Centre for Inclusive Design

In this week's What is Wednesday we breakdown the difference between alternative text and image descriptions. Both are important and make social media accessible to more people, but they have different purposes. Image Description: Slide 1: Alternative Text vs Image Description. Often we hear about 'alternative text', and 'image description'. Both are important parts of digital accessibility but they serve different functions. Slide 2: Alternative Text. Alternative text describes the appearance or function of an image. It is read aloud to users who use screen readers, or appears in place of an image if it fails to load. If an image is there only as decoration and does not communicate important information, it does not need alternative text. Alternative text is usually put into the backend of a post, not in the caption. Slide 3: Image Description. Image description is a detailed description of a picture or video. It provides information about what can be seen, read and heard in the image or video and gives extra information like the weather, what people are doing, or what's in the background. It can be used by everyone but can be particularly helpful for people who need to translate text, or use screen readers. Slide 4: The difference? Alternative text and image description have different purposes and have different levels of detail. - Alternative text explains the purpose of an image or video. - Image description describes the image or video with lots of detail. Including alternative text and image description makes content more accessible for all users. Slide 5: Why is it important? Alternative text and image description are important because they give everyone access to the same information. Not everyone experiences the web in the same way, and with these simple additions everyone has equal access to the content you’re sharing. #AlternativeText #AltText #ImageDescription #AccessibleDesign #InclusiveDesign

Recently we got to sit down with Elaine Laforteza (PhD), host of the incredible My Bilingual Family podcast on Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Australia. She has been studying the effects when a person's name is either ignored or continually mispronounced and explains why pronouncing names matters Listen in to With, Not For to hear about the importance of pronouncing someone’s name correctly, the effects when a person’s name is either ignored or continually mispronounced and practical tips on how to help people pronounce your name correctly. Link to podcast: https://lnkd.in/g629FXW4 Image description: Pale yellow background with black text. Text reads: Because it is our names, and it might just be our names, but it’s something we carry with us all the time. So it’s not something we can discard and pretend it doesn’t exist; it always exists. It’s always the baggage that we carry with us through life. - Dr Elaine Laforteza, With, Not For. #sbs #podcast

Today is International day for Safety and Health at work. This years theme is the Impacts of Climate Change on Occupational Health and Safety at Work. Centre for Inclusive Design recently completed a project with The Centre for Work Health and Safety investigating the rising use of autonomous, collaborative robots (COBOTs), designed to work alongside humans in Australian workplaces. For more information, and the case study for the Centre for Work Health and Safety: https://hubs.la/Q02vfTBB0 Image Description: People working at a construction site using a sledgehammer. #IDSHW #IDSHW24 #Health #HealthAndSafety #OccupationalHealthAndSafety

Recently, our CEO Dr Manisha Amin was invited on Future Women’s Leadership Series podcast to discuss the power of thinking from the edge, the value of diversity in the workplace and ways to create more inclusive working environments. 

We have some exciting news! We have applied for three panels at SXSW Sydney this year. - Making marks – women and tattoos - Dangerous people have dangerous ideas, and dangerous ideas change the world - Beyond the checkbox: rethinking inclusion as an infinite journey But we need your help getting there. - Head to SXSW session select here: https://hubs.la/Q02tggQw0 - Search for our panels - Vote! Voting is currently open and we would love your support. #SXSWSydney #SXSW #VoteForUs UTS Centre for Social Justice & Inclusion

This is inclusion.  Imagine what Australia could look like if we designed all products and services with inclusion in mind, and regardless of ability, language, culture, gender, age, or any other form of human difference, everyone could use them.   This is why we need a space for the community to come together with industry, government and educators, and together, create inclusive solutions. Thank you Woolworths for making this happen and recognising the value of inclusion.   Bill Shorten Amanda Rishworth Woolworths Group Geoff Trappett OAM Aaron Sinclair

In our most recent report, the Inclusion Compass we found health was a serious concern and a topical issue. This years theme for World Health Day, ‘My Health My Right’ focuses on the needs of people everywhere to have access to health services, resources and information that is easily accessible and relevant to them. Our report the Inclusion Compass found to make healthcare more equitable, it is recommended to: ✓ improve access to healthcare for vulnerable people to remove and mitigate the disadvantages experienced when access to healthcare is restricted, ✓ consider an individual’s whole health, not just focus on disease, and ✓ treat people with dignity and take a strengths-based approach to ensure people leave in a better place because of the intervention. For more information, and the Inclusion Compass report head to our website or the link below. https://lnkd.in/eaeWK3cs #WorldHealthDay #WorldHealthDay2024 #WHD #Health #Healthcare #InclusiveDesign #UniversalHealthcare #PrideInHealthcare #AccessibleHealthcare

It’s been a big week for the NDIS. Bill Shorten and the Albanese government have announced significant action to ensure the scheme meets the needs of Australians with disability, while being sustainable for future generations. Reform is no easy task, and the Centre congratulates Bill Shorten on embarking on this journey. The Centre looks forward to continuing to work with the government and the disability community to help deliver a more inclusive Australia. #InclusionMatters #InclusiveDesign #NDIS

It is International Women's Day! This year we recognise the importance of intersectionality in people's different lives and experiences. Working 'with,' not 'for' people and their communities is the best way to uplift and amplify voices. #IWD #InternationalWomensDay #GenderEquality #Intersectional #IntersectionalFeminism #IWD2024

Centre for Inclusive Design is proud to announce our partnership with ACS (Australian Computer Society), the leading professional association for Australia's technology professionals, working across industry. Together, we’re promoting a digital world, free from barriers to participation. 🤝