WANAU meeting at LaTrobe University
OZeWAI Conference, December 3, 2004
There were lots of university people at this year's OZeWAI conference, so we decided to hold a meeting to discuss ideas for WANAU events in 2005.
More than 20 people in attended from several universities (LaTrobe, Melbourne, Monash, UWA, QUT, RMIT, Griffith), as well as folks from the VET sector and disability organisations.
Discussion focused on an idea of holding an accessibility forum next year to raise awareness of accessibility and of the existence of WANAU. The forum would aim to provide speakers on the following topics:
- Draft disability standards for education (subordinate to the Disability Discrimination Act)
- New disability guidelines released by the Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee in November
- The AUTC-funded project "Identifying Issues and Strategies for Supporting Students with Auditory and/or Visual Disabilities"
Andrew Arch and Brian Hardy from the National Information Library Service (NILS) had been approached prior to the meeting and asked if they would be prepared to present on draft education standards. They are travelling around the country running accessibility training, so are able to take part in a multi-state event at no cost to their organisation - a bonus given WANAU's lack of funds.
We will approach the AVCC to see if they can provide speakers to cover each location in which the forum will be held. And we will contact Tony Payne who is the contact person for the AUTC project.
People were encouraged to get involved to help organise the forum.
The photo above (courtesy Ben Buchanan, Griffith University) shows participants sitting around a table during the meeting, with large portraits of former LaTrobe Vice-Chancellors keeping an eye on proceedings.