It's the Law:

Not all disabilities may make using online resources difficult, but the Disability Discrimination Act (1992) makes it unlawful to provide goods, services and facilities that result in 'less favourable' treatment of a person with disabilities or the person's associates compared to the treatment received by a non-disabled user in the same circumstances.

The Attorney-General released the Disability Standards for Education in August 2005 to clarify the obligations of education and training providers under the Act.

The Australian Vice-Chancellors Committee has also released guidelines on information access for students with disabilities in November 2004.

While the World Wide Web Consortium is not a legislative body, and its Guidelines are not legal regulations in Australia, they are widely recognised as the current best practice in information provided on web accessibility. The Guidelines are also endorsed by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission, which is responsible for inquiring into alleged infringements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.

Slow Internet Connections:

• 30% of people are still using dialup connections
• People who turn off images, perhaps because they have a slow Internet connection, also benefit from accessible web pages

Anyone can Become Disabled:

• The United Nations have estimated that globally, approximately 1 in 10 people has a disability, and this proportion is also likely to be present in the University community.
• Disabilities can be temporary (as the result of an injury or illness), or can arise as a result of aging

Good Business:

• Accessible design increases the usability of web sites, because the web site will be less ambiguous, particularly if it has clear language, good navigation and obvious links
• The 10% of people with disabilities will be able to use your web site
• Accessible design is a badge of social responsibility
• Design, cost and flexibility do not have to suffer at all

What is the University doing?

Through its Equity Plan: Building an Inclusive Community, The University of Tasmania Equity Plan, 2005-2007, PDF format, the University of Tasmania is committed to ensuring University web sites are accessible to users. The Centre for the Advancement of Learning and Teaching (in its previous incarnation, the Flexible Education Unit (FEU)) has been given responsibility for ensuring that this happens:

• And provides resources to University web developers
• And follows the World Wide Web Consortium Web Accessibility Initiative as the current best practice guidelines on web accessibility