Trinity College Dublin is committed to a policy of equal opportunity in education, and to ensuring that students and staff have as complete and equitable access to all facets of College life as can reasonably be provided.
This document constitutes the current Accessible Information Policy of Trinity College Dublin published in conformity with the requirements of the Disability Act 2005, Universities Act, 1997, the Employment Equality Act, 1998-2004 and Equal Status Acts, 2000-2004. Further details of the legislative context are referenced in appendix 1.
The Accessible Information Policy of the College sets out a formal commitment by the College that information should be available in an accessible format, without discrimination against those with print disabilities.
Accessible Information is far reaching and includes printed information, web pages, presentation materials such as PowerPoint and information technology. To this end, College has developed a clear information policy and guidelines which outline how College can ensure information is accessible to all.
Accessible Information policy addresses the following areas:
All College publications should be written in as clear and jargon free a language as possible.
For guidelines on how to create documentation in an accessible format please see the CAPSL website at: https://www.tcd.ie/CAPSL/TIC/accessible-info/
It is not feasible for all College documents to be readily available in all formats. College will make available on request in accessible formats the following documents:
Examples of Accessible Formats available are:
College websites aims to be accessible for all users. Trinity websites must meet a minimum of W3C Level 2 compliance in line with the Web Accessibility guidelines (WCAG 1.0).
Further information can be found at: https://www.tcd.ie/Webdesign/policies/statement.php
College will ensure that:
College will ensure that information will be provided in an accessible manner when speaking to a person with a hearing impairment.
Location of induction loops in public buildings will be indicated to those who require such assistance. To view the locations of induction loop systems across College please see: https://www.tcd.ie/disability/physical-access/#loop
Appropriate assistance will be provided to people with disabilities to access information on the wide range of services that are provided by the College. Sign language interpreters may be provided for public events, meetings, interviews and other events where necessary and where requested in advance to the organiser of event.
The increasing use of technology presents remarkable opportunities for all people; however information technology presents new accessibility challenges to those who have sensory, mobility, learning, and other disabilities.
Information technology goods and services include but are not limited to: software, electronic files, internet and web technologies, content management systems, learning management systems, computer based instructional technologies and telecommunications.
To ensure College makes technology accessible to all, the College Procurement procedures state ‘Tenderers are expected to be compliant with all statutory requirements, for example, Disability Act 2005’.
For more info on this area please see: https://www.tcd.ie/procurement/Accessible%20Procurement.php
All College events should be accessible to all possible attendees and every effort should be made to ensure accessibility features are considered.
People with disabilities can face barriers when attending or participating in College organised events and it is important that organisers ensure that events are as accessible as possible.
Further information can be found on the College web pages at:
https://www.tcd.ie/disability/physical-access/event.php
The monitoring and implementation of this policy is the responsibility of the Disability Service. The service reports on a yearly basis to the Equality Committee on areas colleges have addressed and where work is needed further. This policy will be evaluated and monitored on a regular basis through the following methods:
The College takes note of its obligations regarding access and equality especially those set out in recent legislation. The Disability Act (2005) requires public bodies such as College to ensure, over time, that buildings and services are accessible to people with disabilities. It places an obligation on College to integrate disability service provision with mainstream services, where this is practical and appropriate.
Disability Act accessible information requirements:
Each public body is required to ensure, as far as practicable, that information which is orally provided to the public is provided in an accessible format, where so requested by persons with hearing impairments.
Hearing impairments can range from minor difficulties with hearing normal speech or particular sound frequencies to profound deafness. Many individuals with impaired hearing can lip read; some use hearing aids, and some visual support (such as text phones or real time captioning); others may require sign language interpreters.
Each public body is required to ensure, as far as practicable, that written information and communications which it provides to the public is communicated in an accessible format, where so requested by persons with visual impairments.
Each public body must ensure that, as far as practicable, information which it publishes which is directly relevant to persons with intellectual disabilities, is made available to them in clear language that they easily understand.
A public body must, where appropriate, ensure the availability of appropriate expertise and skills to advise it in relation to making its services accessible. Such expertise can be made available within the organisation, or, where apphttp://nda.ie/Good-practice/Codes-of-Practice/Code-of-Practice-on-Accessibility-of-Public-Services-and-Information-Provided-by-Public-Bodies-/ropriate, sourced externally.
The Code of Practice on Accessibility of Public Services and information provided by Public Bodies provides further information on how a public sector body is expected to meet these requirements. http://nda.ie/Good-practice/Codes-of-Practice/Code-of-Practice-on-Accessibility-of-Public-Services-and-Information-Provided-by-Public-Bodies-/