Digital accessibility in Queensland
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Digital services, products and systems must be designed and developed so all people can use them, including people with disabilities. This is known as digital accessibility and it is critical to ensure equal access to information, services and opportunities. Digital accessibility also improves the overall experience for all users.
Digital accessibility is required by law and the Digital services policy.
Importance of digital accessibility
Accessibility benefits everyone:
- ICT and digital products and services can be used equally by everyone.
- Employees can work without barriers, allowing us to grow the number of people with disability in the public sector.
- Complaints and legal challenges are avoided.
- Money saved by not retrofitting later.
Accessibility is a legal requirement
Making digital products, services, and systems accessible to everyone is not only a legal requirement, but also a human rights responsibility.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) is a key global agreement safeguarding the basic rights of individuals with disabilities. It highlights the significance of digital accessibility in ensuring equal opportunities while using digital products and services. By stressing the importance of accessible interfaces and technologies, it promotes full participation and informed decision-making regardless of abilities. Australia ratified the UNCRPD on August 16, 2008.
Australia’s commitment to the UNCRPD is translated into action through these legislations and initiatives:
- Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cwlth)
- Australia’s Disability Strategy (ADS) 2021–2031
- Queensland’s Disability Plan (QDP) 2022–27
- Queensland Government department Disability service plans
- Digital services policy (Qld)
- Queensland’s Disability Plan (QDP) 2022–27
Impact of disability in Australia
The people who need services most, are often the people who find them hardest to access.
Australian Bureau of Statistics reports:
- 4.4 million (just under 1 in 5) Australians are living with disability
- 3.9 million (about 1 in 6) Australians are aged 65 years and over.
By creating digital services, products, and systems that are accessible and inclusive, we can reach a broader range of people in our diverse Queensland community. This approach extends to individuals with permanent, temporary, or situational disabilities, ensuring fair and equal access to essential services.
People with a permanent disability
Those living with permanent disability may experience significant difficulty in accessing digital services. Examples of permanent disability include:
- sensory—loss of sight or hearing
- cognitive—difficulty learning or understanding, neurodiversity
- physical—restriction in physical activities
- acquired—head injury, stroke or acquired brain injury.
People with temporary or situational impairments
Factors that affect a person’s ability to access digital services include:
- short-term illness or injury
- a slow internet connection
- limited or expensive bandwidth
- English as a second language
- crisis or emergency situations.
Temporary impairment, or sometimes a person’s current situation, can present similar difficulties as experienced by those with permanent disability.
ICT accessibility standards and guidelines
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
Queensland digital products, services and systems must meet the Web Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 level AA. These are recognised internationally as guidance on how to make digital user interfaces (websites, mobile apps) and digital content accessible. By following WCAG guidelines, we can create digital content that is inclusive and usable for all individuals, regardless of their abilities or disabilities.
Australian Standard AS EN 301 549 Accessibility requirements for ICT products and services
The AS EN 301 549 provides best practice guidance to ensure ICT products and services are accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. This can help you buy accessible ICT products and services , and includes ICT with a digital user interface, digital content, and products with control mechanisms, such as hardware, keyboards, printers, kiosks, etc.
In 2016, Standards Australia officially approved AS EN 301 549, and it was incorporated into the ICT procurement policies of the Australian Government. This guide is useful for state and local governments and is applicable to both private businesses and non-profit organisations.
More information
Why accessibility matters:
- Accessibility: It's about People (Opens in new window) (Web Accessibility Initiative)
- Accessibility matters (Opens in new window)
- Diversity in Australia (Opens in new window)
- South Australia Government Online Accessibility Toolkit (Opens in new window)
- New South Wales Government Accessibility and Inclusivity Toolkit (Opens in new window)
- ATO Digital inclusion guide (Opens in new window)
- GOV.UK Service Manual Making your service accessible (Opens in new window)
- Understanding disabilities and impairments: user profiles (Opens in new window) (GOV.UK)
- NZ Government Web Accessibility Guidance project (Opens in new window)
- ATO Digital inclusion guide (Opens in new window)
Get help
For help, more information or feedback, email designandcapability@chde.qld.gov.au.