Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities Inc.

2025 Conference Program
Access Unlocked: Innovating for Information Equity

New legal frameworks are significantly altering the accessibility landscape. At the forefront of this transformation is technology, a powerful enabler that has reshaped how information is accessed and shared. This conference will explore the dynamics between legislative changes, technological progress, and advocacy efforts that collectively enhance information equity. The 2025 conference is dedicated to deepening the understanding of information equity as an essential element of social justice. It emphasises the critical need for cross-sector collaboration to overcome the obstacles faced by individuals with print disability and to pave the way for a society where inclusive participation is the norm.

Dates:

Saturday 24 May to Tuesday 27 May 2025

Venue:

Stamford Plaza Hotel Melbourne

111 Little Collins Street

Melbourne VIC 3000

Tel: (03) 9659 1000

Platinum Sponsor: Blind Low Vision NZ

Please note: The conference program may be subject to change without notice.

Program Date: 6 May 2025

Saturday 24 May 2025

Venue: Balmoral Room

9:30am – 10:00am Registration

10:00am – 10:30am Morning Tea

10:30am – 5:00pm Australian Braille Authority (ABA) Annual Meeting

Chair: Tristan Clare

The agenda for the day will be circulated prior to the meeting. Further details will be made available through the OZBRL listserv.

12:30pm – 1:30pm Lunch

1:30pm – 3:00pm ABA Annual Meeting continued

3:00pm – 3:30pm Afternoon Tea

3:30pm – 5:00pm ABA Annual Meeting continued with Feature Presentation

6:00pm – 8:00pm Welcome Function and Conference Opening

Venue: Edinburgh Room, Stamford Plaza Hotel

Sunday 25 May 2025

8:15am – 9:00am Registration

8:30am – 5:30pm Technology and Services Exhibition

9:00am – 10:15am Session 1 Plenary

Venue: Thornbury Room

Chair: Sonali Marathe

9:00am – 9:15am

Conference Announcements and Roll Call

9:15am – 9:30am

Welcome and President’s Introduction:

Sonali Marathe, President, Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities Inc

9:30am – 10:15am

1 The Road to Marrakesh – History and Relevance of the treaty

Keynote Address:

Maryanne Diamond, Board Member, National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA)

10:15am – 10:45am Morning Tea

10:45am – 12:15pm Concurrent Sessions 2 & 3

Session 2 Chair: Agata Mrva-Montoya Venue: Thornbury Room	Session 3 Chair: Sondra Wibberley Venue: Balmoral Room
10:45am – 11:15am: 2a Leveraging Alexa: Empowering Print-Disabled Individuals and Driving Accessibility Innovation Presenter: Jeanna Manifold, Senior Business Development and Partnerships Manager, Australia & NZ, Amazon Alexa	10:45am – 11:15am: 3a Accessibility in the Chemistry laboratory: The case of blind students Presenter: Professor Siegbert Schmid, School of Chemistry and Sydney Nano, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney
11:15am – 11:45am: 2b Improving Mathematics Accessibility and Inclusion for Students who are Blind or have Low Vision Presenters: Kimbal Marriott, Professor & Director, and Matthew Butler, Associate Professor, Monash Assistive Technology & Society Centre	11:15am – 11:45am: 3b A step towards inclusive education: Curriculum Based Functional Assessment Checklist for students with Deafblindness Presenter: Dr Shruti Bobade, Independent Researcher
11:45am – 12:15pm: 2c AI-enabled Assistive Smart Glasses for People with Cerebral Visual Impairment Presenter: Bhanuka Gamage, Inclusive Technologies Lab, Monash University	11:45am – 12:15pm: 3c Developing a Braille Needs Assessment for Early Childhood. Presenter: Tricia Izzard, Early Childhood Specialist Teacher/Children and Young People Senior Practitioner, Vision Australia Co-authors: Tricia d'Apice, Lead Consultant Vision Impairment and Sue Silveira, Next Sense

Session 2 Chair: Agata Mrva-Montoya
Venue: Thornbury Room

Session 3 Chair: Sondra Wibberley
Venue: Balmoral Room

10:45am – 11:15am:

2a Leveraging Alexa: Empowering Print-Disabled Individuals and Driving Accessibility Innovation

Presenter:

Jeanna Manifold, Senior Business Development and Partnerships Manager, Australia & NZ, Amazon Alexa

10:45am – 11:15am:

3a Accessibility in the Chemistry laboratory: The case of blind students

Presenter:

Professor Siegbert Schmid, School of Chemistry and Sydney Nano, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney

