Some of Our Parts

Ability Fest VIC 2024

Ability Fest is the first of its kind, promoting access and inclusion within the music industry, and proudly presented by the Dylan Alcott Foundation, Untitled Group & triple j.

It is a music festival designed for everyone to experience the magic of live music. It is a not-for-profit event, with all proceeds going directly to the Dylan Alcott Foundation to help empower young people with disability to achieve their ambitions.
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Celebrating their fifth edition, Ability Fest is opening up to ages 16+ to welcome more people than ever before!

In Victoria the festival is located at Naarm/Melbourne’s Alexandra Gardens/Birrarung Marr, an urban space embracing community with sweeping city skyline views and lush greenery.

You can expect all your usual festival amenities like delicious food & drink options, shaded retreats, unique experiences and unforgettable music performances across two stages.

Accessibility remains at the forefront of Ability Fest. The organisers have worked with their partners, Get Skilled Access, to implement the following features to ensure an inclusive and enjoyable environment for all music lovers:

• Auslan Interpreters
• Accessible Parking
• Accessible Drop Off & Pick Up Zones
• Accessible Bathrooms & Changing Places
• Elevated Viewing Platforms
• Bindi Maps – Navigation App
• Companion Card Accepted
• Friendly Volunteers to Assist
• Pathways & Flooring
• Assistance Dog Area
• Designated Chill Spaces & Sensory Zones
• Ear Plugs
• Tactile Sensory Silent Disco
• Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Initiative
• Free Wifi
• Live Captioning
• Access Liaison

Ability Fest was developed by Dylan Alcott, a four-time Paralympic gold medallist, 15-time Grand Slam champion, and the 2022 Australian of the Year, in collaboration with music festival masterminds Untitled Group, the creators of renowned music festivals including Beyond The Valley, and Wildlands.

Ability Fest uses the power of music to bring people together and help normalise disability whilst setting a standard for accessibility, inclusion and diversity at all events.

• For more information go to the Ability Fest website.

Accessible Audio-Only Game for People who are Blind

Hello, my name is El, and I am a video game developer and sound designer.

I also am a person with a disability and am passionate about accessibility and inclusion, especially in the video games industry. I am currently developing an audio-only game that is 100% blind accessible and would like to learn more about the gaming experiences of people who have vision impairment.

This is for all kinds of vision impairment – if your vision has impacted your ability to engage with video games, I want to talk to you! Even if that means you’ve tried it once and been turned off playing video games.

Additionally, if you are a carer for someone with vision impairment and have some insights to offer, I’d love to hear from you. I’m extremely interested in building on my knowledge of video game accessibility and learning from you in any way I can.

If you would like to have an online chat with me, please fill out this Google Form by clicking on this link or send me an email at el.leemann90@gmail.com. I’ll be in touch to organise a time with you.

Thank you for your interest,

El Leemann

*NOTE: This project is carried out in the individual’s personal capacity and is not associated with Monash University

IT Student AccessAbility Network – Are You Interested?

The Faculty of IT is aiming to establish a community network for and with IT students who experience chronic illness, neurodiversity, disability (including mental health), and/or impairment.

Although this network will initially be aimed at current IT students, we are hoping to expand this to STEM students once the network is established and if it is successful.

To that end, we are interested to see if you would firstly be interested in participating, and secondly, potentially being consulted in setting up in such a network.

Please Provide Your Expression of Interest Here

Thank you!

Mat Teubert (he/him)
Education Support Officer

Polio Awareness Month is This October 2024

As we mark Polio Awareness Month this October, we invite you to stand with the tens of thousands of people affected by polio across Australia who are living with the Late Effects of Polio (LEoP).

The theme, We’re Still Here, highlights the resilience of our community and the urgent need for specialised care for those living with post-polio conditions.

Polio Australia is committed to improving this situation. They offer education and resources to both health professionals and polio survivors to support the management of post-polio conditions.

This year, over 90 landmarks will be participating in their Polio Awareness Month illumination campaign to help raise awareness for all people affected by polio living in Australia.

• You can view a list of all confirmed landmarks illuminating orange here.

How You Can Support the Illumination Campaign

1. Contact local landmarks in your area – If you haven’t already, there might still be time to contact your local council, or a building or landmark in your city/town. There is a template you can copy and paste (make sure you fill in the parts in brackets!). You can find the template at this website. If it’s too late, ask them about next year! They typically light up the second week of the month.

