Merry Christmas 2023
Merry Christmas from the team at Access Advisors.
Wishing everyone a safe and happy festive season.
As the year draws to a close, I’d like to take a moment (or two) to reflect on a year filled with important milestones, surprises, and challenges.
Before that though, heartfelt thanks are extended to our:
- Clients: Your continued partnership fuels our commitment to accessibility.
- Panellists: Your insights help raise awareness and help clients understand the struggles.
- Partners: Our shared vision, collaboration and connection strengthens the impact for us all.
- InternetNZ: Thank you for the grant for m-Enabling and the accessibility funding round.
- The Team: Your passion and dedication are crucial to Access Advisors' success and its never boring.
January: The year kicked off with the team participating in the Deafblind Seminar in Ōtautahi Christchurch. The team helped with everything from photos, audio/visual needs, and playing with the 11 guide dogs. Even my tween children got involved and enjoyed. It highlights the younger generation's acceptance of differences. Gives me hope for the future.
February: In a personal revelation, I received an ADHD diagnosis, providing valuable insights for me and my family. Many others may not have been as surprised as me.
April: We were approved as an All of Government supplier for Web Accessibility Services and Research Insight, becoming the sole New Zealand-owned and operated specialist digital accessibility consultant on the panel. It is fabulous to know that the bar for approval is high and that we made it.
May: For Global Accessibility Awareness Day we co-hosted a webinar with Be Lab and Digital Boost, focusing on the accessibility of social media. Great to join forces.
July: Was a month of significant personal and professional events:
- Sandrine returned to France
- Heidi & Henry purchased their first home
- Julius returned from Philippines and celebrated a significant birthday
- Kevin attended the Deafblind World Congress in Ontario.
August/September: While facing challenges, including missing Tech Summit due to a family illness and navigating ADHD burnout, we hosted a memorable pre-conference event for NZDEN's annual conference and joined one of the panel discussions in the main sessions. Thanks so much to the speakers who provided fabulous insights.
October: The release of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2 is worth noting as it was a very long time coming. For me the highlight of the year was attending the m-Enabling Conference, engaging in a panel discussion, geeking out with 600 access professionals and meeting so many inspiring individuals, including IAAP/G3ICT staff. Thanks again InternetNZ.
November: Another eventful month featuring speaking engagements at ATSNZ Expo and Content X Summit, along with sponsoring the Special Children’s Christmas Party. Also exciting to talk with the organisers of these events about how they need to improve their digital accessibility.
December: This month we’ve had a IDPWD – The Pros and Cons of AI webinar and are marking four years of Access Advisors as an independent organisation. We were also very busy supporting many applications for the InternetNZ accessibility funding round. We also had Heidi and Henry come to Christchurch for a team weekend. Julius is away in Philippines so was unable to join us this year. Lots of fun had, team BBQ and rides on Christchurch Gondola, tram, punts and trains.
We'll be taking a well-earned break from December 21, reopening on January 8 to continue our mission of making Aotearoa more digitally inclusive.
Wishing everyone a fabulous festive few weeks!
Kia pai ngā hararei
Chandra and the whole Access Advisors Team 
Office closed for Christmas Holidays
The office will be closed for the team to take a well deserved break from the 21st December 2023 and we will be back at work on the 8th January 2024. For urgent queries please email us and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
