The Centre for Accessibility Australia (CFA Australia) has proudly announced the return of the Australian Access Awards for 2023. The event, which takes place every two years, is a national celebration that honours organizations, designers, developers, and content creators committed to promoting digital accessibility across various platforms.
The Australian Access Awards are full of success stories, but one in particular came about from a surprising twist of events.
Gisele Mesnage, an advocate who is legally blind, took on supermarket giant Coles in a legal battle after facing discrimination while attempting to use their website for online shopping, after a website upgrade in 2013. Despite years of negotiation with Coles to address the issues, a lasting solution remained elusive. As a result, she chose legal action as the last resort to seek equal consideration and accessibility for herself and other customers with disability.
After Gisele Mesnage won the case against Coles, she decided to nominate the supermarket giant for the commercial website category of the 2019 Australian Access Awards, where they in fact emerged as the winner.
This success story serves as a testament to the impact that businesses can make when they prioritize accessibility in their digital offerings.
As we move forward, CFA Australia continues to champion accessibility and its vital role in fostering a more inclusive society. Through the Australian Access Awards, CFA Australia – along with its valued sponsors such as ATSA – aims to inspire organizations and individuals to create digital spaces that welcome everyone, and contribute to a more accessible and equitable future.
ATSA is proud to be a Community Sponsor for the 2023 event – for more details visit Access Awards – Centre For Accessibility Australia
