Some of Our Parts

Accessibility in the cloud – benefits, issues and trends

As a new survey shows an increase in the use of the cloud in 2016, the impact of this on people with disabilities and impairments becomes ever more important. Media Access Australia has produced a white paper, Accessibility of Cloud Computing – current and future trends, which provides valuable insights into cloud accessibility.

Video advertisements on Facebook to be auto-captioned

Facebook will roll out a new feature to make auto-playing advertisements more accessible to people who are Deaf or hearing impaired, using captioned video instead of auto-playing content with sound. The feature is being introduced following a survey that found 80 percent of people react negatively when loud ads play automatically within the content feed.

Class action launched in the US demanding captioned lyrics

Nine deaf advocates and individuals have launched a class action against a number of Hollywood Studios, including Disney, Sony, Netflix, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros and Universal Studios, for failing to caption song lyrics in movies and TV programs.

Accessibility article

Are you wasting your time creating an accessible PDF?

The collective knowledge around the creation of accessible PDFs is slowly but surely growing, making this flexible format more widely available to people of all abilities. But what if you make your PDF accessible, yet someone still finds it inaccessible because of the way they open it? Accessibility Services Manager, Ally Woodford, explains how to ensure your documents are accessible to users of Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari and Chrome, providing important tips to guarantee readers can engage with your PDF content effectively.

Useful resource of the week

Learn about Australian legislation and policy, as well as international regulations for access, in Media Access Australia’s Research & Policy area. You can also find ourresearch and reports, white papers and guides available to download in accessible Word and PDF formats in this section.

Submit your completed colouring masterpiece to Disability Support Services (DSS) and you could win a prize!

The best example of colouring‐in (as judged by DSS staff) will win first prize of a 500 piece Kaleidoscope Colouring Jigsaw with 12 Artist’s colour pencils.

The runner‐up will receive second prize of a multi‐level creative colouring book, ‘Positively Zen’.

*Conditions of Entry*

Please submit your finished colouring design, with your name and Monash student ID written on the back, to Disability Support Services Clayton office at Level 1, Western Annexe, 21 Chancellors Walk (the Campus Centre) no later than 5:00 pm, Friday 26 February 2016.

Pictures of the winning entries will be featured on the DSS Blog, ‘Some of Our Parts’. Prize winners will be notified via email by Monday, 7 March 2016. Any currently enrolled Monash student can enter. Multiple entries will be accepted!

Are you a Monash student with a disability, medical condition or mental health condition that may impact on your studies?

You are welcome to drop in to the Disability Support Services office at Clayton campus, or phone us during Orientation Week for a private discussion with an Adviser about services available.

Date: Monday 22 February – Thursday 25 February 2016

Time: 2pm – 4pm

Location: Level 1, 21 Chancellors Walk, Western Annexe, Clayton Campus centre

NOTE: If you cannot visit us in person, please call on 03 9905 5704 or visit our website.

Available services include:

• Alternative Exam Arrangements
• Notetakers and Auslan interpreters
• Alternative Formatting of learning materials
• Equipment loans
• Library assistance

In 2015, ANZ received over 60 applications for the 2016 Graduate Program and another 39 applications for the 2015 Summer Internship Program from candidates with a disability.  Of those applicants, five are now working with ANZ and another three have recently completed their Summer Internship.

This year, the Internship Program will give successful applicants the choice to complete their internship mid-year or at the end of 2016.  This will mean that both programs will open for applications in February 2016.

Those 2016 interns who demonstrate their suitability during their internship may then be provided with an early offer for ANZ’s Graduate Program in 2018.  This will mean that there will be no further calls for applicants to the ANZ Graduate Program after this year as the Internship Program will feed the Graduate program from 2018 onwards.  Hence it is even more important for eligible students to apply for the Internship Program if they have an interest in joining ANZ’s Graduate program.

The application period for both programs will begin on February 24^th and will finish four weeks later (20^th March). Applications can be made online.  I will be contacting every student that shares with ANZ that they have a disability in their application so that I can help them through the process and hopefully achieve an even better outcome than the record numbers achieved last year.

