Saved by the Bell

A little over two years ago, I sat down with accessibility consultant Narelle Wright to discuss digital accessibility and the barriers many Australians with disability still face online.

With the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and smarter accessibility tools, I wanted to find out what has changed.

Surprisingly, the biggest challenge isn't technology.

It's people.

Accessibility tools have improved, but adoption hasn't

According to Narelle, most organisations still face the same two problems:

• They don't know the accessibility features already available.
• Even when they do know, they often don't see accessibility as a priority.

Accessibility is about much more than ticking compliance boxes.

Accessibility benefits far more than people who are blind

One of the biggest misconceptions is that digital accessibility is only designed for people with vision impairment.

Simple improvements to document structure, navigation and content presentation can make information easier for everyone to understand.

Three quick ways to test your website

Narelle shared three practical tests anyone can perform.

1. Check your links

Avoid generic links like:

• Click here
• Learn more

Screen reader users often navigate by reading only the links on a page. A link labelled "Click here" provides no context.

Instead, use descriptive links such as:

• Download the Annual Report
• Accessibility Policy
• Cambridge Dictionary: Accessibility Definition

Users immediately understand where the link will take them.

2. Test using only your keyboard

Many users cannot operate a mouse.

Try navigating your website using only the Tab, Shift + Tab and Enter keys.

If you become stuck or cannot reach certain buttons or menus, people relying on keyboard navigation will experience the same problem.

3. Test your website on a mobile phone

Many assistive technologies are built directly into smartphones.

If your website doesn't function properly with those accessibility features, many users will simply be unable to access your information.

Built-in accessibility tools are already available

Many organisations are surprised to learn that the software they already own includes accessibility checking features.

Accessibility is also a legal responsibility

The conversation also touched on Australia's legal landscape.

Under the Disability Discrimination Act, inaccessible digital documents and websites can be considered indirect discrimination.

Importantly, organisations need to demonstrate that their content was accessible at the time it was published.

Maintaining accessible digital records is becoming increasingly important for compliance and risk management.

Inclusive employment starts with accessible systems

True inclusion means building systems that everyone can use from the beginning.

Instead of creating separate versions for different groups, organisations should aim to build one accessible system that works for everyone.

Accessibility creates business opportunities

Making digital content accessible doesn't only benefit employees.

It also expands your potential customer base.

Inclusive design improves the experience for everyone while helping businesses reach more customers and attract a broader workforce.

Building businesses. Leading teams. Solving problems. That's what I do across accounting, marketing, and everything in between. I'm Krish Ravipati, and I've spent the last decade helping multiple businesses thrive and the past three years purchasing and managing my own businesses.

When I'm not balancing books or building brands, you'll find me:

• On stage as an MC (because connecting with people energises me)
• At the gym (currently on a 90-day challenge, discipline compounds)
• With family (wife Felicity, a gym junkie, and our teenage kids keep us humble)
• Driving around in a red Tesla Model Y (autopilot mode, love it!)
• Creating content for "Indian Asks Aussie Answers" on YouTube (cultural curiosity meets humour)

Jenny Moutou is a highly respected coach, author and speaker, who has walked the road less travelled.

Acadame.co was founded with a simple yet powerful mission: To elevate the capabilities of young professionals and help businesses build the next generation of leaders. We understand that today’s challenges are complex, and success requires a different mindset, one that is compassionate, growth-oriented, and deeply human.

They began the journey recognising the gap between academic readiness and workplace demands, especially for graduates just starting out. For many businesses, this gap leads to high turnover and unmet expectations. For young professionals, it created frustration and uncertainty about their future.

With over 20 years of coaching experience, Jenny’s passion for helping people build belief and get more out of life ignited her curiosity and interest in human potential and performance, psychology and high-performance cultures. Her curiosity and life experiences led her to create the Map of Potential.

Jenny uses the map to teach others how to see, feel, and connect to when they are living their potential and when they are not, on a moment-to-moment basis, so they can live more consciously every day.

Chief Instigator of Online Success and the go-to speaker for turning digital chaos into effortless growth. Nik Cree demystifies AI, automation, and visibility with sharp insights and zero fluff.

Bringing energy, wit, and real-world strategies, he leaves audiences fired up and ready to take action. Need a speaker who makes online success fun, fast, and wildly effective? In this episode, we have an informal chat to find out if an online business expert can do all that in real life.

MEET JANEEN VOSPER

Award-Winning Speaker and Business Owner, Author, and Branding, Sales & Confidence Coach, Empowering Voices, Elevating Confidence.

Janeen Vosper has spent her life helping others find the courage to speak up, own their story, and step into their personal power. Her journey into empowering others began early when she was just a child in primary school. She witnessed a teacher allow bullying to go unchecked.

Refusing to stay silent, she walked out of class and reported the teacher to the head of the school. That bold moment planted a seed that would grow into a lifelong mission: to help people find their voice and stand up for themselves.

A Non-Traditional Path to Success... Janeen’s path was never traditional. She left school at 15, determined to make her mark in her own way.

From teaching aerobics in the 1980s to running a gymwear business, to becoming the General Manager of Sales for a multi-million-dollar company, her varied experiences gave her insight into what truly drives success: confidence, consistency, and communication.

If you would like to connect with Janeen and get her in to talk to your students, you can look up her website (link in the video) or contact CLR through our website, and we can introduce you: https://clresources.com.au/#contact

Brimble Recruitment Group, led by Daniel Brimblecombe, is a premier recruitment agency specialising in sourcing top talent both onshore and offshore. With a deep understanding of the hiring process and extensive experience in team management, Daniel ensures a thorough and meticulous recruitment process, including detailed assessments and interviews.

Known for building highly experienced teams, Brimble Recruitment Group excels in matching the right candidates with the right opportunities, providing exceptional staffing solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of their clients.

Recently introducing "Get Booked", For Speakers, Experts, and Authors Who Want Authority That Pays, the company's commitment to excellence and Daniel's hands-on approach make Brimble Recruitment Group a trusted partner in the recruitment industry.