Introduction

OZeWAI has moved from running an annual conference to partnering with many in-person and online conferences and offering membership benefits as part of individual and organisation membership tiers. Benefits include online events to ask the tough accessibility questions of the professional accessibility specialists.

Topic: Accessibility in Gaming/VR

This panel event will bring together accessibility specialists for you to:

Ask questions from the experts
Share knowledge of similar issues
Find where to get help with accessibility advice and expertise

Session access requirements

The session agenda and access details will be shared 2 days before the event. This is a remote online event using Zoom.

Please email info@ozewai.org if you wish to share any tools, communication methods or anything else we should consider to ensure you can fully participate in the session.

Thank you from the OZeWAI Committee

Panelists:

Mark Barlet - Able Gamers (He/Him)

In 2004, Mark, together with his friend Stephanie Walker, founded AbleGamers after Stephanie encountered barriers to gaming due to progression of her multiple sclerosis. Unable to play together, and Mark himself being a Service-Disabled USAF veteran, they recognised the need for an organization that would empower disabled gamers and creates a world where everyone can game.

At AbleGamers, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy the world of gaming, regardless of their abilities. Our founder and executive director, Mark Barlet, has made it his life’s mission to champion accessibility and inclusivity in the gaming industry. Through his dedication and leadership, AbleGamers has grown into a leading non-profit organization, providing essential resources and support to gamers with disabilities.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbarlet/

Dr Ronny Andrade Parra - RMIT University (He/Him)

Dr. Ronny Andrade Parra works as a Digital Accessibility Lead at RMIT University. In his role, he provides guidance on how to make more accessible digital experiences. This advice spans across design, development, and content authoring. Ronny holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of Melbourne, Australia. In his PhD research, Ronny investigated ways to make digital games more accessible to people with visual impairment. Ronny is also a member of Zoos Victoria Disability Inclusion Advisory Committee.

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronandradep/

Shikha N. Dwivedi - Centre for Inclusive Design (She/Her)

Shikha initially embarked on a career as a Front-end Developer, driven by a fascination with creating visually appealing websites. However, a profound revelation occurred when she encountered the realm of Accessibility. This newfound passion prompted a significant shift in her career trajectory. Today, she takes immense pride in her role as a Senior Digital Accessibility Specialist at the Centre for Inclusive Design. Her unwavering dedication revolves around ensuring that technology and online experiences are accessible to individuals of all abilities, advocating for digital inclusivity and equity in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAAfWtOoBpBUr6N9nxf01VcMEdIesPXTBJSw

Moderated by:

Amanda Mace (She/Her)

Amanda Mace is a Subject Matter Expert in Digital Accessibility with more than 10 years of experience in the industry. She manages the Australasia office for GrackleDocs, growing and promoting the brand across the region and managing the audit team which is responsible for manual WCAG audits. Amanda is Co-Chair of OZeWAI. She's also one of only two Australian-based W3C evangelists and the W3C Australian Western Region office manager.

Amanda is certified by the Australian Computer Society (ACS) as a Certified Professional. In addition, she co-authored a book chapter for the textbook, "Web Accessibility A Foundation for Research," as well as the white paper entitled, "Digital Accessibility: Perceptions, Expectations and Reality."