Dr Sal Jarvis, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Education, and George Rhodes, Digital Accessibility Lead at the University of Westminster, wrote for the Times Higher Education Campus blog on the importance of collaboration in advancing digital accessibility within higher education.
The article highlights how collaboration is key to embedding digital accessibility across universities. It argued that creating digitally accessible environments should be seen as a shared responsibility, integrated into everyday academic and professional practice, rather than a specialist task handled by a few individuals.
Dr Sal Jarvis and George Rhodes drew on their experience at the University of Westminster to show how building digital accessibility expertise is an ongoing and collective effort. They stated that true progress “depends on every colleague seeing themselves as having a role to play in creating accessible experiences.”
Jarvis and Rhodes emphasised that focusing purely on technical fixes or compliance risks missing the wider opportunity for cultural change. They argued that “accessibility should not be about simply ticking boxes. It’s about designing better experiences for everyone, from the outset.”
They advocated for establishing communities of practice where colleagues across different roles can share knowledge and support with one another, helping to build confidence and embed accessibility principles into everyday work.
The article also highlighted how involving students is critical to shaping meaningful improvements. Jarvis and Rhodes explained that co-creation, rather than assumption, must underpin efforts to design accessible learning. They wrote: “We have learned that the most effective solutions come when we ask students what they need, not when we guess.”
They concluded that while there is no quick fix, a collaborative and inclusive approach can lead to sustained improvements. “If digital accessibility becomes part of everyone’s role, supported by leadership and by peers, we can move beyond compliance towards genuine inclusion.”
At Westminster, Dr Sal Jarvis is responsible for the strategic leadership and development of learning and teaching to ensure that the University offers a grounded, holistic education with wide horizons and opportunities so that people from every background can realise their true potential. Her research interests are in the areas of student experience and Higher Education leadership and management. George Rhodes specialises in digital accessibility and inclusive design, working across the University to embed accessibility best practices into learning, teaching and administrative systems. He leads on accessibility technical standards, training, guidance and projects that aim to ensure Westminster’s digital environment is usable and welcoming to all users.
Read the full article on THE Campus+.
