Some of Our Parts

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/

STEMLabs June Program to include possible Record Management Job Opportunities

STEMLabs are currently seeking candidates to work as Records Management Officers in fixed-term 6-month employment contracts working out of the Melbourne CBD and commencing in July 2019.

The June STEMLabs program will offer suitable participants the opportunity to be considered for these Records Management roles. This program will act as the first stage of the assessment process for candidates interested in and eligible for these Records Management jobs.

What is the eligibility criteria?
• Must have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder
• Must be aged 18 years or over
• Must have Australian Citizenship
• Previous experience in a Records Management role will be very highly regarded.
• Experience using computers is essential.
• The candidate must have a strong interest in learning and performing Records Management related tasks.

Global First Report Launched with partners Microsoft and Adobe

A new report by CfID, with partners Microsoft and Adobe, ‘Designing for Everyone’ is full of information to help you get inclusive design over the line

Dr Manisha Amin, CEO of Centre for Inclusive Design, said,

“Inclusive design is design that considers the full range of human diversity with respect to ability, language, culture, gender, age and other forms of human difference.”

After calls from customers of Centre for Inclusive Design to identify the business benefits, they realised this research had never been done.

Along with partners Adobe and Microsoft, they commissioned PwC to identify how organisations and industries can gain economic benefit from inclusive design.

The outcome is a powerful resource for anyone looking to build a business case for incorporating inclusive design in to their work.

“We knew instinctively economic benefits exist, but the outcomes from the report show an incredible, largely untapped, opportunity.” said Dr Amin.

“Inclusively designed products and services have the potential to reach four times more customers than those that are not designed inclusively.”

Jeremy Thorpe, Partner and Chief Economist, PwC, said,

“Inclusive design is a no-regrets process that creates significant benefits. It is an overlooked step in maximising the potential of Australian business and ensuring a more productive Australia.”

David Masters, Corporate Affairs Director, Microsoft Australia, said,

“Accessibility is often focused on compliance, and while that is incredibly important, this report clearly shows that inclusion drives economic benefit too. Embedding inclusion in the upfront design phase ensures organisations are delivering products and services for everyone. Inclusive design is driving innovation at Microsoft and is a concept that all organisations should be embracing.”

Suzanne Steele, Managing Director, Adobe Australia and New Zealand, said,

“Through our partnership with the Centre for Inclusive Design and Microsoft, we want to raise awareness of the importance for organisations to include a diverse range of voices and perspectives within their teams in order to reflect the diversity of the Australian population in their products and services.”

The report analyses three key industries in Australia – education, retail and financial services – that can benefit from implementing inclusive design and drive financial, economic and social improvements.

Among these benefits, businesses have the opportunity to increase their revenue by growing their target markets and include Australians vulnerable to exclusion, who possess over $40 billion in annual disposable income.

You can access the full report and a summary here:

http://www.centreforinclusivedesign.org.au/community/blog/2019/may/21/world-first-report-research-reveals-inclusive-design-can-expand-customer-reach-fourfold/

Apply Now for PACE Mentoring

PACE Mentoring connects students and jobseekers with disability with mentors from leading Australian organisations. You’ll be matched to an experienced professional who will help you identify and reach your career development goals and build your confidence in a workplace environment.

How does it work?

PACE runs across 16 weeks between August and December. You’ll meet with you mentor once a fortnight during that time. Meetings last around one to two hours and are planned to suit you and your mentor’s schedules.

Mentees can discuss their career goals and aspirations, and get help to develop a plan for their personal and professional development. Meetings with mentors may include:

• Reviewing resumes and cover letters
• Mock interviews
• Networking with other professionals
• Building confidence
• Attending events and team meetings

After you apply, AND matches you with a mentor based on the information provided in your application. Consideration for matching includes your preferred industry, the skills you want to develop, the goals you set, and your location.

Am I eligible?

• Be over 18 years of age
• Identify as having any type of disability

 How do I apply?

• Read the details on our information page for students and complete our online application form before the end of June 2019. Early applications are recommended.

Apply Here Now!

Dial in to an Info Session:

For more information about what to expect from the PACE Mentoring program, dial in to one of our info sessions via webinar.

• Friday 31 May 12:30pm – 1:15pm
• Thursday 13 June 12:30pm – 1:15pm
• Monday 24 June 11:30am – 12:15pm

(If you are dialling in from outside Sydney/Melbourne/Canberra, please consider time differences)

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. We can arrange captioning for the session with 72 hours notice.

Who do I contact if I have more questions?

• Contact the AND Programs Team at applications@and.org.au or 03 9621 2276.
• Follow the PACE Mentoring Facebook Page for updates

The Programs Team (Philip, Sneha, Tess & Isabel)

Stepping Into & PACE Mentoring

Level 3, 80 Clarence St, Sydney, 2000

Level 1, 2 Queen St, Melbourne, 3000

T 1300 36 36 45  |  W www.and.org.au  |  E applications@and.org.au

To hear about opportunities for students and jobseekers with disability subscribe to our Mailing List