ADIA participants are working together to develop a plan for improvements to inclusive access.

by Natalie Collins, ADIA Inclusive Access Project Leader, Centre for Inclusive Design

Since its creation, the ADIA has made some substantial achievements. The Centre for Inclusive Design has been a keen supporter of the ADIA and has project-led a number of its projects.

The ADIA aims to harness the collective skills, knowledge and capabilities of organisations across Australia to reduce the digital divide through affordability, ability and inclusive access (formally described as “digital accessibility”) to digital technologies.

Thousands of people are currently being left behind because of the inaccessibility of some digital technologies. So in October last year we convened a meeting with representatives from Infoxchange, Intopia, Diversity Council Australia and Capgemini to develop a plan for how we can work together to make big improvements to inclusive access.

What do we mean by “inclusive access”?

Inclusive access focuses on the ability of people to access the technology and meaningfully engage and interact with the content.

It includes:

  • devices (e.g. a screen reader) hardware and software
  • inclusive design
  • structural barriers (discrimination, lack of intentionality)
  • diversity and inclusion policies (CSR statement and policies corporate strategies) and intersectionality (awareness of cultural barriers)

It doesn’t include:

  • the ability of the user (or prior technical knowledge)
  • affordability
  • connectivity (waves, wires, data and infrastructure)

As part of our Inclusive Access Project we’ve developed two key activities for the next year:

Activity 1:  Develop a plain language pack for creating and maintaining digital assets

Activity 2:  Collect and publish inclusive access experiences – good and bad stories from people’s interactions with digital assets.

Can you help?

We’re testing our plan in the accessibility sector and welcome support or involvement from ADIA partners. If you would like to be involved please contact Project Leader Natalie Collins.