One of Australia’s leading accessibility organisations is actualising an inclusive world at the forefront of the Digital Accessibility movement.
Centring Disability Rights in our digital lives
Centre for Accessibility Australia
Accessing human rights
Our relationship with technology is rapidly evolving. Shaped by recent global events, we are more digitally connected than ever before. Access to the internet is more than the sum of its parts: it means independence and participation in daily life. Our digital spaces, like our physical world, have design barriers that exclude and impact people with disabilities, who represent up to 20% of the world’s population. From lived experience of visual impairment, Dr. Scott Hollier understood the need to reduce our digital access gap.
Together we can
Together with DADAA, Dr. Hollier partnered with Mars to found and launch the visionary not-for-profit Centre for Accessibility Australia in 2017. Proudly disability led and run, CFA provides advocacy, research, training and auditing services, and pioneered the Australian Accessibility Awards to nationally champion the Digital Accessibility movement. Mars understood the unique expertise and experience of Dr. Hollier and his team, continuing to support organisational growth and strategy to make change.
Make impact
Mars’ has seen the co-development of the ‘Friends of CFA’ membership model to engage participation in action, the launch of inaugural biennial Australian Access Awards with local to international speakers, nominations and investment, gold standard accessible design and promotional kit to authentically capture the voices of lived experience in leadership, seeing Dr. Hollier nominated for the Australian of the Year award, and holistic operational and advocacy growth in successful grant investment for multi-activity national accessibility projects.
Last night I showed the project to the Board, who were also extremely happy, even a bit emotional at just how effective CFA Australia is at hitting the mark in such a short time.
Dr Scott Hollier, Founder, Centre for Accessibility Australia
Leading with lived experience
Mars’ programmes and event manages the biennial Australian Access Awards to bring together the disability community with public, business, government and not-for-profit sectors in celebrating Australian success stories in digital accessibility. These events centre lived experience with presentations and performances by leaders in the disability community.
Access meets digital
The Centre for Accessibility Australia design sought the connection between braille and pixel motifs as a visual language for digital accessibility.
Other projects
Strategic communication for social change.