Accessible information
Curtin aims to provide a range of accessible communication options to suit varying needs by designing accessible information and providing information in alternative formats.
Page Index
- Types of disability impacting on information access
- Accessible information: Guidelines and resources
- Alternative formats: Guidelines
- Web accessibility and disabilities
Types of disability impacting on information access
Some Curtin staff, students and visitors may have difficulty accessing printed, online and spoken information and may require material to be provided in an alternative format. This may be due to:
- Impaired vision or blindness
- Hearing loss or deafness
- Disabilities that affect the processing of information (learning disabilities, psychiatric illness, cognitive or intellectual disabilities)
- Physical disabilities that affect the person's ability to hold or manipulate printed materials.
The University aims to provide a range of accessible communication options to suit varying needs. This can be achieved through designing accessible information and providing alternative formats.
Accessible information: Guidelines and resources
Many access difficulties can be avoided by providing information in an accessible format in the first instance, and by providing a range of communication options to suit varying needs. Compliance with the following guidelines and policy will maximize accessibility for people with disabilities.
The following links provide additional Curtin resources on accessible information:
- Accessible information policy and procedures
- Guidelines for accessible printed information (downloadable below)
- Accessibility
- Brand identity guidelines.
For other resources, please use the following links:
- Universities Australia guidelines for information access for students with print disabilities
- WA Disability Services Commission access publications page—includes the State Government Access Guidelines for Information, Services and facilities
- Media Access Australia—a non-profit, independent media access organization.
Guidelines for accessible printed information Alternative formats: Guidelines
Curtin is required to provide materials in an alternative format, on request, in a timely manner. These include:
- Large print
- Electronic format
- Braille copies
- Audio recordings
- Captioning or transcription of iLecture videos
- Sign language interpretation.
Many requests for alternative formats can be avoided by following the guidelines for accessible information above.
Please refer to the document below for Guidelines on providing information in alternative formats for people with disabilities.
For further advice, contact us
Guidelines for providing information in alternative formats for people with disabilitiesWeb accessibility and disabilities
Accessible web design refers to the philosophy and practice of designing web pages so that they can be navigated and read by everyone, regardless of location, experience or the type of computer technology used.
People with disabilities are likely to be disadvantaged if the principles of accessible web design are not implemented. Failure to follow these principles can make it difficult or impossible for people with disabilities to access web page.
Curtin's web development manual (below) includes information on accessibility standards for all online information.
Please refer to the following links for more information:
- What is accessible web design?
- Curtin's web accessibility guidelines (Curtin staff access only)
- Web Accessibility Network for Australian Universities (WANAU)—A nation-wide network with the objective of improving web accessibility across the university sector
- Australian Human Rights Commission—Provides advisory notes on World Wide Web Access
- Media Access Australia.
Web development manual [325.04 kb]
