Media Access Australia podcasts

Project Manager, Chris Mikul, discusses the ABC iview audio description (AD) trial which launched on April 14, including an overview of the programs which have AD, how AD can be enabled in the iview app and where you can learn more about the trial.

Finding a job can be difficult for everybody. Dr Scott Hollier from Media Access Australia discusses some of the challenges that people who are blind or vision impaired face while job hunting, as well as tips to prepare for an interview and how the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) fits into the employment process.

In this podcast, Project Manager Ally Woodford discusses the latest accessible summer arts festivals around Australia, as well as an interesting initiative to encourage audio describing art for everyone from Museum Victoria.

Assistive Technology Coordinator at VisAbility, Yuemei Lim, joins Media Access Australia as a guest speaker following her recent presentation at the SPEVI 2015 Conference on ‘Accessing smart devices with vision impairment - the smart way’. This discussion covers accessibility issues associated with smart devices, how access differs from device to device, strategies or tactics for getting around access problems and thoughts on improving smart device access in the future.

Almost one full year after testing the accessibility of Android 4.4 KitKat, Dr Scott Hollier is back in 2015 to provide you with more useful tips, accessible technology news and initial hands-on impressions of access features in the latest version of Google’s Android operating system, Lollipop 5.0.

Gilbert + Tobin's Darren Fittler joins Media Access Australia as a guest speaker to discuss winning the 2014 Human Rights Law Award, thoughts on the importance of web accessibility and recent completion of the 40x40 fundraising challenge to help Media Access Australia to continue its work in making media more accessible.

With Christmas around the corner, knowing what to buy when filling up your Christmas stockings for friends and family is essential, especially with regard to technology. Media Access Australia's Dr Scott Hollier joins us to provide some useful tips and accessible gift ideas for the 2014 holiday season.

As more and more people come to rely on smart phones and computers in their daily lives, the accessibility of websites and apps has become increasingly important. Despite this, many websites and apps remain inaccessible. Former Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Graeme Innes, joins Media Access Australia as a guest to share his recent experience of an inaccessible app, how to handle similar a experience if you encounter it, the importance of web accessibility and thoughts on the recent passing of disability advocate, Stella Young.

In most countries, blind and vision impaired students attend mainstream schools and are provided with varying levels of support. One of these is accessible resources, particularly textbooks and other materials. The Royal National Institute of Blind People runs a resources program called Load2Learn which will be launched internationally this year. Media Access Australia CEO, Alex Varley, discusses the upcoming initiative and existing research and development from the field, alongside potential benefits and impacts of the Load2Learn program in Australia.

Every two years Berlin hosts a major access conference that looks at issues around audio description and access to media for disabled people. Media Access CEO, Alex Varley, attended this year's conference and shares information on upcoming developments we're likely to see in audio description, drivers of more audio description in emerging countries, the impact of automation on audio desctiption delivery and likely flow-ons to Australia from the new developments.

Audio description gives people with blindness or low vision the opportunity to attend a wide range of community events and entertainment. One of the oldest uses of the service is in the theatre, however its use is often restricted to just a small number of performances. Ally Woodford discusses the current use of audio description in the arts, alongside developments and productions from Arena Stage in Washington DC which will be providing an expanded audio description service for its upcoming performances.

Dr. Scott Hollier discusses accessibility features, useful apps and changes made and needed with the computer and mobile devices we use today.

As a movie patron, the amount of time and the technical detail that goes into making a movie can be lost on us as we enjoy our popcorn and choc tops for two hours of escapism. Ally Woodford, Project Manager at Media Access Australia gives us an insight into the complexity of movie making, and importantly making it accessible.

Google's sci-fi worthy device, Glass, is slowly making its way towards our shelves. This week, Online Editor for Media Access Australia Eliza Cussen shares how app developers are starting to harness the potential of this product for people who are blind and vision impaired.

It's estimated that less than ten per cent of books are available to blind and vision impaired people world wide. Here to tell us how the Australian government can help fix that is online editor and avid book lover, Eliza Cussen.