Accessibility at ETH – “Design for all” campaign
ETH Zurich does not yet offer a fully accessible environment. The university is therefore launching a new campaign in mid-April as part of its “Barrier-free at ETH Zurich” programme. The “Design for all” campaign includes clear goals such as “Make architecture accessible to all!” and “Break down the barriers to accessible teaching!”
Switzerland ratified the external page United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) back in 2014, yet people with disabilities continue to face obstacles on a daily basis, whether accessing buildings, information or events.
On 17 April, ETH Zurich launched its “Design for all” campaign as part of its ongoing efforts to highlight this situation, raise awareness and share information. The campaign’s primary focus is to adapt our university in such a way that everyone has the fullest possible access to its buildings and services. Plasticine was chosen as the campaign motif to illustrate how our environment is not set in stone. After all, everything can potentially be moulded into new forms that encourage greater participation – from our architecture and technology to our processes and mindsets.
To promote the campaign, ETH Zurich has organised a number of events. These include a panel discussion with audience participation on the topic of “Accessibility and inclusion in university education” (see below), awareness workshops to help people adopt new perspectives, and various courses on accessibility.
To find out more about the campaign and upcoming events, please visit ethz.ch/designforall.
Accessible teaching and teaching materials
Managed by the Educational Development and Technology department (LET), the “Generate barrier-free teaching materials” subproject seeks to create the right conditions to enable ETH teaching staff to develop accessible teaching materials. This goal will be achieved by means of a three-step strategy:
- Raise awareness of the issue among all members of the ETH community.
- Equip the ETH community with the skills and expertise they need to create and deliver teaching materials.
- Guarantee the accessibility of the digital teaching infrastructure.
Four videos have been produced to highlight common barriers to accessibility and to outline key approaches to improving the accessibility of teaching materials and teaching in general.
Panel discussion: “Accessibility and inclusion in university education” (in German)
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) calls for an inclusive education system – also at university level. This panel discussion will feature students and lecturers affected by accessibility issues as well as experts in accessible teaching. The panel will discuss the possibilities and limitations of accessibility in education and give insight into their experiences of exclusion and inclusion during the course of study.
Panel members: Prof. Elsbeth Stern (Professor of Empirical Research on Learning and Instruction), Gerd Kortemeyer (head of the administrative department Educational Development and Technology), external page David Mzee (ETH alumnus) and Timo Stühlinger (ETH student). Welcome address by Prof. Ulrich Weidmann (Vice President for Infrastructure).
20 April, 6–7.30 p.m. followed by reception, H?nggerberg campus (HIT E 51). external page Registration required.
Barrier-free at ETH Zurich
ETH Zurich is committed to being barrier-free: over the course of the next few years, people with disabilities or special needs – whether students, teachers, researchers, staff or visitors – should benefit from greatly improved access to ETH buildings and services.
The proposed measures will be implemented in 14 subprojects under three categories: “Construction, building usage and architecture”, “Organisation and culture” and “Technology, communication and teaching”.
For more information on the programme and the 14 subprojects, visit the programme website.
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