11:15am – 11:45am:

2b Improving Mathematics Accessibility and Inclusion for Students who are Blind or have Low Vision

Presenters:

Kimbal Marriott, Professor & Director, and Matthew Butler, Associate Professor, Monash Assistive Technology & Society Centre

11:15am – 11:45am:

3b A step towards inclusive education: Curriculum Based Functional Assessment Checklist for students with Deafblindness

Presenter:

Dr Shruti Bobade, Independent Researcher

11:45am – 12:15pm:

2c AI-enabled Assistive Smart Glasses for People with Cerebral Visual Impairment

Presenter:

Bhanuka Gamage, Inclusive Technologies Lab, Monash University

11:45am – 12:15pm:

3c Developing a Braille Needs Assessment for Early Childhood.

Presenter:

Tricia Izzard, Early Childhood Specialist Teacher/Children and Young People Senior Practitioner, Vision Australia

Co-authors:
Tricia d'Apice, Lead Consultant Vision Impairment and Sue Silveira, Next Sense

12:15pm – 1:00pm: Lunch Break

1:00pm – 2:30pm: Concurrent Sessions 4 & 5

Session 4 Chair: Josie Howse Venue: Thornbury Room	Session 5 Chair: Annette Sutherland Venue: Balmoral Room
1:00pm – 1:30pm: 4a Five Points for Using a 3D Printer to Create Tactile Materials with a Vacuum Former Presenter: Kazunori Minatani, National Center for University Entrance Examinations Japan	1:00pm – 1:30pm: 5a Empowering Accessibility: The impact of multi-line braille displays in education, employment, and leisure Presenter via Zoom: Roger Firman, UK Association for Accessible Formats
1:30pm – 2:30pm: 4b WORKSHOP: ANZAGG Workshop on Getting Started with (accessible) 3D Printing Facilitators: Dr Leona Holloway, Research Fellow, Monash University & Sarah Hayman, Support Skills Teacher and Assistive Technology Library Manager, Statewide Vision Resource Centre	1:30pm – 2:30pm: 5b WORKSHOP: Transcription at the speed of Microsoft Word: For requests that were needed yesterday Facilitators: Michael Walker, Accessible Format Production Specialist & Janine Land, Accessible Format Production Team Leader, SASVI

Session 4 Chair: Josie Howse
Venue: Thornbury Room

Session 5 Chair: Annette Sutherland
Venue: Balmoral Room

1:00pm – 1:30pm:

4a Five Points for Using a 3D Printer to Create Tactile Materials with a Vacuum Former

Presenter:

Kazunori Minatani, National Center for University Entrance Examinations Japan

1:00pm – 1:30pm:

5a Empowering Accessibility: The impact of multi-line braille displays in education, employment, and leisure

Presenter via Zoom:

Roger Firman, UK Association for Accessible Formats

1:30pm – 2:30pm:

4b WORKSHOP: ANZAGG Workshop on Getting Started with (accessible) 3D Printing

Facilitators:

Dr Leona Holloway, Research Fellow, Monash University & Sarah Hayman, Support Skills Teacher and Assistive Technology Library Manager, Statewide Vision Resource Centre

1:30pm – 2:30pm:

5b WORKSHOP: Transcription at the speed of Microsoft Word: For requests that were needed yesterday

Facilitators:

Michael Walker, Accessible Format Production Specialist & Janine Land, Accessible Format Production Team Leader, SASVI

2:30pm – 3:00pm: Afternoon Tea

3:00pm – 4:00pm: Concurrent Sessions 6 & 7

Session 6 Chair: Jane Wegener Venue: Thornbury Room	Session 7 Chair: Sondra Wibberley Venue: Balmoral Room
3:00pm – 3:30pm: 6a Co-designing AI Assistance in Productivity Applications with Screen Reader Users Presenter: Minoli Perera, PhD Candidate, Monash University	3:00pm – 3:30pm: 7a Braille for Lifelong Learners Presenter: Kerri Weaver, Director, Eyes and Independence
3:30pm – 4:00pm: 6b Teaching students to use, modify and influence audio description as a tool of access and a workplace-relevant skill Presenter: Polly Goodwin, Freelance Audio Describer, Poly Sensory Access	3:30pm – 4:00pm: 7b Beyond the Itinerant Model: A New Approach to Developing Independent Living Skills Presenter: Cass Embling, Churchill Fellow

Session 6 Chair: Jane Wegener
Venue: Thornbury Room

Session 7 Chair: Sondra Wibberley
Venue: Balmoral Room

3:00pm – 3:30pm:

