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New vision-impaired user interface launched by Virgin Australia

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Virgin Australia has become the first airline in the Asia Pacific region, and the second airline in the world, to introduce an in-flight entertainment (IFE) user interface for passengers who are blind or have low vision.

‘Welcome Aboard’ main menu

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AND’s ‘ANC’ is at the MCG on 16 May

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The Australian Network on Disability (AND) is staging its Annual National Conference at Melbourne’s iconic MCG on 16 May. It will attract a diverse range of employers, business stakeholders and advocates in the disability inclusion space.

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Melbourne Cricket Ground

This year is the ninth that AND has staged an annual conference and the theme for 2017 is ‘Enabling change and creating impact’ which is an outcome that Media Access Australia itself wholeheartedly supports and strives to achieve.

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I am not a Robot! - the access implications of Google’s new Invisible reCAPTCHA

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Google has taken one more step towards a fully-automated bot-detection system with the launch of ‘Invisible reCAPTCHA’ - which hopefully spells an end to having to prove that you are not a robot all of the time. But what are the accessibility implications?

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Government forms Working Group on AD for TV

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The Turnbull Government has set up a new taskforce with the aim of improving TV accessibility. They have announced the formation of an Audio Description (AD) Working Group to examine options for increasing the availability of AD services in Australia.

Man wearing headphones listens to AD on TV

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New game allows you to play face-to-face even if you’re blind

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The Nintendo Switch console has a terrific new game that's accessible for the blind. Called 1-2 Switch, it allows two players to enjoy game-play scenarios by looking at each other and not the screen.

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Latest tech releases from Apple

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Apple has announced a new iOS 10.3 update, some updates to iPad, iPhone and their Apple Watch, plus they have launched a new app called ‘Clips’ which makes it possible for pretty much everyone to create quick and fun videos on an iPhone and iPad.

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Opera House more accessible – on and off the stage

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The Sydney Opera House has launched its biggest ever Access Program for 2017. The line-up of events features more than 70 accessible shows, workshops and experiences that are sure to delight children and adults of all abilities, with more mobility access options, and an expanded array of accessible performances.

Main theatre of Sydney Opera House

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New muppet with autism joins Sesame Street

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Over the decades, iconic children’s TV show, Sesame Street, has always been good at raising awareness around a wide variety of sections of the community. The latest character to join the muppet family is Julia, who has autism, and makes her debut in April 2017.

Image of new muppet Julia

New muppet Julia

Julia actually made her debut in late 2015 in print and digital artworks as the focus of a Sesame Street workshop titled ‘Autism: See Amazing in All Children’ which also led to a series of videos, an app, e-books and a new website.

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Registrations now open for 2017 Round Table Conference in May

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Registrations are now being taken for the 2017 Round Table Annual Conference, to be co-sponsored again by Media Access Australia. This year’s theme is ‘Information Access – new modes, technologies and opportunities’. It is being staged at the Mercure Perth hotel in the city from Saturday 6 May to Tuesday 9 May.

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Don’t miss The Future of Accessible Work

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The 14th International Web for All Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A 2017), run in conjunction with the 26th International World Wide Web Conference (WWW 2017), is taking place in Perth from 2-4 April – with the overall theme being ‘The Future of Accessible Work’.