Some of Our Parts

CES 2016 accessibility round-up

The annual International Consumer Electronics Show, which was held in Las Vegas in January, is generally considered the world’s largest showcase of consumer electronics. With products ranging from futuristic prototypes through to things we’ll see in stores soon, it’s a good opportunity to see what some of the accessibility implications are for 2016.

Researchers seek feedback on video-on-demand accessibility

A new ACCAN-funded Australian research project is asking people to take part in a survey about the accessibility of video-on-demand (VOD) websites. The study is conducted by researchers Dr Mike Kent and Dr Katie Ellis of Curtin University, looking into the growing popularity of VOD services delivered via the internet. This 15-question survey aims to gain the “perspectives of people with different disabilities on how accessible the different services offered are.”

ACMA releases submissions to caption quality review

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has posted submissions received in response to its discussion paper ‘Review of Television Captioning Standard’, which was released in November 2015. Submissions were provided from ACCAN, Deaf Australia Inc, Ai-Media Australia, FreeTV Australia, Astra, ABC, SBS and more, as well as Media Access Australia.

Stan introduces closed captions

Subscription television service Stan has quietly introduced closed captioning on a selection of its titles, with more to come. The service was criticised for not providing captions when it launched in January 2015.

Audio description on ABC iview now available on FreeviewPlus

The trial of audio description on the ABC’s iview, which commenced in April, has now been extended to FreeviewPlus. Previously, it was only available in iPhones, iPads, Android devices and desktop computers.

New podcast

ABC iview audio description trial moves to desktop computers

The trial of audio description (AD) on the ABC’s online iview service which started in April has now been extended to desktop computers. Media Access Australia’s Project Manager, Chris Mikul, discusses the progress of the AD trial, new programs available with AD, how many people have been watching programs with AD and responses to the trial so far.

Useful resource of the week

Enrolments are currently open for the next Professional Certificate in Accessibility course, which runs from 22 February to 1 April. With lots of positive feedback from past students, many career benefits for course attendees and countless reasons to make the web accessible for digital consumers around the world, Media Access Australia’s Marketing Executive, Philip Jenkinson, explains why you should become qualified in web accessibility.

Calling all vision impaired students. Could you benefit from better access to the graphs, tables, diagrams and mathematics in your learning materials? If so, you are invited to take part in a pilot study to trial new processes and technologies.

We will work with you and university staff to determine the most suitable additions to your usual support. This may include:

• accessible formats such as interactive electronic diagrams, written descriptions, and tactile graphics
• interactive 3-dimensional campus map with audio labels
• training and support for you and university staff
• and more

You will be asked to complete a screening interview up to 30 minutes in length to discuss your accessible formats requirements. Participants will then be selected to represent a diverse range of profiles.

Pilot participants should be available for weekly communication with the researchers. At the end of the semester, you will be asked to complete a final interview.

To register your interest or for further information, please contact Leona Holloway at leona.holloway@monash.edu or (03) 9903 2401. Participation is voluntary and confidential.

The I CAN Network have released their December news update.

Find information about a new school mentoring video, an autism book giveaway, and the December Grapevine.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, during the 2011-12 academic year, 11.1% of undergraduates reported having a disability. While these students may face unique challenges, they are entitled to the same quality of education as all students. For this reason, the team at BestColleges.com published a guide for students with disabilities outlining their legal rights, where to find assistance on campus, and an extensive list of websites, apps and software resources designed for students’ specific needs.

You can review College Resources for Students with Disabilities here: http://www.bestcolleges.com/resources/disabled-students/

To celebrate International Day of People with a Disability, all visitors to Dandenong Ranges National Park will now be able to enjoy trails in the park thanks to a motorised all terrain wheelchair – called a TrailRider.

A modified version of a Canadian invention, the motorised TrailRider, was created by Parks Victoria and is the first of its kind in the world. TrailRider all terrain wheelchairs are a cross between a rickshaw and a wheelchair and can handle more rugged bush trails where conventional wheelchairs cannot go. The motor on the chair makes it easier to manoeuvre the chair over rough trail surfaces and makes it easier for visitors with mobility limitations to access steeper and longer trails than ever the before.

“Everyone has the right to enjoy the benefits of being in nature and we want to help everyone to be active in our parks. This is just one way we are making this possible,” said John Kenwright, Community Inclusion Coordinator, Parks Victoria. “The TrailRider really opens up park areas that people with limited mobility may never have been able to see or experience.”

The TrailRider has recently been trialled by a YMCA Recreation camp in the Dandenong Ranges for children with disabilities. Having a TrailRider based in the Dandenong Ranges will make it much easier for the YMCA , other organisations and individuals to regularly access a TrailRider chair to explore parks.

The TrailRider is located at Grants on Sherbrooke café at Grants Picnic Area in Mount Dandenong National Park. It can be booked by calling 03 9755 2888.