For more information visit the ANZ website or contact:

Rob Crestani
Senior Consultant – Abilities Program
Australian Recruitment | Diversity
rob.crestani@anz.com
03 8655 0922

Gogo agrees to in-flight captions

In-flight entertainment provider Gogo Vision has struck an agreement with the US National Association of the Deaf to provide passengers with closed caption access on streaming content.

Organisations receive Emmy awards for internet caption standards

The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) and the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) were honoured at the 67th Annual Technology and Engineering Emmy Awards held in Las Vegas on 8 January for developing standards that allow closed captions to be provided for online videos.

Languages and the media conference – a major access event

The 11th Languages and The Media conference, which is the largest accessibility conference in the world, will take place in Berlin on 2-4 November 2016. Calls for proposals and papers around the theme of ‘Agile Mediascapes – Personalising the Future’ are currently open, based on the growing range of on-demand services and other distribution channels.

Pixar’s new app bypasses cinema audio description issues

Movie producer and distributor Pixar Studios has moved to solve the problem of blind people not being able to access its movies by creating an audio description app. Media Access Australia’s CEO, Alex Varley, provides his thoughts on the development and outlines cinema access priorities for people who are blind or vision impaired.

Petition launched for more audio description on iTunes

Accessible media advocate Phillip Chalker has launched a Change.org petition calling on iTunes to provide more movies with audio description for people who are blind or vision impaired.

Professional Certificate in Web Accessibility promotional video out now

A new video produced by Media Access Australia has been created to promote the upcoming Professional Certificate in Web Accessibility course. It’s designed to underline the main points and key benefits of enrolling in Australia’s only university-accredited web accessibility certificate for digital professionals.

Accessibility article

Content marketers ignore accessibility at their peril

Do you want to be a truly brilliant content marketer? Irrespective of the desired platforms for engagement, there could be one thing holding you back. Media Access Australia’s Deputy CEO, Natalie Collins, explains how accessible content has a much wider benefit for people of all abilities, providing three key ways to extend your reach, as well as six tips to target when integrating accessibility into your content strategy.

Useful resource of the week

Media Access Australia’s Accessible Document Service provides a quick and efficient way for organisations to make their documents accessible for web and digital environments, covering Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel formats, as well as Adobe PDF and InDesign files.

Using comprehensive expertise with competitive prices and fast turnarounds, you can send us your documents now for a reply within 1 business day.

The RecruitAbility scheme supports people with disability applying for jobs in the Australian Public Service (APS) by giving you a better opportunity to put forward your skills and experience during the selection process. RecruitAbility offers you the opportunity to progress to further assessment stages in an APS recruitment exercise for a vacancy advertised under the scheme if you:

• declare you have a disability,
• apply and opt in to the scheme, and
• are assessed as meeting the minimum requirements of the vacancy.

To opt in to the scheme, you need to apply to a vacancy advertised under the scheme and address the selection criteria. As part of the application process, you may also need to complete online testing, phone interviews or other preliminary testing.

Your application will be assessed by the agency to see if it meets the minimum requirements for the vacancy. If it does, you will be shortlisted for further assessment. This could be an interview or another type of assessment.

How to search for jobs to which the RecruitAbility scheme applies:

1. Go to the APSjobs.gov.au Quick Search page
2. Select the ‘RecruitAbility’ tickbox
3. Click ‘Search’
4. A list of jobs will appear.

You can find more information at the RecruitAbility website.

PACE Mentoring opportunities in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra!

***Apply online up to 31 March 2016***

What is PACE?

PACE is the Australian Network on Disability’s vibrant and dynamic mentoring program offering students with disability the opportunity to develop skills and confidence in a workplace setting, as well as personal and professional development.

During the mentoring program activities may include:

> Reviewing resume and cover letters

> Mock interviews

> Worksite visits

> Networking with other professionals

> Building confidence

Participation is free to students and jobseekers and is generously sponsored by ANZ. The program runs in two three-month streams – April to July, and September to December.