6a Co-designing AI Assistance in Productivity Applications with Screen Reader Users

Presenter:

Minoli Perera, PhD Candidate, Monash University

3:00pm – 3:30pm:

7a Braille for Lifelong Learners

Presenter:

Kerri Weaver, Director, Eyes and Independence

3:30pm – 4:00pm:

6b Teaching students to use, modify and influence audio description as a tool of access and a workplace-relevant skill

Presenter:

Polly Goodwin, Freelance Audio Describer, Poly Sensory Access

3:30pm – 4:00pm:

7b Beyond the Itinerant Model: A New Approach to Developing Independent Living Skills

Presenter:

Cass Embling, Churchill Fellow

4:00pm – 4:10pm: Break / Move to Plenary

Plenary Session 8

Venue: Thornbury Room

4:10pm – 4:40pm: Exhibitor Session

· Quantum RLV

· HumanWare

· Pentronics

4:45pm – 5:45pm: Round Table AGM

Chair: Sonali Marathe

5:45pm: Close of Day One

Monday 26 May 2025

8:30am: Registration opens

9:00am – 10:15am: Plenary Session 9

Venue: Thornbury Room

Chair: Frances Gentle

9:00am – 9:15am:

Welcome and Roll Call

9:15am – 9:45am:

9a V2020A - 25 years of collaboration

Keynote Address:

Carly Iles, CEO & Jonathan Craig, Policy and Advocacy Manager, Vision 2020 Australia

9.45am – 10:15am

9b Accessing the expertise of teachers and people with lived experience to drive innovation in braille literacy assessment and teaching

Feature Presenter:

Dr Emily White, Lecturer (University of Melbourne) and President (International Council for People with Visual Impairment - Pacific Region)

10:15am – 10:45am Morning Tea

10:45am – 12:15pm: Concurrent Sessions 10 & 11

Session 10 Chair: John Simpson Venue: Thornbury Room	Session 11 Chair: Jane Wegener Venue: Balmoral Room
10:45am –11.15am: 10a Smart phones, PC’s, Embosser: accessing formatted Braille Presenter: David Woodbridge, Blindness product specialist, HumanWare	10:45am –11.15am: 11a A World of Sound: Global Initiatives in Braille Music Presenter: Christina Hayes, Multi Format Producer (Music Specialist), Vision Australia, Chair of MBPN
11:15am – 12:15pm: 10b WORKSHOP: Co-Designing the ideal classroom whiteboard viewer Peter Cracknell, Manager, Vision and Blindness Technologies, Quantum RLV	11:15am – 12:15pm: 11b WORKSHOP: Braille at the Opera Brad Cohen, General director, NZ Opera & Paul Brown, Director, Audio Described Aotearoa

Session 10 Chair: John Simpson
Venue: Thornbury Room

Session 11 Chair: Jane Wegener
Venue: Balmoral Room

10:45am –11.15am:

10a Smart phones, PC’s, Embosser: accessing formatted Braille

Presenter:

David Woodbridge, Blindness product specialist, HumanWare

10:45am –11.15am:

11a A World of Sound: Global Initiatives in Braille Music

Presenter:

Christina Hayes, Multi Format Producer (Music Specialist), Vision Australia, Chair of MBPN

11:15am – 12:15pm:

10b WORKSHOP: Co-Designing the ideal classroom whiteboard viewer

Peter Cracknell, Manager, Vision and Blindness Technologies, Quantum RLV

11:15am – 12:15pm:

11b WORKSHOP: Braille at the Opera

Brad Cohen, General director, NZ Opera & Paul Brown, Director, Audio Described Aotearoa

12:15pm – 1:00pm: Lunch Break

1:00pm – 2.30pm: Concurrent Sessions 12 & 13

Session 12 Chair: Neil Jarvis Venue: Thornbury Room	Session 13 Chair: Tristan Clare Venue: Balmoral Room
1:00pm –1:30pm: 12a National Libraries Australia Presenter: Lihong Zhang, National Libraries Australia	1:00pm –1:30pm: 13a Hearing the progress of audio accessibility Presenter: Dominique Parker, Audio designer and Digital accessibility consultant
1:30pm – 2:00pm: 12b Enhancing Accessibility in Public Libraries: Insights from Australian Library Staff Presenters: Dr Agata Mrva-Montoya, Lecturer, University of Sydney & Dr Jo Kaeding, Lecturer, The University of South Australia	1:30pm – 2:30pm: 13b ABA WORKSHOP: Braille Music in the Modern Era Facilitator: Tristan Clare, Chair, Australian Braille Authority Panellists: Christina Hayes, Multi Format Producer (Music Specialist), Vision Australia, Craig Cashmore, Founder and Director, PeppaCode and Leanne Newham.
2:00pm – 2:30pm: 12c Vision Australia: Building Community Presenters: Kyleigh Langrick and Ed Gamble, Formats Development Officer, Vision Australia

