About the Web Accessibility Service

Aims of the service

The goal of the service is to support the University in meeting its obligations under the DDA to ensure that disabled people can access and use University Web resources without facing unnecessary difficulty. It will do this in two ways:

providing a dedicated advisory and support service to staff on all issues relating to Web accessibility.
providing an advisory service to central services on the procurement and implementation of systems that support the creation of accessible Web content.

A key activity has been the production of a University Web Accessibility Policy, a formal statement of how the University will use the Web to maximise the accessibility of information and communication.

This page gives you an idea of the sort of help we can provide you.

Web developers and Web content authors - how we can help you

The support service is available to all staff who create Web content, whether you are a dedicated web developer or someone who adds or edits web content. Services include:

A dedicated email/phone support service to all University Web authors in accessible web development - advice on design and evaluation with accessibility in mind, and in meeting the University Web Accessibility standard in particular.
Accessibility reviews on request of new and existing Web resources.
On-site 'accessibility support meetings' - we come to you, whatever stage of design or development, whatever your level of technical skill, to give you the level of advice you need!
Maintaining and developing this web site as resource providing accessibility related information (this web site!).
With ICS, co-ordinate a Web Accessibility Interest Group - all staff are welcome to join.

This advice is available to anyone regardless of technical knowledge - so don't worry if you think accessibility is something only for techies! Everyone has a role to play in making the Web as accessible as possible.

If you're not sure whether you qualify as a member of staff who creates Web content, read our guide on What is Web content?. If you write electronic documents, the likelihood is you're a Web author!

Commissioners of Web content or web authoring systems - how we can help you

If you're commissioning Web development work, or a system that will enable the publishing of Web content from an external organisation, you must still take steps to ensure the accessibility of the work you procure. In particular, you have an obligation to make sure that the resource you commission meet an acceptable level of accessibility.

We can provide advice on how to ensure that accessibility plays an important role in commissioning and evaluation procedures. Please contact us if you're in the process of commissioning Web content, so we can help ensure that accessibility is given due prominence in the commissioning process.

Get in touch!

If you would like to use the Web Accessibility Service, send us an email or give us a call!

Email: dmag@computing.dundee.ac.uk
Phone: ext 85598 or ext 85050

We can provide advice on a one-to-one basis, but we're also happy to come and talk to groups of people about any aspect of using the Web to make information sharing and communication as accessible as possible.

Strategic activities

We will also be active at a strategic level. Activities will include:

Advising the University on policy relating to Web accessibility.
Developing and publishing a University Web Accessibility Policy and Definition of Best Practice; and maximising awareness of this amongst staff who are developers/authors and staff who are outsourcing Web development work.
Following up reported accessibility problems with the University's web presence with relevant organisations.

The service reports to Web Development, and also works closely with other key University organisations: