Digital accessibility

In order for everyone to be able to take part of our websites, they must be accessible in accordance with certain requirements and standards. This is important, partly because we must safeguard everyone’s equal opportunity, but also because, as a public actor, are covered by legal requirements concerning accessibility on the web, for instance, the Act on the Accessibility of Digital Public Services (2018:1937).

Act on the Accessibility of Digital Public Services

What is covered by the Act?

  • Linnaeus University’s web pages (the ones that are accessible without login) and everything that is published there. That is to say, Lnu.se with the Student web as well as Staff, the Self-service portal, and other websites run by Linnaeus University. It involves web pages, but also documents, videos, podcasts, and other material that is published on the web pages.

  • Apps run by Linnaeus University, and the material published on these apps.

  • What we publish on social media. Concerning publication in social media, everything must be accessible to the extent we can control. The platforms in themselves are beyond our control.

  • Procurement of digital services covered by the Act on the Accessibility of Digital Public Services

Learning platform behind login – temporarily exempted
In general, the legal requirements apply to what we publish on our websites. In this case, learning platforms are also considered websites. However, in the Act there is a temporary exemption for material behind login, on condition that the website was created before 23 September 2019. This is the case for material behind login on MyMoodle. The exemption is temporary and applies until an extensive review is carried out of the platform.

Since this has not yet been legally tried and legal texts can be challenging to interpret, the Association of Swedish Higher Education Institutions (SUHF) has written a recommendation, see link below. In this recommendation, it is stated that we, as a higher education institution, should initiate work to make the content on the learning platform accessible, in accordance with the legal requirements. The pace in which this work should be carried out is dependent on when the learning platform was made public*.

As for our learning platform MyMoodle, it was made public before 23 September 2019 and can, therefore, be seen as temporarily exempted from the legal requirements. The more material we can make accessible, the better, of course, but at the time being our priority is what is covered by the legal requirements.

*from the recommendation below.

See the full recommendations from the Association of Swedish Higher Education Institutions (only in Swedish): Rekommendationer om tolkning av DOS-lagen vad gäller dess tillämpning på lärplattformar, Antagen av SUHFs styrelse 210623 (pdf-fil)

More about the Act on the Accessibility of Digital Public Services

On its website, the Agency for Digital Government (DIGG) describes the Act in more detail and also lists a compilation of frequently asked questions and answers. You will also find a list of exemptions concerning, for instance, old documents. Visit the website to learn more.

Digital accessibility, see DIGG’s website (only in Swedish)

Exemptions to the Act, see DIGG’s website (only in Swedish)

Frequently asked questions and answers

Accessible publication in different channels – where to find more information

Lack of accessibility, a form of discrimination

Linnaeus University should be a place where students and members of staff feel included. One form of discrimination described by the Discrimination Act is lack of accessibility. Lack of accessibility is when a person with a disability is disadvantaged by the fact that an organisation does not implement reasonable accessibility measures to ensure that the person can enjoy a comparable situation as those without this disability. By working actively with the Act on the Accessibility of Digital Public Services and with active measures to prevent discrimination and inaccessibility, we create a study and work environment where everyone can reach their full potential.

Pedagogical support to students with a disability

Students with a disability have the opportunity to get pedagogical support during their studies. This should not be confused with the Act on the Accessibility of Digital Public Services.

A disability is individual and can affect a student’s study situation in different ways. Therefore, the pedagogical support and any adaptations is individual. A requirement to be considered for pedagogical support is that the student can show documentation of the disability. The pedagogical support does not comprise accessibility adaptations on the web like accessible documents or videos with subtitles. Therefore, it is of great importance that material on the web is made accessible to everyone in accordance with the Act on the Accessibility of Digital Public Services.

Learn more about pedagogical support and studying with a disability

Coordination of questions regarding digital accessibility

This page has been produced by the work group for digital accessibility which, during 2021, has been working together with the steering group on commission from the university director. The work is a collaboration between the Communications Office, the IT Office, the University Library, the Office of Student Affairs, and the Executive Office.