Session 12 Chair: Neil Jarvis
Venue: Thornbury Room

Session 13 Chair: Tristan Clare
Venue: Balmoral Room

1:00pm –1:30pm:

12a National Libraries Australia

Presenter:

Lihong Zhang, National Libraries Australia

1:00pm –1:30pm:

13a Hearing the progress of audio accessibility

Presenter:

Dominique Parker, Audio designer and Digital accessibility consultant

1:30pm – 2:00pm:

12b Enhancing Accessibility in Public Libraries: Insights from Australian Library Staff

Presenters:

Dr Agata Mrva-Montoya, Lecturer, University of Sydney & Dr Jo Kaeding, Lecturer, The University of South Australia

1:30pm – 2:30pm:

13b ABA WORKSHOP: Braille Music in the Modern Era

Facilitator:

Tristan Clare, Chair, Australian Braille Authority

Panellists:

Christina Hayes, Multi Format Producer (Music Specialist), Vision Australia, Craig Cashmore, Founder and Director, PeppaCode and Leanne Newham.

2:00pm – 2:30pm:

12c Vision Australia: Building Community

Presenters:

Kyleigh Langrick and Ed Gamble, Formats Development Officer, Vision Australia

2.30pm – 3:00pm: Afternoon Tea

3:00pm – 4:30pm Concurrent Sessions 14 & 15

Session 14 Chair: Agata Mrva-Montoya Venue: Thornbury Room	Session 15 Chair: Janine Land Venue: Balmoral Room
3:00pm – 3:30pm: 14a Access Unlocked: Pioneering Good Design and Accessibility with Our New Website & Online Shop Presenters: Jody Martin-Rankin, Executive Manager - Strategy & Darren Toy, Program Manager, See Differently	3:00pm – 3:30pm: 15a Combining Refreshable Tactile Displays and Conversational Agents for Accessible Data Access Presenter: Dr Munazza Zaib, Research Fellow, Monash University. Co-author: Dr Sam Reinders, Research Fellow, Monash University.
3:30pm – 4:00pm: 14b Print Disability in Papua New Guinea: Challenges and Pathways to Information Accessibility Presenter: Eric Kuna, Manager, Papua New Guinea University of Technology Press	3:30pm – 4:30pm: 15b WORKSHOP: Exploring Refreshable Tactile Displays for Interactive Tactile Graphics Facilitators: Dr Leona Holloway, Monash University & Peter Cracknell, Quantum RLV Co-author: Dr Sam Reinders, Research Fellow, Monash University
4:00pm – 4:30pm: 14c Advancing Accessibility: Developing a National Associated Plan for Accessible Information and Communication Presenter: Jackson Reynolds-Ryan, Senior Policy Officer, Blind Citizens Australia

Session 14 Chair: Agata Mrva-Montoya
Venue: Thornbury Room

Session 15 Chair: Janine Land
Venue: Balmoral Room

3:00pm – 3:30pm:

14a Access Unlocked: Pioneering Good Design and Accessibility with Our New Website & Online Shop

Presenters:

Jody Martin-Rankin, Executive Manager - Strategy & Darren Toy, Program Manager, See Differently

3:00pm – 3:30pm:

15a Combining Refreshable Tactile Displays and Conversational Agents for Accessible Data Access

Presenter:

Dr Munazza Zaib, Research Fellow, Monash University.

Co-author:
Dr Sam Reinders, Research Fellow, Monash University.

3:30pm – 4:00pm:

14b Print Disability in Papua New Guinea: Challenges and Pathways to Information Accessibility

Presenter:

Eric Kuna, Manager, Papua New Guinea University of Technology Press

3:30pm – 4:30pm:

15b WORKSHOP: Exploring Refreshable Tactile Displays for Interactive Tactile Graphics

Facilitators:

Dr Leona Holloway, Monash University & Peter Cracknell, Quantum RLV

Co-author:

Dr Sam Reinders, Research Fellow, Monash University

4:00pm – 4:30pm:

14c Advancing Accessibility: Developing a National Associated Plan for Accessible Information and Communication

Presenter:

