Not all disabilities are visible

December 3rd marks the International Day of People with Disabilities and this year’s theme, ‘Not all Disabilities are Visible’ focuses on spreading awareness and understanding of disabilities that are not immediately apparent, such as mental illness, chronic pain or fatigue, sight or hearing impairments, diabetes, brain injuries, neurological disorders, learning differences and cognitive dysfunctions, among others.

Access Advisors, Access Alliance, Accessibility Tick, and Tech for Good NZ have partnered to help share the global celebration locally and bring awareness to hidden disabilities through a digital lens.

Event format

This 90 minute event will be highlighting hidden disabilities and will have a digital focus, going over the benefits and positives as well as the disadvantages and negatives. It will acknowledge IDPWD by focusing on invisible disabilities. Panelists will speak on their topic, with time provided for Q&A.

Panelists

We’re delighted and excited to bring you an incredible line-up of speakers sharing their experience with hidden disabilities.

Monique Leith – Director, Principal Planner at Leith Consulting, shares her experience with Zoom’s no auto captioning.

Lyneen Allen - Deaf blind co-ordinator at Blind Low Vision & Founder Positive Deaf New Zealand, a portal for Deaf people to connect digitally through stories, crafts, dancing.

Rich Rowley - Educator, Coach and the Innovation Advisor to Tech Futures Lab. He is an expert in systems and design thinking, agile methodologies, and building innovation capability within teams and business.

Michael Naera - Mental Health Foundation, Advocacy and Alliance Specialist, Te Arawa, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngā Puhi nui tonu. Michael has made significant contributions for improving mental health services and suicide prevention strategies and activities for Māori across Aotearoa New Zealand. He is recognised in the 100 Maori Leaders alongside Sir Mason Durie and Dame Tariana Turia to name a few.

Moderated by Neil Jarvis - Neil is an accessibility consultant, particularly with respect to digital and e-communications. He is committed to, and personally benefits from inclusive information provision. He particularly focuses on accessible online information and inclusive publishing. Neil has held senior roles at the Blind Foundation in New Zealand, the Round Table on Information Access in Australia and New Zealand, and the international DAISY Consortium which has played a major role in the development of inclusive publishing.

Audience

This event is geared towards:

People who believe that digital services should be technologically accessible for all New Zealanders
Disability community
Design/tech community
Business community
Internet community

Questions to contribute?

Do you have something you would like to ask the panelists of this event? Please submit questions at any time prior to the webinar by messaging info@accessadvisors.nz

Supporters of this event

Access Advisors wishes to extend a heartfelt thanks for making this event possible to Tech for Good NZ, The Access Alliance, and Accessibility Tick.