OZeWAI has had another busy year, with online events and in-person partnerships with conferences, as well as progress in our strategic governance and accessibility advocacy and projects. We’re pleased to share the highlights of 2024.
Ask the Professionals
OZeWAI’s “Ask the Professionals” sessions continue to be popular with members and subscribers, as attendees had the opportunity to ask questions of accessibility specialists.
The variety of specific digital accessibility related topics included accessibility design, testing, training and courses, gaming and virtual reality, neurodivergence and accessibility, inclusive research.
- Thank you to our experts who joined the panels this year: Gian Wild, Hans Hillen, Karl McCabe, Kylie Pollock, Scott Nixon, Dax Castro, Russ Weakley, David Spriggs, Frances Riggs, Liz Leigh, Christopher Land, Claire Webber, Thea Schmertmann, Lisa Seeman-Horwitz, Rose McAlister, Rosie Putland, Andrew Normand, Callum McMenamin, Jaunita George, Mark Barlet, Dr Ronny Andrade Parra, Shikha N. Dwivedi, Irith Williams, Ricki Spencer, Yasmine Gray, Andrew Arch, Rachael Bradley Montgomery Ph.D., Dr Scott Hollier, Derek Featherstone, Gerry Neustatl and Sean Murphy.
- Thank you to our moderators: Amanda Mace, Bri Norton, Ricky Onsman and Gian Wild
Partnership events
- November – Dr Chris Law shared the current work SAR is doing in developing industry consensus standard scoring systems for the accessibility of consumer technology products, websites, and Apps. OZeWAI is a supporting partner of SAR. Find out how accessibility professionals can stay up to date, and contribute as part of SAR’s development teams.
You can view all past “Ask the Professionals” sessions on the online events page and check out the wonderful, animated demonstrations as part of the Get Online Week on our YouTube channel.
Make sure to keep an eye out for new topics in 2025 and register for our January event on the topic of Accessibility and design systems/patterns.
Conferences and partnerships
Throughout the year members had opportunities to attend and present at in-person partner conferences, online panels, workshops and contribute to OZeWAI projects.
- Sponsorship of the Perth Web Accessibility Camp (PWAC)where OZeWAI co-chairs Amanda and Bri provided an update on the Apprenticeship project.
- 2 May – InfoXchange’s Connecting Up Technology for Social Justice Conference 2024. OZeWAI members Irith Williams and Scott Nixon presented a masterclass on Accessibility and Inclusive Design for Research, Marketing and Social Media.
- 18-21 May – Print Disability Round Table. OZeWAI Co-chair Amanda Mace and Committee members Charissa Ramirez and David Swayn attended and shared OZeWAI news and details including running an Accessibility Experience Lab.
- 22 May – Accessibility for Leaders – Brisbane in-person event. OZeWAI Co-chair and GrackleDocs Australasia manager Amanda Mace and content expert Tom Davis presented how businesses can tap into a significant and often underserved market segment.
- 28 August – OZeWAI and Aquent Melbourne Event, Topic: Leading the Future of Digital Accessibility. Aquent hosted an amazing panel in Melbourne in August, over 100 people attended to hear from Accessibility experts in organisations. Thank you to the panelists (Amanda, Bri, Mel O’Brien and and to Aquent and ANZ for hosting.
- 29 October – The Australian Internet Governance Forum (auIGF). Bri Norton joined a panel to discuss Accessibility at the Core. View the Recordings and Transcripts.
- The Web Directions Summit held in Sydney in December, where OZeWAI members shared their experience and provided accessibility technology demonstrations at the OZeWAI booth.
Other on-line events
- 27 February – APSC Academy inclusive design online panel
- 16 May – Deque India GAAD event, Empowering Accessibility in APAC. OZeWAI Co-chair Bri Norton shared an update on OZeWAI and Accessibility in Australia
- 18 October 2024 – OZeWAI event for Get Online Week
- 24 October 2024 – OZeWAI podcast with Canberra Business Chamber
Membership
Thank you to everyone who has become a member or supported OZeWAI.org this year and if you haven’t, please consider joining OZeWAI as a paid member so we can continue to provide services for our digital accessibility professional community.
This membership structure has allowed OZeWAI to improve revenue to assist with sponsorship of advocacy work and events, progressing project initiatives and has allowed OZeWAI to better serve their professional and organisational members with benefits including the consultant directory.
Strategic Plan and Project Activities
This year the committee met and developed Strategic Pillars for improving governance processes. We will be sharing more benefits for members as we role out the initiatives as part of our new Strategic Plan.
Accessible ICT Procurement project gathered experts in procurement and accessibility. The project delivered and promoted the OZeWAI Product Accessibility List (PAL). The material gathered will be used as part of the strategic work for 2025. Read more about OZeWAI’s Accessible ICT Procurement updates.
Digital Accessibility Apprenticeship project kicked into a higher gear when we started working with the Future Skills Organisation, we ran a workshop and gathered case studies for the digital capability gap initiative. Read more about the FSO and project updates.
Get Involved
Remember if you want to get involved in any of the OZeWAI initiatives read more about the membership tiers and join as a member today.