IN-PERSON CONFERENCE ACCESSIBILITY
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Disability Employment Australia supports and advocates for the open employment of staff with disabilities.
We are always striving to make our events, training and operations as accessible as possible.
If there are reasonable accommodations to be made, that we have not addressed in this document, please do let us know so we can address the issue now and into the future. You can email us at [email protected].
BRISBANE CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE
Visit the BCEC page for full accessibility information.
Toilets:
- Accessible unisex toilets are located throughout the Centre and are located adjacent to major restroom blocks.
- All accessible toilets have hand basins and are fitted with handrails with a monitored emergency duress system installed.
- Accessible unisex toilets are also located in the parenting rooms, change-rooms, medical centres, VIP and Hospitality Suites.
Assistance animals:
- Guide, hearing and assistance animals may access the BCEC. These animals have been either:
- accredited under a law of a State or Territory that provides for the accreditation of animals trained to assist a person with a disability to alleviate the effect of the disability; or
- accredited by an animal training organisation prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this paragraph; or
- trained to assist a person with a disability to alleviate the effect of the disability and to meet standards of hygiene and behaviour that are appropriate for an animal in a public place
- trained animals that meet the assistance animal requirements as outlined in the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA)
- Assistance animals must be identified by use of a valid assistance animal identification card, pass or permit and any of the following;
- an assistance dog harness
- a coat, cape or vest clearly identifying them as an assistance animal
- an identification badge or medallion (displayed, for example, on its harness, collar, leash, coat, cape or vest).
- Uncertified therapy/emotional support/companion animals are not included in the Act, therefore do not meet the legal definition of an assistance animal and do not have the same public access rights. These animals may be refused entry.
Accommodation:
- Rydges Hotel has access for wheelchairs from the Plaza level of BCEC through a ramp off to the right-hand-side of the access stairs leading into the hotel.
- At the end of ramp is an intercom that calls Rydges Reception directly to allow access to the hotel. This ramp connects to Level 2 of the hotel, which is an accommodation floor, and from here, guests are able to access the hotel via lifts.
- For more information visit the accommodation page of the Conference website.
- Bookings can be made during the conference registration process.
DURING THE CONFERENCE
- Live captioning for every session
- Auslan for plenary sessions
- Ramp to stage
- Cabaret style seating will enable attendees to have both a seat and table space.
- Choice of microphone for all presenters (headset, handheld, microphone at lectern)
- Buffet tables will be at accessible heights with staff assistance available.
- Dietary and allergy needs will be accommodated and clearly labelled.
- Conference presenters are briefed in delivering accessible presentations:
- Ensure PowerPoints have clear and simple design.
- Use high contrast and large fonts.
- Read and describe slide content.
- Explain images and charts and their purpose.
- Include Alt text for images.
DELIVERY OF MATERIALS
Disability Employment Australia will deliver Conference material in a printed Conference Handbook, in a mobile phone App and via the Conference website and email communications. You may also call and speak to CW3 on +61 3 9870 2611 if you have any queries, or when onsite speak to the staff at the Registration Desk.
ONLINE CONFERENCE ACCESSIBILITY
- Live closed captioning will be available.
- Transcription will be created and can be provided to attendees, post-event.
- Online platform will support native screen readers – Voice Over (MacOS) and Narrator (Windows), allowing visually impaired individuals to access the platform.
- Platform can be fully navigated using a keyboard, which makes it accessible for individuals who are unable to use a mouse or trackpad.
- Colour themes can be customised to suit the needs of most users, enabling a visual distinguishment of web content and a separate foreground from the background.
- Conference Handbook will be provided in pdf copy to online attendees.
- Online Conference attendees may also access the Conference App if this is their preferred method of content distribution.
