An accessible Web at CDU is where people with disabilities can perceive, interact, understand, navigate and contribute to the Web.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are guidelines set by the standard organisation for the internet, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The Australian Government requires compliance with WCAG 2.1 on all government websites owned and/or operated by the Government under any domain, in line with the Web Accessibility National Transition Strategy.
As an "education provider" under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, universities must provide services that do not discriminate against disability.
At CDU, we are guided by our five values, openness, leadership, kindness, innovation and courage, which we hope to see in our Scholars, and compliance with the Act is a natural extension of our identity.
WCAG principles
WCAG consists of four principles, with 12 guidelines:
Principle 1: Perceivable
Guideline 1.1 Text Alternatives: Provide text alternatives for any non-text content
Guideline 1.2 Time- Based Media: Provide alternatives for time-based media
Guideline 1.3 Adaptable: Create content that can be presented in different ways
Guideline 1.4 Distinguishable: Make it easier for users to see and hear content including separating foreground from background.
Principle 2: Operable
Guideline 2.1 Keyboard Accessible: Make all functionality available from a keyboard.
Guideline 2.2 Enough Time: Provide users enough time to read and use content.
Guideline 2.3 Seizures: Do not design content in a way that is known to cause seizures.
Guideline 2.4 Navigable: Provide ways to help users navigate, find content, and determine where they are.
Principle 3: Understandable
Guideline 3.1 Readable: Make text content readable and understandable.
Guideline 3.2 Predictable: Make web pages appear and operate in predictable ways.
Guideline 3.3 Input Assistance: Help users avoid and correct mistakes.
Principle 4: Robust
Guideline 4.1 Compatible: Maximise compatibility with current and future user agents, including assistive technologies.
The guidelines above are broken down further into several testable success criteria, which are weighted, single-A (A), double-A (AA), and triple-A (AAA) level of compliance. These weightings refer to the impact that compliance will have on the user. Single-A and double-A, bearing the majority of the impact on the end-user.
You can read more about how these compliance ratings can be met using the WCAG (Quick Reference).
What does this look like at CDU?
At CDU, we strive to foster an inclusive experience, both on-campus and online. Disabilities affecting individuals accessing the web include:
blindness
vision impairment
deafness/hard of hearing
physical, learning, intellectual
mental health condition
as well as others not listed here.
Learn how people with disabilities navigate the web
We also recognise that there is a diversity of abilities.
These can include:
age-related impairments
health conditions
temporary or situational impairments
and combinations of impairments.
Improvement of accessibility sitewide can have flow-on effects such as improved site load times, optimised search and better navigation.
The University is committed to ensuring accessibility of its website and intranet to people with disabilities.
New and updated web content produced by the University will meet W3C WAI’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1, Level AA conformance. Existing web content produced by the University will be transitioned to meet the standard.
Techniques to improve your content
The W3C's Web Accessibility initiative feature a series of informative tutorials to aid content authors to better tailor content for accessibility.
Useful tools and resources
Tools
- WAVE accessibility checker extension for Firefox and Chrome
Resources
Help and advice
If you have any questions or require help with your website, please send us an email at webservices@cdu.edu.au