People, Potential and Possibilities: How Steady Guide Is Building a More Accessible Website
By Jenny Mathers | Support Coordinator, Author & Disability Advocate
At a Glance: Why Accessible Web Design is Disability Advocacy
- True Inclusion: Information is only useful if the person who needs it can actually read, hear, or navigate it independently.
- 5 Key Improvements: We are upgrading Steady Guide with clearer headings, plain-English summaries, screen reader tags, accessible resources, and active feedback loops.
- Regional Expansion: Bringing our neuroaffirming support coordination and advocacy outreach to Chinchilla and the Western Downs.
What Good Is Helpful Information If You Can’t Access It?
That is the fundamental question driving my work at Steady Guide.
A website can contain valuable disability resources, thoughtful guides, and practical funding advice—but if someone using a screen reader gets stuck, or someone experiencing cognitive fatigue gives up on a massive wall of text, that information isn’t truly accessible. It’s just sitting there.
To fix this, I am gradually updating the Steady Guide website to make it easier to navigate, easier to digest, and more practical for everyone. Accessibility isn’t a one-time box to tick; it’s an ongoing commitment to listening, learning, and removing systemic barriers.
People, Potential and Possibilities
These three principles shape how I support participants as a Support Coordinator in Toowoomba—and how Steady Guide communicates online:
People First
You are a person with unique lived experiences, communication preferences, and goals—not a line-item on a spreadsheet. Putting people first means respecting assistive technology users, neurodivergent communication styles, and those who need plain-English clarity over jargon.
Nurturing Potential
Disability advocacy is about capacity building—giving you clear, practical tools so you can make informed choices and self-advocate with confidence. Our website should empower independence, not leave you staring at confusing walls of text.
Creating Possibilities
Opening doors through community connection, creative local solutions in regional thin markets, and systemic advocacy so participants can navigate legislative changes and achieve their personal aspirations.
5 Practical Changes We Are Making to Our Website
Some of these updates happen behind the scenes in our site code; others will be noticeable whenever you read a page or look for resources:
1. Clear Headings and Logical Structure
Screen reader users move through web pages by jumping between headings. We are ensuring every page uses logical heading hierarchies (`H1` to `H3`) and descriptive titles (e.g., “What Does a Support Coordinator Do?” instead of vague labels like “More Info”).
2. Short Sections, Visual Containers & Plain English
Complex funding systems come with enough overwhelming jargon. We are reviewing all blog guides to:
- Break dense pages into bite-sized visual summary cards.
- Use short, clear sentences and avoid unnecessary acronyms.
- Place key takeaways right at the beginning of every article.
- Ensure links clearly describe where they lead (e.g., Read the Guide to Choosing a Support Coordinator).
3. Better Technical Support for Screen Readers
We are auditing image alternative text (`alt` text), shielding decorative icons using `aria-hidden=”true”`, enforcing high contrast text (`>10.5:1` ratio), and ensuring complete keyboard navigability so screen readers announce elements cleanly.
4. Accessible Educational Resources & Books
Our bookstore catalog features practical resources on Autism, mental health, and intellectual disability. We are ensuring all digital documents are clearly labeled, easy to preview, and readable with assistive technology.
5. Active Feedback Loops & Community Listening
Accessibility is an ongoing conversation. If you encounter a barrier, broken contrast, or confusing layout on our site, we invite you to share your feedback so we can fix it promptly.
Branching Out to Chinchilla and the Western Downs
I am delighted to announce that Steady Guide is expanding local advocacy and support coordination visits to Chinchilla, Miles, and the Western Downs.
Looking beyond Toowoomba allows us to listen directly to families in regional thin markets, understand local service gaps, and build genuine community connections where support options have historically been limited.