ADCET/OZeWAI Webinar: Myth Busting Accessibility in Australian Tertiary Education

Wed 30 Jul 2025 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm AEST

Online

Event details

This joint webinar between ADCET and OZeWAI brings together a panel of staff from across the education sector to challenge common myths and misconceptions around accessibility and supporting students with disability. With a focus on practical insights gathered from staff and students, the panel will explore barriers, debunk persistent myths, and highlight strategies for creating more inclusive learning environments.

Accessibility in Australian tertiary education remains a critical yet often misunderstood issue. While many assume that only a small number of students face accessibility challenges, data reveals that increasing numbers of student’s report having at least one disability, with many more navigating invisible disabilities. Despite these numbers, students with disabilities frequently encounter significant barriers that impact their academic success and completion rates. Common misconceptions, such as the belief that accessibility is expensive, complicated, or only requires occasional adjustments—can hinder meaningful progress. In reality, accessibility needs to be integrated proactively into the design of learning environments, both physical and digital, to ensure equitable access for all students.

Students who are blind, have low vision, or use assistive technologies often face inconsistent support and inaccessible online resources, highlighting systemic gaps in current practices. This webinar seeks to shed light on these challenges, dispel myths, and promote a shift towards inclusive policies and practices that support every learner in Australian tertiary institutions.

Facilitator

Ricky Onsman

Ricky is Principal Technical Writer for the Knowledge Center at TPGi, a global digital accessibility company based in the US. He writes guidance articles for TPGi staff and clients conducting manual accessibility audits, as well helping to craft the rules engine for TPGi's automated testing tools, developing training courses, and writing blog posts. Ricky has worked in web technology for over 20 years, first for a range of companies, then as a freelance web designer and front end developer, then as an digital accessibility specialist with organisations like AccessIQ, Simply Accessible, AccessibilityOz, Intopia, Tenon, and now TPGi. Ricky has been a Committee Mdember of OZeWAI since 2014 and has played a key role in developing the organisation's web presence and newsletters, and has moderated a number of Ask The Professionals webinars.

Panelists

Andrew Downie

Andrew worked for TAFE NSW for 25 years in the areas of assistive technology and accessible online material. He now works part time for University of Technology Sydney as an Accessibility Consultant. A psychologist by training and inclination, Andrew appreciates the potential benefit of thoughtfully developed hardware and software. He is also frustrated by the poor design of much online material.

Amelia Dowe

Amelia has spent numerous years working in universities to support the success of students in a range of ways. Most recently, this has included a focus on online learning and accessible digital environments. She is a co-convenor of the Tasmanian Chapter of EPHEA, and loves finding ways to make practical progress towards goals of equity and inclusion.

Darren Britten

Darren is a passionate advocate for inclusive practices and accessible resource development in tertiary education. With over two decades of experience, he specialises in digital equity, assistive technology, and accessibility. With a background in audio engineering, web design, learning design, and accessible resource development, he currently serves as the National Assistive Technology Officer with the Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training (ADCET). Darren also works with Deakin University on digital equity initiatives aimed at improving capabilities for staff and students. Darren facilitates the ADCET Assist service to assist educators and disability support staff across the tertiary education sector with any and all queries relating to digital accessibility, inclusive teaching and assistive technology. He is co-host of the ADCET podcast ILOTA Things which explores the intersection of Universal Design for Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and Accessibility.

Kim Neville

Kim Neville is the Digital Accessibility Practice Lead at the Australian National University, where they work across teaching and learning, research, and staff and student services in their current digital transformation program. With a varied background in Digital Accessibility, Human Centred Design practices, Web and content production, digital learning tools and IT Services, Kim leads strategic initiatives to ensure digital platforms and projects incorporate accessibility work to improve accessible experiences of work and study at the university. Kim and the Digital Accessibility team work collaboratively with colleges, IT teams, education designers, and university leadership to incorporate accessibility into the digital ecosystem—ranging from course materials and learning management systems to university websites and digital tools. The team also provide training, develop policy, and guide audits and remediation projects to support a digitally inclusive culture. Kim holds a Professional Certificate in Web Accessibility and post graduate qualifications in Interactive Multimedia and Sound and is an active OzeWAI member. Kim brings a strong commitment to user focused methods to design and implement digital inclusion.

Registrations for this webinar are now open