People with a disability
Our staff are here to help, and we will do our best to provide you with what you need. That includes making every effort to communicate with you in clear, plain language, as well as keeping you informed and updated using the method that you prefer.
This page includes information about accessing our spaces, assistive technology available and support we can offer to help you use our resources. If you have a question or need more information, please contact us.
Getting to our libraries
Visit campus access and parking for information on getting to our campuses.
You are welcome to bring a support worker, carer or relative to the library to support you.
Our spaces
Our campus libraries have a variety of accessible spaces available, including:
- private Reset Rooms at all locations
- height adjustable tables for wheelchair access at Burwood, Waterfront and Waurn Ponds
- accessible toilets either within the library or very close by (refer to floorplans below)
- elevators to access multiple levels of our libraries at all locations
Floorplans
Refer to our floorplans to locate accessible bathrooms, study spaces and other facilities.
Our Burwood library has a fully equipped accessible bathroom including a hoist and adult change table. You can also find other accessible bathrooms on campus by searching for 'Deakin' at Changing Places.
Burwood Library floorplans
- Level 1 (83KB)
- Level 2 (ground level) (105KB)
- Level 3 (98KB)
- Text description of available facilities
Waurn Ponds Library floorplans
- Level 1 (55KB)
- Level 2 (ground level) (104KB)
- Level 3 (103KB)
- Text description of available facilities
Waterfront Library floorplans
Warrnambool Library floorplans
Assistive technology
The following assistive technology is available at all campus libraries and must be booked in advance. Contact us to make a booking.
Hardware
- ACER power 3500 PC
- 19 inch monitor
- Speakers
- Microphone
- Scanner
- Laser printer
Software
- JAWS text to speech
- Dragon Naturally Speaking speech to text
- HP Precision Scan (OCR and scanner imaging software)
- On Screen Keyboard software
- Wynn (text to speech, browser, scanning, OCR)
Our Melbourne Burwood Campus Library also has a Text Magnifier machine for use with print materials.
Quiet times
Our libraries can sometimes be noisy. If you prefer to visit when it’s more likely to be quiet, early in the mornings or evenings are usually quieter times.
You can also book a quiet study room for up to four hours a day.
Using library resources
Students and staff with a disability can:
- nominate someone to collect your library books on your behalf
- ask us to retrieve books from the shelf for you
- ask us to help with photocopying or scanning
- request a personalised tour of our spaces.
Students registered with the Disability Resource Centre and staff can also receive:
- items posted to home via our postal delivery service
- digital copies of print unit materials by emailing our Course Resources and Access team
If you are a community member, please contact the library to discuss your needs.
Digital accessibility
We aim for AA compliance as set out by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1). You can report any accessibility problems with our site to library-webteam@deakin.edu.au.
We are always striving to improve our digital accessibility, and often run user experience and usability research and testing. To help us improve, please contact library-webteam@deakin.edu.au.