Key facts

• For work on improving access to parks, including making TrailRiders available, Parks Victoria last week won a 2015 National Disability Award.
• TrailRider all terrain wheelchairs are just one of the facilities and programs supported by Parks Victoria to ensure parks are accessible to everyone.
• There are now 11 TrailRider all terrain wheelchairs available to explore Victoria’s park trails.
• Trained volunteers from the Sherpa Volunteer program are available in the Grampians National Park to assist visitors with disabilities to explore the many spectacular park trails using the TrailRider chairs.
• There are now ten child and adult beach wheelchairs available to explore Victoria’s coastal parks.
• Thirty eight of Victoria’s most visited parks now have more comprehensive park access information provided to help visitors plan their park visit and park activities.
• For more information about accessible facilities in Victoria’s parks go to www.parks.vic.gov.au/visit/improving-park-access-for-all

In this month’s newsletter:

• Business Council of Australia: Recognising  Ability
• Opening the doors to diversity in the public service
• Try a new idea: creating specific opportunities for those that might not ‘fit the mould’
• International Day of People with Disability: what are you doing to get ready?
• WorkingOUT: supporting members of the LGBTIQ community with disability
• International White Cane Day Oct 2015
• Assistance Dogs Australia Awareness Week Nov 22-28
• Welcome new NDRC Partners

You can view the full newsletter here.

Stepping Into is a paid internship program designed specifically for university students with disability.

This summer, Telstra is offering nine paid internships to suitable candidates in their penultimate or final year of a relevant bachelor or postgraduate degree. The internships will commence as negotiated between December 2015 and February 2016, and will be for a duration of 152 hours.

For eligibility requirements and application details, visit the AND website.

Applications for these positions will close on Sunday 22 November 2015 at 11.59PM AEST.

For all queries regarding the Stepping Into program, contact

Steph Littlewood, Stepping Into… Project Assistant

stephanie.littlewood@and.org.au or call 02 8270 9240

Happy Friday everyone,

• November’s Ouch talk show looks at the story of the Disability Discrimination Act, in the month that marks the twentieth anniversary of its passing in the UK.
• Australian filmmaker, Jennifer Perrott, breaking the ice on PTSD with ‘The Ravens’, Nick Galvin writes.
• Geelong Paralympian, Sam McIntosh, says early education is key to disability acceptance.
• Giving women with an intellectual disability a voice to report sexual assault and violence is behind a push by authorities to raise awareness in the community, Laura Armitage writes.
• A disability service has moved its social enterprise project and training services into an iconic building the Bendigo CBD, writes Larissa Romensky.

The Australian Government wants to get more people with disability into jobs. The Government sees a future where people with disability, like other Australians, can enjoy the economic and social gains work brings.

The Disability Employment Taskforce was established to review the entire disability employment system and develop a new National Disability Employment Framework to boost employment rates for people with disability.

To assist in the development of this Framework, the Taskforce completed a first round of consultation based on an Issues Paper and a set of suggested principles for the new Framework.

Building on the principles and feedback from the first round of consultation, a Discussion Paper has been developed outlining more detailed policy proposals for the new Framework and will be used as the basis for a second round of consultation.

The second round will present the findings from the first round of consultation; provide an overview of the Discussion Paper; and encourage feedback on the policy proposals through an online survey. These sessions will commence on 19 November 2015 in Perth and conclude on 30 November 2015 in Melbourne. The survey will remain open until 7 December 2015.  The Discussion Paper, survey and full details of the information sessions, including registration can be found at www.engage.dss.gov.au

Have your say!

The Government wants to hear from people with disability, their families and carers, service providers, employers and peak bodies to explore ways to improve disability employment in Australia.

You can attend a public information session to hear about the policy proposals outlined in the Discussion Paper. Feedback on these proposals can be provided by completing the online survey.

Information sessions will be held around Australia starting on 19 November, in the following locations:

Perth 19 November 2015                             Hobart 26 November 2015
Adelaide 20 November 2015                       Darwin 26 November 2015
Brisbane 24 November 2015                       Canberra 27 November 2015
Sydney 25 November 2015                          Melbourne 30 November 2015

For more information on sessions or to complete the online survey go to www.engage.dss.gov.au

Happy Friday everyone,

• Kathy Evans discusses societies need to turn people with disabilities into inspirational figures, such as the case of Stevie Payne.
• Danielle Kutchel discusses the choices students face as they head toward their final years of schooling, and how this experience is different for students with disabilities and learning disorders.
• SBS will cover Australia’s biggest disability specific film festival, Focus On Ability Film Festival, on Saturday 21^st November 2015, starting 4.30pm .
• Honor Eastly discusses access to mental health care services in Australia, asking readers to contribute their views and opinions as part of the government’s review of Medicare.