accessibility

In most areas of UVACollab where text can be entered, you can use the Rich-Text Editor to edit and format your text, and to add links, images, or media.

Steps to access the Rich-Text Editor's toolbar with a keyboard are included in What are some keyboard shortcuts for the Rich-Text Editor?

If you zoom in a lot on your screen to increase text size, we recommend setting the Rich-Text Editor to display the Desktop view at all times. This way, you will not lose buttons if your browser switches to a mobile view of the site. If you use a screen reader, we recommend setting the Rich-Text Editor to display the Mobile view at all times so that you have fewer buttons to navigate through. For more information, see Select Editor preferences.

Instructions for enlarging screen elements, modifying colors/contrast

You can use the browser’s zooming function to increase text size.  UVACollab will work well with up to 200% zoom.

If you need a higher level of magnification, or if you need to have the cursor/pointer augmented, you may be more comfortable using a third-party magnifier such as MAGic (opens new window) or ZoomText (opens new window).

To change color and contrast settings, use the operating system settings, browser settings, or your preferred browser plug-ins.  

Getting more help, and additional resources

If you need further help with UVACollab accessibility, please contact [email protected].

The following resources and tools are also available for all UVA faculty, staff, and students: