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How to Make a Website Accessible For All [With 6 Core Steps]

Accessible Design and Culture: Why it’s Better for Business and All Your Users

If you think that creating accessible design means making compromises, think again.

Brands big and small are creating a beautiful, accessible experience that not only better serves all users – it’s helping drive big business, too.

And if you need proof, we can tell you that it’s working quite well for Apple and Microsoft (with more on that below).

In this article, we bring together accessibility experts to show you what accessible design is (with three key aspects), show you why compliance with guidelines doesn’t equal accessibility, highlight what companies are leading the way in accessible design and culture, and finally, leave you with some resources to help you build out a culture of accessible design at your company.

Read the rest of the article here.

The relationship between Dysarthria and individual communication aspects of Friedreich’s Ataxia

To try to focus on the ugly reality of Friedreich’s Ataxia, along with the term and phrase dysarthria will have many confused. Meanwhile, those suffering from the condition find it increasingly difficult to engage in meaningful communication about their condition.

And so, those of us suffering from this blight, find ourselves baring the brunt of stereotype, stigma and presumed lack of ability. Our place in the economy is defined by our “disutility”.

But there is no doubt we can still achieve. In my own case, my achievements have been considerable, but there is still the possibility of further and ongoing achievement, as there is with all who have to battle with Friedreich’s Ataxia.

In my recent blog post, I discuss the relationship between Dysarthria and my individualistic style of Friedreich’s Ataxia. Read it here.

Peter Gibilisco

The Vice-Chancellor’s Ancora Imparo Leadership Program

A message from the Vice-Chancellor

A Monash University education will challenge you and enable you to build a successful career, as well as to equip yourself with the knowledge, abilities and insights required to change the world for the better. Leadership skills are an essential component of that mix.

The Ancora Imparo program gives you the chance to learn about leadership through interaction with community leaders, distinguished alumni, Monash staff, and your fellow students.

The program represents a rare opportunity. You will learn things that you will draw upon again and again throughout your career and your life.

I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Professor Margaret Gardner AO
President and Vice-Chancellor

Program details

This year-long program will take you on a transformative journey, giving you the confidence and skills you need to create the changes you’d like to see in the world.

Residential course

The program begins with a fully funded, three-day, off-campus residential course at Peppers Moonah Links Resort. You’ll receive leadership masterclasses in:

• self-awareness
• values and ethics
• decision-making
• communication
• collaboration
• positive social change.

You’ll also make great friends, enjoy social events and learn from the following incredible leaders (all have contributed to the program in previous years):

• Dr Megan Clark AC, head of the Australian Space Agency
• Julian Burnside AO QC, barrister, human rights and refugee advocate
• Hon Judge Felicity Hampel, judge of the County Court of Victoria
• Paul Grabowsky AO, Australian pianist and composer
• Dr Bethia Wilson, former Victorian Health Services Commissioner
• Dr Leanne Rowe AM, Melbourne GP and former Beyond Blue board member
• Christine Nixon APM, first female chief commissioner in any Australian state police force
• Dr Ranjana Srivastava OAM, oncologist, Fulbright Scholar and award-winning author
• Dr Tim Soutphommasane, former Australian Human Rights Commissioner
• Lucy Thomas OAM, youth and anti-bullying advocate.

Seminars

During the year, you’ll attend eight evening seminars by eminent leaders. You’ll hear about leadership challenges and opportunities, and have the opportunity (working in a small group) to design and deliver a workshop that helps your fellow Ancorans explore solutions to a current leadership challenge. In previous years, topics included:

• the gender pay gap
• access to education
• environmental sustainability
• racism in politics
• media ethics
• sexism in society
• terrorism

… and many more incredible topics!

All seminars are catered and presented in an intimate setting.

Service learning

You’ll have the opportunity to opt into a service learning project. Working in a multi-disciplinary team of five students, you’ll partner with a community organisation to solve a real-world problem.

Completion ceremony

At the end of the program, you’ll be invited to the completion ceremony, together with family and fellow Ancorans. During the ceremony, you’ll be presented with a certificate to acknowledge your success.

See this web page for more information about eligibility criteria and how to apply.

Free Webinar: PACE Mentoring – Industry Mentoring Program for Students and Jobseekers with Disability

With the unemployment rate of Australians with disability at 9.4%, compared to 4.9% of people without disability, programs like PACE are vital to equitably include people with disability in employment.

PACE, or Positive Action towards Career Engagement, is a free program connecting jobseekers with disability with mentors from leading Australian organisations. It is an opportunity for mentees to work one-on-one with a mentor to gain industry exposure, build professional networks and increase employability skills.

Run across Australia, the program is a four-month commitment between August and December. Mentors and mentees meet at the mentors workplace once a fortnight during the four months. During the program, the mentee and mentor will set goals and desired outcomes, discuss experiences, skills, and career pathways.

In this free webinar, listen to the Program Manager discuss how your student and jobseeker networks can connect with a mentor this Spring in the free PACE Mentoring Program.

Step 1: Webinar Login

http://omnovia.redbackconferencing.com.au/redback

Participant Code: 6367 393 293

Step 2: Teleconference

Phone: 1800 896 323

Participant Code: 6367 393 293

Please advise if you have any accessibility requirements for the session. All webinars will be live captioned. Contact us for more details.

Contact the AND Team on 03 9621 2276 or applications@and.org.au if you have any questions.

US Law Academic Scholarship – Accepting Applications from International Students

The members of the American Law Firm, Kinney, Fernandez & Boire (KF&B) have created the US$1000 KF&B LawAcademic Scholarship, which is in its second year, to help one student lessen their financial burden from school.

Here are some details below:

Eligibility:

• High school seniors who have already been accepted into a college or university.
• Current college students who haven’t reached their final year.
• International Law students that have been accepted into a US college or university – including those on an exchange program.

Guidelines:

KF&B wants to hear your answer to the following question in the form of a 500-word essay:

“Who is your greatest role model”?

Submission Deadline:

The deadline for submissions is May 1st, 2020.

Winner Selection:

The KF&B scholarship committee will select a winner once the submission deadline approaches. The winner will be contacted no later than the first week of June 2020. The winner will have 2 weeks to respond to confirm their information or a new winner will be selected. Once a winner’s information has been confirmed KF&B will award $1000 to the student’s financial aid department at their school.

The $1000 scholarship will be awarded to the winner’s school’s financial aid department.

Please see the link below for more information:

https://kfblaw.com/scholarship/