Accessibility and inclusion – a shared responsibility

Ensuring accessibility, both in terms of buildings and in the digital world, is increasingly becoming a matter of course. For example, when the entrance area and reading room of the ETH Library in the Main Building were redesigned, the heavy double doors were replaced by automatic doors. In addition, handrails have been installed in the stairwells of the Main Building to make it easier for visually impaired, blind and disabled people to use the stairs and to offer greater safety for everyone.

The installation of step markings in other stairwells, the adaptation of lift systems with voice announcements and the upgrading of the alarm system with both visual and acoustic signals will be carried out in many other ETH Zurich buildings by mid-2026.

Making such structural adjustments is not easy in a listed building such as the historic Main Building. From a legal point of view, however, the requirements of monument protection and accessibility are on the same level ¨C a compromise acceptable to all parties must always be found.

Accessible communication

In the digital world, the IT services are constantly revising their applications in cooperation with Corporate Communications. These must comply with the legal requirements, known as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. All AEM authors at ETH learn about these guidelines in the regular courses offered by Corporate Communications.

The courses are currently being relaunched. For example, the general introductory course ¡®Digital Accessibility¡¯ is divided into smaller, half-hour ¡®bites¡¯. This series of events, called Accessibility Espresso, is aimed at all ETH members who create and publish digital content, both as a refresher and as an entertaining introduction to the topic.

The complete course is still available on request for groups of at least four people on a date of their choosing.

Accessible education

The Unit of Teaching and Learning supports lecturers in making their teaching accessible and inclusive. The information website on accessible learning materials has been redesigned and restructured for greater clarity. Instructions and courses teach the most important accessibility basics, while consultations offer in-depth support for individual questions and problems. In addition to practical step-by-step instructions for accessible PDFs, guidelines and legal matters are also available, for example, and detailed information on cognitive aspects and neurodiversity is provided.

Accessible routes, tours and events

The new navigation function ¡®PolyMaps¡¯ is still a little way off. PolyMaps shows routes within and between ETH buildings ¨C on request also accessible, i.e. not via stairs or steps, but only via lifts or ramps. Integrating PolyMaps into the ETH app is more complicated than expected and is testing the patience of everyone involved in the project.

The release is currently planned for the autumn semester. Many events, public tours and the app tours are already accessible. The latter won a prize in the ¡®Accessibility¡¯ category at the ¡®Best of Swiss Apps Awards¡¯. Visitors can check the accessibility of events and public tours in the event calendar. An information website, checklists and guides explain how events can be made accessible and inclusive.

Inclusion as a shared responsibility

Accessibility affects many areas ¨C from adapting buildings and ensuring accessible communication and education to offering guided tours and events. Many people are involved in all of this, helping to make ETH Zurich more accessible and inclusive. Promoting inclusion ¨C one of the six values of ETH Zurich ¨C is therefore a shared responsibility. Every individual is called upon to ensure that all ETH members can participate in a self-determined and equal manner and feel that they belong. It is important to critically question existing structures and actively help shape them ¨C for an ETH that is open to everyone.