2. Remind them! – If you’ve already sent out a letter or email and haven’t heard anything, why not give them a little nudge? You can forward your original email to them with a polite “in case you missed it” message, or perhaps give them a call.

3. Take photos! – If a landmark in your area is illuminating, check it out and take a photo to send to – office@polioaustralia.org.au. They would love to post it on our Polio Awareness Month website as well as their social media accounts.

Polio Awareness Month Events and Activities

There are many events to celebrate Polio Awareness Month and World Polio Day.

• You can find a list of events here and here.

Keep checking back, as these lists are continuously updated as we hear about more events. If you are aware of any other events in your area, email them at office@polioaustralia.org.au, and they will add them to their website.

• Don’t forget to wear orange on Monday, 7th October and join in for the monthly Zoom chat. They will snap a photo of everyone in their orange!
• If you’re on social media, you can change your profile picture and cover photos to promote Polio Awareness Month.
• Continue to use the hashtags #StillHere and #PolioAwarenessMonth to keep the campaign moving!

Thanks for helping us spread the word!

• Polio Australia Incorporated
• PO Box 2799, North Parramatta NSW 1750
• Phone: +61 3 9016 7678
• Email: office@polioaustralia.org.au
• Websites: www.poliohealth.org.au / www.polioaustralia.org.au

Accessible Theatre Workshop at Monash with Artist Jess

You are invited to attend a workshop for disabled artists and anyone curious about making accessible theatre, led by Jess Kapuscinski-Evans.

This workshop starts with a one-hour exploration and discussion of an existing theatre text, followed by a performance excerpt from The Waiting Room Arts Company’s new work 2050: a post-apocalyptic drama about Melbourne (Naarm) in the year 2050, exploring environment, disability and asking, “what does utopia mean to you?”

Jess Kapuscinski-Evans is a writer/performer and sings with “crip folk” trio the Bearbrass Asylum Orchestra. She is artistic director of The Waiting Room Arts Company and enjoys playing with existing texts and pop culture.

Jess is supported by Monash University Performing Arts Centres in the development of her new play, 2050.

• Where: David Li Sound Gallery, The Ian Potter Centre for Performing Arts
• When: Thursday 10 October 2024 11:00 am
• Tickets: $15 – $25
• For tickets go the Monash Performing Arts Centre Web Page

How Neurodivergent Creatives are Shaping Fashion’s Future

You can discover how neurodiversity fuels creativity and learn how the fashion industry can become more inclusive and neuro-affirming.

• Acclaimed author and advocate Sonny Jane Wise will delve into the world of neurodiversity, shedding light on common barriers faced by neurodivergent individuals. Gain valuable insights into how to support neurodivergent needs and what neurodiversity inclusion entails.

Hear from a compelling panel of neurodivergent fashion creatives including:

• Model and accessibility consultant Akii Ngo
• Creative marketer, producer and model Sean Galway
• Stylist and creative director Nathan Van

Through raw and honest discussions, they’ll share how their neurodiversity shapes their creative processes.

• Non-alcoholic drinks and nibbles will be provided.
• This event is Auslan interpreted and wheelchair accessible

Event Details

• Venue: Community Hub at the Dock
• Date: 26 October 2024
• Doors open: 6pm
• Keynote speaker: 6:30pm-7pm
• Keynote concludes: 7pm
• Panel: 7pm-7:45pm
• Networking till 8:30pm

This event is for you if:

• You’re curious about neurodiversity and its impact on creativity.
• You work in fashion and are committed to creating a more equitable environment.
• Tickets are available here, and if you use the code MFW2024 you will get a cheeky discount!

Monarch Launches in Australia

Quantum RLV, in exclusive partnership with Humanware, is thrilled to announce the release of the Monarch, a revolutionary braille and tactile device.

After years of development, the much-anticipated Monarch multi-line tactile array launches worldwide today. The occasion will be marked with a special ‘Launch Webinar’ to introduce this exciting innovation to the Australian public.

Join in as Peter Cracknell, Manager Blindness and Vision Technologies, and Rebecca Clark, Vision Technology Specialist, walk you through Monarch’s key features, its possibilities, and how you can purchase or arrange demonstrations.