Which organisations are involved?

The opportunities vary for each stream so it is best to get in early with your application. Participating organisations include:

• ANZ
• NAB
• Cummins South Pacific
• QBE
• Legal Aid
• Department of Immigration and Border Protection
• Department of Infrastructure

Apply for PACE now!

Stockland Corporation are seeking Marketing interns for paid internships in February-March 2016!

This summer, Stockland is offering four paid Marketing internships to suitable candidates in their penultimate or final year of a relevant bachelor or postgraduate degree. The internships will commence as negotiated in February 2016, and will be for a duration of 152 hours (full-time or part-time).

Positions are based in Sydney, Perth, Townsville and the Sunshine Coast. For full role descriptions and application details visit http://www.and.org.au/ stockland-centres.html

“STUDY ASSIST”

A way to help you gain higher qualifications

With improved medications, longer life spans and improved social accessibility many people living with HIV are considering various career options, including returning to study. The committee of DWF is proud to announce the start of ‘DWF Study Assist’, a way to support you to gain higher education qualifications.

The DWF ‘Study Assist’ allocation has been established to contribute towards the cost of further education, i.e. books, enrolment fees, short courses etc. Further, there are many equity scholarships associated with Universities / TAFE’s /Colleges, which this project can direct you to. For more information, please make an appointment with the David Williams Fund Coordinator or check university / TAFE websites for more information.

The David Williams Fund is committed to working in a more holistic way to enhance health outcomes through skills development and information acquisition through further education.

Criteria for education assistance

HIV +, living in Victoria and on a Social Security benefit from Centrelink with no more than $5000 in a bank account.

• In the first instance, find the course you would like to study and look into available TAFE or University scholarships. Scholarship information can usually be obtained through university websites, which stipulate when applications need to be submitted (usually October prior to the commencement of semester). Scholarships can also provide assistance with accommodation fees, books etc for people on low incomes and/or with a Health Care Card.
• If it’s a short course, scholarships may not be available. DWF however may be able to assist. For your application to be considered you will need to obtain 2 quotes for a comparable course from different education institutions and make an appointment with the DWF Coordinator. These education providers must be recognized and approved learning institutions.
• Write a proposal as to why you would like to go back to study and how it may improve your health, well being and/or future with career prospects.
• Whilst studying (for any course of length), 6 monthly review meetings will be conducted to see how you’re study is progressing how we may be able to support you to continue to study.
• Each grant will be case by case, depending on your situation & funds available. We may be able to assist you with the provision for books, fees and other items that may be necessary for you to return / continue to study
• The David Williams Fund ‘Study Assist’ application form must be filled out fully with all quotes / health card cards attached to be considered.  Forms are available from the
• Positive Living Centre (PLC) reception or online at www.vac.org.au/dwf .

If this interests you, please feel free to contact the Positive Living Centre reception on 9863 0444 and make an appointment. Please bring in all the information about the institution and course you would like to study with and costs associated with this.

Current Opportunities

Working for I CAN is an experience like no other! We’re Australia’s first social enterprise established by people with Autism. Make history and help us power a generation-wide rethink of Autism! We are currently looking for Communications Officers, Mentors, a Mentor Manager, a Network Leader, Personal Assistants, a Social Media Officer and Stakeholder Relationship Managers. Forward this on to anyone who you think would be perfect!

Learn more here.

I CAN’s Amazing Race

Tickets are now available for the I CAN Network’s Amazing Race! In Melbourne on the 30th of January, we will be running around the city and completing challenges so that we can continue to empower people on the Autism Spectrum. Teams of two or three will soon be able to purchase $30 tickets, with proceeds going to the I CAN Network. Any queries can be sent to: issyhassall@hotmail.com

Book tickets here.

Grapevine

This month, we discuss our new I CAN School, Aquinas College (Ringwood), big news for Austin Wyatt’s (Networks Director) being awarded a New Colombo Plan Scholarship, an interview with Kim Noonan (our photographer), and a blog post from Tony Langdon!

Read more here.