Infrequently Asked Questions

Does the University of Melbourne have students staff with disabilities?

Yes, there are over 1200 students and 1000 staff with a disability.

Have students and staff with disabilities ever complained about not being able to access web sites?

Yes, all Universities receive complaints about inaccessible web content.

Really, I haven't heard about it?

People with disabilities are reluctant to complain and often don't know that it is the web site that is creating the barrier to access. They also don't know who to contact to things fixed.

But if most people aren't aware that my web site is inaccessible, can't I get away with it?

Yes, but the Disability Discrimination Act and the University's Equal Opportunity Policy provide sanctions for doing so.

Am I discriminating if I don't make my web site accessible?

Yes, it's the same as not providing wheelchair access to a building. It's direct discrimination.

Is it legal to discriminate in some circumstances?

Yes. The Disability Discrimination Act provides a defence against discrimination in circumstances where compliance would involve unjustifiable hardship.

So I can just say its too hard?

No. The concept of unjustifiable hardship implies that you must take on some hardship.

The University is about teaching and research, not disability, right?

Wrong. One of the core aims of the University of Melbourne is the provision of programs and services in a way that reflects principles of equity and social justice.

Can't they just ring someone and get help?

Not really. Like most organisations, we have removed many of our human contact points because it is more convenient to put content on the web.

Can't they just ask a friend or family member to help them?

Yes, but they want to be independent and do it for themselves.

Isn't web accessibility just for people with disabilities?

No. Everybody benefits from web content that is easier to use and understand.

Shouldn't the University be doing something to make things more accessible?

Yes, it has a Disability Liaison Unit and a Web Accessibility Lead, but they need your help.

What do I need to do?

The W3C has a set of content accessibility guidelines (WCAG) which outline in detail what needs to be done.

Are the guidelines hard to implement?

No, there is only about a dozen main things that you have to do: use headings and lists, add alt text to images, caption videos, add labels to forms, provide sufficient color contrast.

Is it true that accessibility can help my search engine ranking?

Yes, search engines are blind and deaf too.