RMIT and ADCET Webinar: What’s next for Digital Accessibility?

RMIT in conjunction with ADCET proudly presented: What’s next for Digital Accessibility? A cross-institutional discussion on where we've come from, harnessing the COVID disruption and embedding digital equity in what's next.

In recognition of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) 2022, our panellists discussed and raised questions around:

Acknowledging where digital accessibility has come from and where it's heading
How do we harness what was gained by the forced movement online?
How do organisations work together better to reduce the duplication of effort in improving access and inclusion in the digital education space?
How do we progress the national conversation about ensuring digital accessibility is embedded?
What do we have to celebrate?

RMIT's executive sponsor for Accessibility, Chaminda Ranasinghe, led the discussion over an invited panel of speakers across the accessibility field, including people with lived experience of disability.

Chaminda Ranasinghe (he/him)
Chief Experience Officer (CXO), RMIT University - LinkedIn Profile
Chaminda is an accomplished senior executive leader with 25 years of deep subject matter expertise in marketing, digital and technology within iconic multinational organisations in the financial services, utilities, automotive, retail, travel and education sectors.  As Chief Experience Officer (CXO), Chaminda leads Global Marketing, Digital & Experience, University Lifecycle Technology, Product, Pricing, Proposition Innovation and Student Recruitment for RMIT University. Chaminda is the current Executive Sponsor, Accessibility.
Ronny Andrade (he/him)
Digital Accessibility Lead, RMIT University- LinkedIn Profile
Ronny Andrade works as Digital Accessibility Lead at RMIT University. He supports the delivery of accessible digital assets and his work spans across the entire product life cycle: from design to implementation to use. More broadly, Ronny’s work addresses systemic barriers to digital access in the context of higher education. Ronny is a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies, has a doctoral degree (PhD), and lived experience of low vision. As part of his doctoral research, Ronny investigated accessibility in videogames for people with visual impairment.
Tracy Galloway (she/her)
Equitable Learning Advisor, RMIT University - LinkedIn Profile
Tracy Galloway is an Equitable Learning Advisor at RMIT University who is committed to creating an accessible education environment for students with disabilities/ongoing conditions and empowering them to develop independence and resilience. Tracy has an extensive background as an educator, both in schools and as a lecturer/subject coordinator with experience in implementing reasonable adjustments for students and designing learning content on digital platforms. As someone with low vision, Tracy also utilises digital accessibility tools daily and is a passionate advocate in this area .
Darren Britten (he/him)
National Assistive Technology Project Officer, (NDCO Program)
ADCET (Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training) - LinkedIn Profile
Darren has been involved in inclusive practice and accessible resource development in the tertiary sector for over two decades and has a passion for technology and how information is delivered and accessed. He has been active in designing and developing learning objects for online and blended learning, providing advice and training to academic staff around digital equity, and was instrumental in the establishment of the Inclusive Resources Development (IRD) team at La Trobe University. IRD provided best practice in the provision of accessible learning resources for students with print and hearing impairments and won several awards for student support including: 'Making a Difference' award from Vision Australia, an ‘Excellence in Transition Award' from Pathways 9 and a La Trobe University Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning.
Steve Zelko
Coordinator Inclusive Development, La Trobe University
Bojana Šarkić - LinkedIn Profile
Discipline Lead and Course Coordinator, Audiology, La Trobe University
Danni McCarthy (she/her)
Lecturer in Inclusive Education, Deakin University
Danni McCarthy is a Lecturer in Inclusive Education at Deakin University. In this role she provides evidence-based leadership towards the development of education environments that are intentionally designed and capable of maximising the participation and achievement of all learners. Danni is an experienced Lecturer and Senior Educational Designer who has a strong background in the Arts, education, the disability, and inclusion space and is currently completing a PhD. She leads the accessibility champions project at Deakin, which aims to develop accessibility leadership capabilities across the university.