UZH Reviews Its Accessibility at Various Levels

A rather unusual scene at the UZH Veterinary Teaching Hospital unfolded on Irchel Campus, as two young women measured the dimensions of the disabled parking place in front of the main entrance. For several weeks now, Seraina Joho and Chiara Ulliana have been inspecting various public buildings on the University of Zurich site for the UZH Accessible project, recording existing shortcomings in a survey form. Here, at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, the disabled parking place is much too short and there is barely enough space to unload a wheelchair.

Through the surveys, the two prospective students are helping the university become more accessible and making it easier for people with a disability to navigate its premises. They are recording everything that is not accessible for disabled people according to the SIA standard 500 for “obstacle-free buildings” – such as the distance from public transport to the building, the size and opening mechanisms of doors, the height of steps, handrails on stairs, and access to disabled toilets.

The pair have already seen some surprising sights: in one building, the disabled toilet was on the sixth floor, but the elevator was not wheelchair accessible. Somewhere else, the toilet paper was around a meter away from the toilet. “The UZH Accessible project has clearly given us a greater understanding of the concerns of people with reduced mobility and visual impairments, which we can utilize for our study,” explains Chiara Ulliana, who will start a degree in architecture in the fall. Future law student Seraina Joho explains how walking around with a visually impaired UZH student was particularly insightful, as it made her realize how disturbing reflective floors, insufficient or excessive lighting and unmarked glass doors can be.

The structural survey carried out by the two upper secondary school students and other UZH students means the first phase of the UZH Accessible sub-project is now complete. Between now and late summer, the data from the approximately 75 reference buildings, which was collected in collaboration with the Academic Disability Commission, will be consolidated and analyzed. It will then be used to compile a catalogue of measures. “On this basis, we will be able to make a projection for the investment required and apply for the funding,” explains sub-project manager Martin Ulliana from the Directorate for Real Estate and Facility Management.

Some shortcomings, such as doors that are too hard to open, unmarked glass doors, and disabled parking places that are too small, can be fixed very easily. Other structural measures, such as overly steep steps and ramps and a lack of toilet facilities and parking places, require more time.

The second UZH Accessible sub-project on digital accessibility launched in April 2024. It will involve a number of online solutions being examined in detail in terms of their accessibility. The web applications selected as examples with the involvement of the Academic Disability Commission are the course catalogue, OLAT, the websites of Central IT, and the upcoming UZH Uniability app. Experts from the Access for all foundation will check compliance with the international Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. Tools and methods will also be developed to better incorporate accessibility when designing and developing digital offerings in future. Various courses will also be reviewed in terms of their accessibility. Here, too, the aim is to produce a binding set of guidelines for accessible digital documents and teaching materials.  

The core part of the e-accessibility sub-project is the development of a five-year action plan for the whole of UZH aimed at significantly improving the accessibility of digital solutions. 

An action plan for the next few years will also be drawn up for the third sub-project of UZH Accessible. This will focus on cultural and organizational accessibility and is set to launch in the summer. It includes accommodations to compensate for the disadvantages experienced by students living with disabilities or chronic illnesses.  Currently, requests to access certain lectures in podcast form or to get more time for an examination are handled differently from faculty to faculty.

In addition, this sub-project is intended to raise awareness of the needs and concerns of people with disabilities across the whole UZH organization. “We’re on the right track. But there’s certainly more to do – for all of us who study and work at UZH,” says Vice President Gabriele Siegert, who chairs the steering committee for the UZH Accessible project.