Rosemary Kayess, Disability Discrimination Commissioner
We are part of the Digital Age, a time of rapid technological advancement and change. This has the ability and potential to be a catalyst for the social and economic inclusion of people with disability. Technology now plays a major role in everyday life in facilitating communication and transactions.
If that technology is accessible, then people with disability can be participants in all aspects of community life: civic and political, economic, social and cultural.
The central role that technology has in everyday life highlights the importance of this update of the Commission’s Guidelines on digital accessibility. The Guidelines reflect developments in contemporary digital environments and practices and encompass digital accessibility across a wide range of platforms beyond websites and web-based content.
People with disability use a diverse range of smart and alternative communication devices. We rely on accessible websites and screen readers, on voice recognition technology, and on automated captioning, screen-in-screen technology to provide sign language interpretation. For many people with disability these are vital technologies enabling communication with others, learning and getting up-to-date information. In turn, the use of this technology is instrumental in enabling people with disability to participate in political and public life.
We all need access to technology; it has become an essential element of how we live, work and interact. It has become central to our communication, economy, education, healthcare, and social dynamics and, as such, facilitates our enjoyment of fundamental human rights. However, we don’t all enjoy access to technology on an equal basis with others.
Significant barriers arise from the lack of application of universal design principles and lack of focus on the diversity of end users. These barriers include inaccessible technologies that prevent children with disability from learning alongside their classmates, failure to provide accessible ICT at polling booths and essential services information portals that prevent people exercising their civil and political rights and accessing support in times of crisis. For many, their employment opportunities are compromised when the technologies required for work are inaccessible, or the online application processes are rendered inaccessible through use of security tools such as CAPTCHA. Our access to entertainment and cultural life is hindered by television programs, films, theatre not being captioned or audio described. And the often-prohibitive cost of assistive technology or its lack of availability for people who live in rural and remote areas hold us back.
The Disability Discrimination Act prohibits and seeks to eliminate discrimination on the ground of disability in areas of public life. This includes those areas of public life that have a digital component, such as online learning, hybrid working arrangements, and essential services such as banking or grocery shopping. To achieve the promise of the Disability Discrimination Act, all technology needs to be accessible to people with disability. It’s not just about assistive technology or technology to enhance the lives of people with disability - it requires all technology to be designed with people with disability in mind and to be inclusive and responsive to the needs of people with disability so that everyone can enjoy the benefits of technology.
The Guidelines on equal access to digital goods and services assists organisations to meet their obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act. I encourage providers of digital goods and services to understand the reasons for, and the benefits of universal accessibility.
I would like to thank Intopia for contributing expertise and passion to
the development of these Guidelines.
Rosemary Kayess,
Disability Discrimination Commissioner
Australian Human Rights Commission
Sarah Pulis, Director and Co-Founder of Intopia
In an increasingly digital world, access to digital products and services is not a luxury but a fundamental right. Technology has the power to break down barriers and create opportunities for all. However, without the right approach and guidance, it can also reinforce inequities.
Intopia was honoured to partner with the Australian Human Rights Commission to produce these Guidelines. The Guidelines provide clear and actionable advice that supports organisations to create digital experiences that are truly inclusive.
We recognise that accessibility is an ongoing journey, one that evolves alongside technology and user needs. We want to acknowledge the advisors who generously gave their time and input into the guidelines – people with disabilities, those who will use the guidelines, and technical experts in
the field of accessibility.
The guidance in this document doesn’t just support legal requirements—they represent a commitment to fairness, usability, and dignity. By embedding accessibility into the way organisations operate, they can foster innovation, enhance user engagement, and contribute to a more equitable society.
We hope that these guidelines serve as a renewed catalyst for meaningful change, ensuring that no one is excluded from the digital world because of barriers that can and should be removed. Together, we can build an inclusive digital world - one that upholds the rights of individuals and strengthens our communities.
Sarah Pulis,
Director and Co-Founder
Intopia
