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Create accessible content

Learn how to make your content accessible and why it is important

Add accessibility features

Download the Ascend browser extension (opens in a new window) if you would like to add accessibility features to help you use this guide.

Why make content accessible?

Accessibility benefits everyone. Accessibility isn't just about altering existing things to help a specific group of people; it's about changing how we do things on a structural level to remove barriers that could affect anyone. Making websites accessible makes them easier for everyone to use.

Accessibility is not just about disability. Universal design is the idea of designing with everyone in mind. There are a lot of things in our daily lives which have been designed for specific groups of people for reasons which may no longer be relevant.

'Universal Design is the design and composition of an environment so that it can be accessed, understood and used to the greatest extent possible by all people regardless of their age, size, ability or disability.' (Centre for Excellence in Universal Design, 2014)

Another way of thinking about universal design is as inclusive design. This involves thinking about your users and trying to remove systematic barriers which prevent them from using the environments, tools and platforms that you may take for granted.

It is about ensuring all our students can easily access and understand your content to make their learning experience the best it can possibly be.

There are also legal obligations to provide accessible information to students under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and Disability Standards Education 2005.

What software or tools are covered

This guide covers how you can make your online content accessible using:

  • Microsoft Word 
  • Tagged PDFs.

About this guide

This guide provides ways to make your content more accessible. It includes tips on what to look for and to consider when creating your teaching materials.

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