What is Monarch?

Think of Monarch as a “braille laptop,” similar in size and weight to a gaming laptop—but instead of a screen, it features an integrated tactile array with 3,840 pins that display 10 lines of braille and show graphic images as dots.

Graphics can be zoomed in and even annotated with speech output for a rich, interactive experience.

Where Can You Use Monarch?

Monarch runs programs including a word processor, web browser, graphing calculator, and even games like chess. It connects seamlessly via WiFi and Bluetooth to school systems, supporting Word, PDF, and multiple graphics formats.

Monarch is a platform for the future and will offer options for early braille learning and digital textbooks, through school and university years. It will enable students to thrive in STEM subjects like maths, while also empowering them for a range of careers as they step into the world of work.

Join the Webinar!

Be part of the braille revolution! Register for the upcoming webinar and experience the future of braille technology.

• Day: Wednesday
• Date: 10 October 2024
• Time: 11am AEDT
• REGISTER HERE

Be Part of The Monash Library EDI Action Plan

Monash University Library is developing an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Action Plan, as part of their commitment to Monash University’s EDI Framework.

They’re working closely with the EDI team at DVC Education to develop a three-year plan. The Library wants to consult widely to capture and reflect the diverse perspectives and needs of our communities.

As part of this process, the Library invites Monash University staff and students to contribute their ideas and experiences: good, bad or indifferent.

You can do this in two ways:

• Complete a 10-minute survey. You can opt in to go into the draw to win one of five $100 eGift cards*
• Express your interest in participating in a 90-minute focus group, run by the EDI team. All students who are selected selected will receive a $75 gift card.*

Your responses will help shape our plan so that it can have a real impact at Monash.

Adaptive Equipment Awards for Tertiary Students

Applications for Vision Australia’s 2025 further education bursary will close on 30 September. The criteria to apply is:

• Be blind or have low vision that is not correctable by spectacles, contact lenses or other standard medical treatments.
• Be or become, a client of Vision Australia
• Have a current (within the last 12 months) eye report on file with Vision Australia
• Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
• Be living or moving to Australia
• Be enrolling to study at an institution in Australia
• Be enrolling to study in at least Certificate IV or higher accredited courses including undergraduate and postgraduate degrees (not a Foundation or Enabling course) at the start of the year or be already enrolled in such a course (preference may be given to those in the early stages of a course). The course must have a minimum 12 months remaining from January 2025 for those already enrolled
• Be willing to be involved in publicity events and provide feedback and updates on their academic progress

Get in touch via phone: 03 8378 1220 – Joy King

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE VISION AUSTRALIA BURSARY AND HOW TO APPLY HERE

Are You a Jobseeker with Disability Looking for Career Guidance?

Advance Your Career Opportunities with AusDN’s Free Mentoring Program

The PACE mentoring program connects students with disabilities to disability confident industry professionals in leading Australian organisations. In this 4-month program, mentees develop interview skills, grow their professional networks and much more.

Eligible candidates should submit the application here by 31st July. 

You are eligible if you meet all the following criteria

• You are a student or jobseeker and;
• You have a disability, a mental health or chronic health condition and;
• You are over 18 years old
• Contact us at applications@ausDN.org.au, or on 1300 36 36 45 / 02 8270 9200
• Mentee Applications Extended to 31 July!

AusDN is glad to announce that the mentee application for the upcoming PACE Mentoring Spring 2024 cohort has been extended to 31st July 2024! Late applications are always welcomed and considered on a case-by-case basis.

About PACE

The national PACE Mentoring Program connects people with disability, mental health condition or chronic illness with a mentor from one of AusDN’s member organisations who has advice and wisdom to share.

Participating Organisations in this Upcoming Cohort

• ANZ Bank
• Australian Federal Police
• Australian Securities and Investments Commission
• Australian Taxation Office
• Avanade Australia Pty Ltd*
• Bendigo and Adelaide Bank
• Cenitex
• Clayton Utz
• Coles
• Edith Cowan University
• Fair Work Ombudsman
• Infosys
• Optus
• Qantas Airways Limited
• Roche
• Sydney Water
• uLaunch Pty Ltd
• University of Canberra

SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION HERE!