2023 International Day of People with Disability


Sunday 3 December #IDPwD

International Day of People with Disability logo

International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is held on 3 December each year and aims to increase public awareness and promote inclusion of people with disability.

The University of Melbourne recognises the day and supports disability inclusion in our community year-round.

Our ambition is to make the University a safe, equitable and welcoming place for students, staff and visitors with disability, and to become a leader in inclusion and accessibility.

Our commitment is to create an equitable, accessible and inclusive community – at the University of Melbourne and beyond.

Our Disability Inclusion Action Plan

Disability inclusion is a key focus area in the University’s Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2030.

In May 2023, the University renewed its commitment to improving the experience of students, staff and visitors with disability by releasing a new Disability Inclusion Action Plan. Work to implement the initiatives and actions of the plan is now in progress.

Read more about the Disability Inclusion Action Plan

Working and Living with Chronic Illness

When: Tuesday, 28 November
Where: Online panel event via Zoom, for staff and graduate students
According to research undertaken by the University of Melbourne, 38 per cent of Australian workers identify as living with at least one chronic illness. That means that some 3,700 people working at the University are living with a long-term health condition. During this event we’ll be talking with a number of experts about their lived experiences of navigating a career and chronic illness, and learning how organisations can support their staff to do their best work.
Register to attend

Melbourne School of Health Sciences presents...

When: Wednesday, 29 November, 5.30-6.30pm
Where: Webinar
The theme of this webinar is Learning together through lived experience, research, teaching, and practice: Unlocking communication as a key to a good life. The panel discussion will focus on the importance of Augmentative and Alternative Communication from the perspectives of those with lived experience of disability, health researchers, clinicians and industry who work together to foster partnerships, improve practice and advocate for change.
Register to attend

Ableist Cities Symposium

When: Monday 4 December, 9.30am–5pm
Where: Ian Potter Auditorium, Kenneth Myer Building, The University of Melbourne Parkville campus
This free one-day event takes place annually to mark International Day of People with Disability. The symposium focuses on how we might reshape inaccessible buildings and infrastructures in Australian cities. Co-hosted by the Melbourne Disability Institute, the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning and the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, the symposium invites academics, policymakers, disability consultants, and – importantly – individuals with lived experience of disability to share their insights, research, and stories. 
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Celebrating International Day of People with Disability: A conversation with Keran Howe OAM

When: Monday 4 December, 12.30pm–2pm
Where: Woodward Conference Centre, Level 10, Melbourne Law School, 185 Pelham Street (or via Livestream)
Students and staff are invited to celebrate International Day of People with Disability by joining a conversation with Keran Howe OAM hosted by the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences. Keran has a social work background and lived experience of disability. She has been a leader in health and disability over many years advising governments on policy reform related to women’s health, violence prevention and the rights of people with disabilities. The event will have an artist graphically recording the conversation live.
Register to attend in person or for the Livestream

Celebrating Melbourne’s Disability Music Scene
When: Saturday, 9 December 7-9pm
Where: Kenneth Myer Auditorium, Ian Potter Centre, Southbank
Join us for a concert showcasing the talent, passion and achievements of students in Melbourne Youth Orchestras’ Adaptive Music Bridging Program! Supported by a cast of musicians and other performers who practice in and around the University and the City of Melbourne, the evening's offerings will celebrate music, creativity and disability - across genres and generations. The program features Melinda Smith, Iris Kennedy, Bearbrass Asylum Orchestra and the University of Melbourne Disability Allstars Band.
Register to attend

A number of key projects are underway that further our commitment to improve access and inclusion for everyone at the University. Engagement with students and staff with lived experience of disability informs and progresses our work in accessibility and inclusion.

Student Equity and Disability Services Review

A review of Student Equity and Disability Services (SEDS) ongoing registration and tangible support services for students is currently underway, led by an expert panel of staff and students, including those with lived experience of disability. The review addresses specific commitments in the Disability Inclusion Action Plan, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Advancing Students and Education Strategy. The panel expects to present their recommendations in February 2024.

Improving accessibility

Projects to improve the accessibility of both the physical campus environment and digital wayfinding are a priority activity.

The University has made a significant investment in a program of remediation works to improve campus accessibility in compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). The scope of the program involves accessibility upgrades to the campus and University-owned buildings, including, but not limited to, ramps, lifts and doorways. In 2023, remediations have been made to 22 sites, improving access, navigation and facilities in buildings as well as access to outdoor areas.

The program has been running for a number of years and accelerated in recent years. The majority of works are expected to be completed by 2025.

The University is also looking into improving digital wayfinding to make our campuses easier to navigate for all. This work is set out in the Disability Inclusion Action Plan and other Diversity and Inclusion action plans. Consultation with students and staff has been central to the development of new solutions for digital wayfinding.

A suite of digital accessibility initiatives in 2024 will include measures to improve access to inclusive technologies, and guidelines to support universal access.

Introducing the Neurodiversity Project

An exciting program has launched to support neurodivergent students and staff at the University. The Neurodiversity Project is a University Initiative that has been prioritised for strategic funding, with further support from the Faculty of Education.

Led by neurodivergent staff, this interdisciplinary project aims to improve awareness and understanding of neurodiversity, build a sense of community for neurodivergent members of our community, and conduct world-class neurodivergent-affirming research.

For more information and to watch a discussion with the Neurodiversity Project Team and Vice Chancellor Duncan Maskell, visit www.unimelb.edu.au/neurodiversity

The University of Melbourne is proud to host outstanding researchers who are making a positive contribution to disability inclusion. Identifying key issues affecting people with disability, these researchers aim to gather the evidence needed to guide policy reform and improve disability support services in Australia and internationally.

Read more about their work here:

Tips from students

It's important to learn from people with lived experience when it comes to understanding others’ needs. Guides have been developed by students with disability on how to create an equitable learning environment. Read them here.

Microsoft Word accessibility

Next time you’re working in a Microsoft Word document, try checking its accessibility before you share it with others. Here’s how:

  • Click on the Review tab in the toolbar
  • Click the ‘Check accessibility’ button on the top left of your screen, next to ‘Word Count’

This will open a panel that will alert you to things like hard-to-read text contrast, reading order and missing image descriptions, which you can then address.

Find out more about the Accessibility Checker at Microsoft Support

University resources

  • University staff can access Disability Awareness Training, an online module available on TrainME.
  • Explore the University’s Web Accessibility page for comprehensive information and advice on improving digital accessibility.
  • Students with disability may be eligible for ongoing support with their studies. To find out more, contact Student Equity and Disability Services.
  • Find out more about Diversity and Inclusion at the University
  • Find out more about the Neurodiversity Project, its aims and how to join a needs analysis for staff and students.
  • The Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Services launched its Staff Disability Inclusion Network this year. Family, carers and people with disability who work for MDHS can join the network
  • Listen to the One in Five podcast produced by the Melbourne Disability Institute. One in Five gives voice to people with disability and asks about their experiences with employment, housing, the law, supporting families and early intervention. Access the podcast here
  • Listen to the 'From the Outskirts' podcast by Women with Disabilities Victoria. This episode features Dr Anthea Skinner, an ethnomusicologist and McKenzie Postdoctoral Fellow at the Victorian College of the Arts. Her current research project, the Adaptive Music Bridging Program, is changing the lives of kids with disability. Listen here or access the podcast with subtitles here
  • The Faculty of Business and Economics’ +1 Podcast features an episode on ‘Inclusivity for people with disability, ageism and gender equity in the workplace’. Listen to the podcast or download a transcript