[LINK] re: Prime Minister’s Access Awards Extended to 11 October

[Tom Worthington]

I wrote Tue Oct 03 2000 - 12:14:05 EST:

>Nominations for the 2000 Prime Minister's Gold Medal Access Awards ... 
>http://www.facs.gov.au/disability/ood/gmdas_nom.htm
>Unfortunately the awards don't seem to have a category for on-line 
>accessibility. But I am putting in a nomination for Tomw Communtiations 
>Pty Ltd, under the tourism category anyway...

Didn't win an award, but got an invitation to the award dinner in the great 
hall of Parliament House. Unfortunately someone forgot to tell the 
Department of Family and Community Services  about the finer points of 
accessibility. Some examples:

* A press kit was handed out with:
- Pens with "Disability Access Strategy" on them, but in about 3 point text 
which is all but unreadable.
- Press release letterhead with tiny white text on a black background,
- A web address for more details which doesn't have any details: 
http://www.facs.gov.au/

* A sign language translator on stage, but:
- A spotlight on the speaker, so the translator alongside in the dark was 
hard to see,
- A video screen showing a close up of the keynote speaker, but not the 
translator,
- At least one deaf person seated at the back of the room (with the 
dignitaries taking the front seats with a good view of the translator).

* Award details on a large screen, but:
- Slides with small blurry text,
- Video presentations with no captions for the deaf or signing on screen.


Tom Worthington FACS tom.worthington@tomw.net.au Ph: 0419 496150
Director, Tomw Communications Pty Ltd ABN: 17 088 714 309
http://www.tomw.net.au PO Box 13, Belconnen ACT 2617
Visiting Fellow, Computer Science, Australian National University
Publications Director & Past President, Australian Computer Society
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Web Access Talk, 6 Dec, Perth: http://www.tomw.net.au/2000/bat.html