Events & Activities

This month Windsor Hackforge is hosting a series of free events focused on accessibility. The programming aims to increase connections between people with disabilities, businesses, technologists, advocacy groups, and the community at large. The full schedule of events has been released on Hackforge’s website (https://www.hackf.org/news/schedule-announced-for-national-accessability-week-programming/), and features topics such as accessible website design, AODA compliance, and the role technology plays in an inclusive society. Presented as interactive workshops, tutorials, and discussions. To kickoff this series of events, David Best will present on May 16, Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). In this session we will look at the Ontario open for business economic growth strategy that can help your business reach larger markets.

In this session we will learn about the Ontario open for business economic growth strategy that requires all Ontario organizations to implement the four core principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). The AODA was passed into law in 2005 with the goal of full inclusion by 2025. The purpose of AODA is to create a more inclusive province, that can attract more economic growth by removing as many barriers as possible, making Ontario open for everyone. Presenter David Best will dig into how the AODA can help your business reach larger markets. He’ll cover the four value proposition principles that can help your business attract customers and stand out in the market: Dignity: From information to knowledge (Knowledge is power) Independence: From accessibility to usability (Usability is enabling) Integration: From passive to active (Active is inclusive) Equality: From chaos to stability (Stability is satisfaction) David Best of BEST Accessibility Consulting is an Accessibility Information Technology Specialist with over 35 years of experience in the industry. He has worked for Air Canada, and recently retired from IBM. David was also one of the first blind individuals to graduate with a B.Sc. in computer science from a Canadian University.

Target audience: People with disabilities and developers seeking to understand their needs. Objective: To foster a dialogue between users and developers, sharing experiences and exploring tools to enhance web accessibility. Key takeaways: • Understanding user experiences: Gain insights into the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities when navigating the web. • Tool exploration: Discover how tools like WordPress, Webflow, NextJS, Slick.js, Shopify, Squarespace, Elementor, and OpenCart can be leveraged to improve accessibility. • Collaboration and knowledge sharing: Engage with a diverse community to share perspectives, exchange ideas, and promote inclusive web design practices.

5/16 is the 13th Global Accessibility Awareness Day initiated by Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). GAAD’s purpose is to empower the world’s more than 1 billion people with disabilities and everyone to talk, think and learn about digital access and inclusion. This year, the Asia Pacific Inclusive Innovation Association will also hold a flash mob live broadcast on the day to talk to everyone about the importance of information accessibility. Everyone is welcome to participate! Time: 2024/05/16 19:30-20:30 Online event website: meet.google.com/xxw-mfgr-ogw Event language: Chinese 5/16 是由 Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)發起第13屆全球無障礙體認日。GAAD的目的是讓全球超過10億的身心障礙者與每個人都能夠談論、思考和學習數位存取和包容性。 今年，亞太包容創新協會也會在當天做過快閃直播活動，跟大家一起談談資訊無障礙的重要性喔。 歡迎大家一起參與！ 時間：2024/05/16 19:30-20:30 線上活動網址： meet.google.com/xxw-mfgr-ogw 活動使用語言：中文

Lidar com acessibilidade é um processo que envolve cultura, conhecimento técnico e paciência. Você pode lidar com a acessibilidade de forma que ela seja atendida minimamente (o que infelizmente é o que a maioria das empresas faz). Para que a acessibilidade seja desenvolvida de forma correta, é importante que se tenha um processo, um ou mais processos. E para que esses processos sejam conduzidos de forma correta e assertiva, é importante que se tenha uma governança. Isso está atrelado a uma equipe dedicada. Neste evento, vamos bater um papo sobre o que é necessário para que estes processos sejam conduzidos da melhor forma além de demonstrarmos alguns exemplos de processos, na prática. Operacionalizar processos é muito importante para conduzir de forma eficiente tudo que envolve a acessibilidade.

There’s a webinar on the PWCAG Telegram and YouTube channel aiming to boost accessibility in Persian applications and websites. It’s happening on GAAD, May 16th, 2024. The webinar will feature two presentations on applying practical knowledge to design accessible products and services for older users. You can sign up using this link: https://eseminar.tv/wb66417

Join us for a very special CESI Café on Thursday, 16th May at 8pm on Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). We will be joined by Trevor Boland, Assistive Technology Officer at DCU, for “Getting your Accessibility House in order: an acronym that embeds Accessibility into your inclusion practices”. Presenter biography: Trevor Boland advocates for inclusion in education via Universal Design for Learning (UDL), accessibility, and Assistive Technology (AT). Previously, he worked as the Digital Officer in AHEAD and worked on many projects, including the National UDL Rollout for staff in Further and Higher Education. Trevor has also worked as an Assistive Technology for 7 years in TU Dublin and, as a Lecturer in an Access Programme in DIT teaching Mature Students and as an SNA in Primary and Secondary Schools. His work has included app design for orientation apps, AT resources such as the AT Hive in AHEAD. Currently he is the Assistive Technology Officer in DCU.

