Creating Accessible Teaching and Support

The Disability Discrimination Act requires that universities provide access that is as non-discriminatory and as dignified as possible. This means that the person with a disability has access to a building in a similar way to a person without a disability.

For example, a person with disability should not be expected to enter a building through a back door if everyone else enters through the front door, nor should they have to ring a bell and wait for someone to open a special door if others go freely in and out. 

Likewise, accessible toilets should be located with other toilets. If there is only one such toilet in a large building, what might be a three minute trip for most people could take half an hour for a person using a wheelchair.  

Physical accessibility relates not only to wheelchair access but also to issues such as:

• teaching and learning spaces, libraries, and computer facilities
• housing, recreational facilities and commercial outlets
• transport between campuses, parking bays and drop-off points
• fire, evacuation, health, safety and security provision.

Students can also be excluded by inaccessible computers or libraries so it is just as important that housing, student union and support services take full account of the needs of all students.  Improving accessibility and observing OH&S standards will help meet the needs of students and staff with disability, and make life easier for those without.

Campus maps should be up-to-date and use consistent timetable terminology and naming/numbering systems for building locations. Tactile maps are very useful for those with limited vision and are now becoming a requirement in most public venues. Signage should be consistent in both style and placement and comply with guidelines for enhancing campus accessibility.

Even with the best intentions it is sometimes impossible to provide ideal accessibility because of the physical terrain, or the building design or heritage listing. In these cases, we need to think laterally!  Here are some suggestions for overcoming access issues:

• relocate classes
• establish a video link to the class from an accessible area
• organise for a taxi or intra-campus bus to move students between buildings
• provide a "buddy" to help when required
• rent an accessible hotel room when no accessible university housing is available.