Jackson Reynolds-Ryan, Senior Policy Officer, Blind Citizens Australia

4:35pm – 5:35pm: ANZAGG AGM

Venue: Thornbury Room

6:30pm – 7:00pm Pre-dinner Drinks
Venue: Buckingham Room

7:00pm – 11:00pm Conference Dinner
Venue: Buckingham Room

Tuesday 27 May 2025

8:30am: Registration opens

9:00am – 10:15am: Plenary Session 16

Venue: Thornbury Room

Chair: Agata Mrva-Montoya

9:00am – 9:15am:

Welcome and Roll Call

9:15am – 9:45am

16a Disability & Digital Citizenship: Australian Consumers & Citizens with Disability Navigating Digital Society

Keynote Address:

Professor Gerard Goggin, Distinguished Professor, Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University. Associate Investigator, Centre of Excellence in Automated Decision Making and Society

9:45am – 10:15am

16b Transforming Access: A Decade of Progress, and What’s Next in Information Accessibility

Feature Presenter:

Sonali Marathe, President, Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities Inc

10:15am – 10:45am: Morning Tea

10:45am – 12:15pm: Concurrent Sessions 17 & 18

Session 17 Chair: Sondra Wibberley Venue: Thornbury Room	Session 18 Chair: Matthew Butler Venue: Balmoral Room
10:45am – 11:15am: 17a How can I create multiple accessible formats from one source document easily? Presenter: Vithya Vijayakumare, Senior Digital Production Coordinator, VisAbility	10:45am – 11:15am: 18a Audio Descriptions of Art; Lessons learnt from a lived experience of Dyslexia Presenter: Dr Rebecca La Forgia
11:15am – 12:15pm: 17b WORKSHOP: Reaching out and engaging with the off liners Facilitator: Clive Lansink, Director, Accessible Information and Communications Ltd	11:15am – 12:15pm: 18b WORKSHOP: Creating tactile instructions for a dressmaking pattern: One swell drawing too far? Facilitator: Janine Land, Accessible Format Production Team Leader, South Australia School and Services for Vision Impaired

Session 17 Chair: Sondra Wibberley
Venue: Thornbury Room

Session 18 Chair: Matthew Butler
Venue: Balmoral Room

10:45am – 11:15am:

17a How can I create multiple accessible formats from one source document easily?

Presenter:

Vithya Vijayakumare, Senior Digital Production Coordinator, VisAbility

10:45am – 11:15am:

18a Audio Descriptions of Art; Lessons learnt from a lived experience of Dyslexia

Presenter:

Dr Rebecca La Forgia

11:15am – 12:15pm:

17b WORKSHOP: Reaching out and engaging with the off liners

Facilitator:

Clive Lansink, Director, Accessible Information and Communications Ltd

11:15am – 12:15pm:

18b WORKSHOP: Creating tactile instructions for a dressmaking pattern: One swell drawing too far?

Facilitator:

Janine Land, Accessible Format Production Team Leader, South Australia School and Services for Vision Impaired

12:15pm – 1:00pm: Lunch Break

1:00pm – 2:00pm: Concurrent Sessions 19 & 20

Session 19 Chair: Lauren Hayes Venue: Thornbury Room	Session 20 Chair: Jane Wegener Venue: Balmoral Room
1:00pm – 1:30pm: 19a Re-Evaluating Conversational Search Systems for Enhanced Accessibility Presenter: Johanne Trippas, Vice-Chancellor's Senior Research Fellow, RMIT University	1:00pm – 2:00pm: 20a WORKSHOP: Play Made Inclusive with Accessible Lego Instructions Facilitator: Lyn Eagers, Consumer & Braille Trainer/Access Technology Specialist, Vision Australia
1:30pm – 2:00pm: 19b Supporting independent healthcare using mobile devices for people who are blind or have low vision Presenter: William Chen, PhD Candidate & Dr Matthew Butler, Associate Professor, Monash University

Session 19 Chair: Lauren Hayes
Venue: Thornbury Room

Session 20 Chair: Jane Wegener
Venue: Balmoral Room

1:00pm – 1:30pm:

19a Re-Evaluating Conversational Search Systems for Enhanced Accessibility

Presenter:

Johanne Trippas, Vice-Chancellor's Senior Research Fellow, RMIT University

1:00pm – 2:00pm:

20a WORKSHOP: Play Made Inclusive with Accessible Lego Instructions

Facilitator:

Lyn Eagers, Consumer & Braille Trainer/Access Technology Specialist, Vision Australia

1:30pm – 2:00pm:

19b Supporting independent healthcare using mobile devices for people who are blind or have low vision