Der Workshop richtet sich an alle interessierten Lehrenden von NRW-Hochschulen. Die Teilnahme ist anrechenbar auf das NRW-Zertifikat „Professionelle Lehrkompetenz für die Hochschule“. Diese Veranstaltung hat zum Ziel, einen einfach umzusetzenden Einstieg in eine barriereärmere Lehre anzubieten. Der Fokus wird hierbei auf die Formulierung von Alternativtexten gelegt. Dafür werden die Teilnehmenden im Vorfeld gebeten, ein, zwei Bildbeispiele aus ihrer Lehre zur Veranstaltung mitzubringen. Nach einem kurzen Input zu möglichen Regeln werden in Kleingruppen Alternativtexte für diese Beispiele erarbeitet. In Zusammenarbeit mit dem Servicezentrum Inklusion wird ein Feedback zu den erarbeiteten Ergebnissen erfolgen. Zum Global Accessibilty Awareness Day (kurz GAAD) am 16. Mai 2024 organisiert das Kompetenzzentrum digitale Barrierefreiheit.nrw gemeinsam mit verschiedenen NRW-Hochschulen unterschiedliche Aktionen zu verschiedenen Themen der digitalen Barrierefreiheit. Das Kompetenzentrum digitale Barrierefreiheit.nrw ist ein Projekt der digitalen Hochschule NRW (dh.nrw), die Konsortialführung liegt bei DoBuS an der TU Dortmund. Es berät Hochschulen in NRW im Bereich der digitalen Barrierefreiheit und vernetzt die Akteure auf der Arbeitsebene. https://barrierefreiheit.dh.nrw

Thursday May 16 is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)! The purpose of GAAD is to get everyone talking, thinking, and learning about digital access and inclusion for the more than one billion people worldwide with disabilities and impairments. To celebrate, we’re hosting a panel of guest speakers featuring advocates and thought leaders in the field of accessibility and inclusivity in higher education: * Nikki Andersen, Manager (Digital Experience), Library Services, University of Southern Queensland * Darren Britten, National Assistive Technology Project Officer, Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training (ADCET) and the University of Tasmania * Brett McLennan, Manager of Digital Learning/Project and Change Manager, Centre for Teaching and Learning, Southern Cross University * Rebecca Muir, Coordinator, Disability Inclusion, Deakin University Hosted by Stephen Abblitt (Academic Development Manager, Learning Design, Australia & APAC) and Elle Noe (Associate Director of Content Quality, Instructional Services, Americas & Europe) Join us for what will be an insightful conversation. All are welcome.

Welcome to Vision Empower’s panel discussion on ‘STEM Accessibility in the Indian Education System’! Vision Empower is dedicated to making STEM and Computational Thinking (CT) education accessible for children with visual impairments. We are currently collaborating with over 120 special schools across 14 states in India. Our mission is to bridge the gap in STEM education through innovative resources and technologies, ensuring every child has the opportunity to explore and excel in these crucial fields. In this panel discussion, our partners delve into the challenges of making STEM education accessible and the work they are doing to transform the educational landscape for students with visual impairment. Panel Highlights: 1. Challenges in Accessing STEM Subjects: Explore the fundamental challenges a student with visual impairment faces in accessing STEM education. 2. Importance of STEM for Visually Impaired Students: Understand why visually impaired students must pursue STEM, despite its visual nature. 3. Tactile Diagrams: Learn what tactile diagrams are, how they are created, and their role in breaking down barriers in STEM learning for the visually impaired. 4. Innovative Tools and Technologies: Discover the tools and innovations currently available for visually impaired students to study STEM and the additional innovations needed. 5. Learning Management Platforms: Assess the importance of platforms like Coursera, edX, or Subodha in facilitating STEM education for visually impaired students and key considerations for ensuring accessibility. 6. Advice for Stakeholders: Gain valuable advice for parents, special educators, visually impaired students, organizations working for the disabled, and innovators to ensure STEM education becomes universally accessible for every visually impaired child nationwide. Subscribe to our channel and hit the notification bell to stay updated on future events and discussions. About Vision Empower: Vision Empower is committed to empowering children with visual impairments through accessible STEM education. By working with special schools and various partners, we aim to create an inclusive and supportive learning environment for all.