Meet Professor Greenberg
State-of-art adaptive technology enables staff and students to fully engage in work and study: However, eight weeks of constant double-headset use, literally one set over another, in 2020's Covid-19 lockdowns wore thin for the Dean of the Faculty of Arts.
Professor Robert Greenberg says fewer than a third of blind people have meaningful jobs, and all rely on adaptive technology.
The fact everyone deserves to be able to use digital services equally is the theme of Global Accessibility Awareness Day.
Robert, who is blind, had been using the two headsets simultaneously in lockdown to listen to the screen-reading technology known as JAWS (Job Access With Speech) on his laptop, as well as listening to the frequent Zoom meetings on his iPad.
He missed going into work, both for the informal conversations and time off from ear-phones.
“At work, I use the ear buds all the time, but it wasn’t as constant. Typically you have meetings in person. You have more in-between time and more time to reflect and absorb what has happened.”
While reading emails and documents is generally straightforward with screen-reading technology - charts, tables and maps can be difficult.
It is important for our University IT professionals to check out all new apps and services before choosing a technology, to ensure it is accessible, Robert says.
Staff can start the process of accessing support by talking to their manager, HR services or the Equity Office. It is useful to update your profile to confidentially identify that you have a disability.
Digital Services getting the message out
Digital experience lead Oliver Tipping says Digital Services considers accessibility in developing or procuring all critical new student and staff services.
“There is obviously so much to be done, however, so we're also trying to educate and embed this within our wider digital and non-digital team,” Oliver says.
Currently, the team is working with the call centre on installing voice-activated services for users with motor or sensory impairments, he says.
Good accessibility / Universal design, benefits everyone
Good accessibility / Universal design, benefits everyone particularly assists those who have:
- Problems with sight
- Problems with hearing
- Problems with mobility
- Problems with reading and concentration
- English as a second language
- Mobile devices or small displays
- Slow internet connections
- Where video or audio are enabled.
The Equity Office Te Ara Tautika provides guidance on creating accessible communications.
Canvas provides easy-to-follow tips on making your content accessible during remote learning at Remote Learning - Resources for Teaching staff.
There are a few basic steps in creating an accessible document, email or PDF on Canvas at Inclusive Design for Canvas
For more detail, see Accessibility of Resources and Information.
Microsoft Office has created practical, easy-to-follow guidance for its products catering for a wide range of disabilities. See An Inclusive Accessible Microsoft 365.
One source of online training is Vision Australia.
University researchers develop technology
The University is researching and developing a range of adaptive technologies: