Dr Scott Hollier - Media Access Australia - Supporting the Employment of People with Disabilities...
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Transcript of Dr Scott Hollier - Media Access Australia - Supporting the Employment of People with Disabilities...
Supporting employment with accessible communications Dr Scott Hollier National Disability Summit 2015
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• Australia’s only independent not-for-profit organisation devoted to increasing access to media for people with disabilities
• Provides expert knowledge and advice on existing and emerging mainstream technologies
• Works as a catalyst for change in multiple areas of access
Who is Media Access Australia?
Who am I?
• Professional: • Manager, Major Projects • W3C Advisory Committee
• Academic: • Edith Cowan University, Adjunct Lecturer • PhD thesis ‘The Disability Divide’
• Personal: Legally blind, first-hand knowledge of access issues
Top three ICT employment questions we get asked
• What is the best way to provide ICT support to job seekers with disabilities, including job interviews?
• How can employers ensure the recruitment process and workplace environment is accessible?
• How does the NDIS fit into all this?
Disability and technology: three important factors
• Mainstream computers and mobile devices include a wealth of accessibility features
• Web accessibility is critical in making assistive technologies work
• NDIA processes, both current and proposed procurement, favour specialist products and vendors over mainstream
Finding employment: advice for job seekers
• Get familiar with accessibility features of popular computer and mobile OS
• Find out what mainstream ICT the potential employer uses
• Be prepared to explain how you use a computer and your AT
• Free AT may be a good stop-gap measure
Finding employment: advice for employers
• Ads: never use a scanned PDF
• Interview: give candidates a chance to explain ICT needs
• Be open to different interview techniques
• Keep your organisation's ICT up to date
ICT accessibility in the workplace: Windows 7/8.1
• Change the icon and text size • Mouse pointer size & movement • High contrast colour themes • ToggleKeys • Visual alerts • On-screen keyboard • Magnifier (touch-enabled in 8) • Narrator screen reader (better in 8) • NVDA: free alternative to Narrator
ICT accessibility in the workplace: Mac
Improvements over Windows: • Better screen reader
VoiceOver • Braille display support However… • VoiceOver doesn’t work with
the Office suite, works mostly with OpenOffice for Mac
ICT accessibility in the workplace: iOS & Watch
iOS (IPhone/iPad) • Great access: VoiceOver, zoom,
captioned video, colour changes. • App compatibility improving,
AppleVis good crowdsourcing advice website
Apple Watch: • Includes some iOS features such as
VoiceOver, zoom, audio in one ear
ICT accessibility in the workplace: Android
Google Android phone and tablets: • Talkback screen reader,
magnifier, colour contrast adjustments (5.x), global caption support
• Good third-party apps like BIG Launcher
• More affordable than Apple
However… • Only really a viable alternative if
running Android 4.2+
Support in the workplace: Policy
• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA recommended by AHRC
• Relevant to Section 24 of DDA 1992 • Requirements of UNCRPD • Also an ISO standard
Support in the workplace: Web presence
• Focus on WCAG 2.0 implementation • Guidelines include:
• Alternative text on images • Captioned video • Colour contrast ratios • Keyboard accessible • Enough time to complete process • Easy to find things • Avoid and correct mistakes
Support in the workplace: Documents
• Consider the best document format (HTML, Word, PDF)
• HTML: avoid ‘click here’, be descriptive
• Word: use styles and built-in accessibility checker (2010/2013)
• PDF: use tagging and create from accessible source
Support in workplace: Social media
• Dedicated accessibility teams at Facebook and Twitter
• Use Twitter hashtags such as #a11y for accessibility
• AT helpdesk for Facebook • Easy Chirp for Twitter • Keyboard shortcuts for Skype • Improved caption support on
YouTube
NDIS and employment
• Employment a focus of NDIS goals • Where possible, participants should
consider their ICT needs and who is appropriate assessor
• Check that service provider responsible for assessment is aware of the your preferred solution
• Specifically state ICT needs in goals
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Service Providers Accessibility Guide:
Quick reference guide for accessible communications
Free resource for service providers
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• Professional Certificate in Web Accessibility • Six week online course • Tertiary backed, delivered by UniSA and
Media Access Australia • For ICT professionals to integrate web
accessibility into work practices
Visit: mediaaccess.org.au/learn
Professional development in web accessibility
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• Digital Accessibility Maturity Assessment
• Accessible content workshops • Website testing and auditing • Document remediation
Free advice: Geoff Knight Business Development Manage E-mail: [email protected]
Need help with digital accessibility issues?
Further information
• E-mail: [email protected]
• Telephone: • (02) 9212 6242 (head office) • (08) 9311 8230 (direct)
• Website: www.mediaaccess.org.au • Twitter: @mediaaccessaus