Carly Austin
(she/her)
Accessibility Coordinator
Organisation unit
Student Experience and Success
Student Success
Specialist Student Support
Location
Adelaide University
Contact
About me
I bring lived
experience of disability, deep knowledge of assistive technology, and a strong
understanding of how universities and academics work. With over 20 years’
experience across higher education, I have supported students, academics, and
professional staff in a wide range of contexts. This background informs a
practical, grounded approach to accessibility that focuses on what is
realistic, sustainable, and workable within the university environment.
Having
studied at university with a disability myself, I understand how assessment
design, deadlines, and academic expectations interact with disability over
time. I am attentive to factors such as processing speed, fatigue, pressure,
and cumulative workload, not just individual tasks or assessments. This
perspective allows me to look beyond the short term and consider what will
support students across a semester and over the course of their studies.
I am a
subject matter expert in digital access and assistive technology and work with
students to identify tools and strategies that align with how they study. My
approach is task-focused and practical, with an emphasis on solutions that
integrate into everyday study without adding unnecessary complexity. I work
closely with service providers and technology partners, which allows me to stay
connected to emerging practice and contribute informed feedback that supports
effective implementation of accessible technologies.
Through long-standing work
with academics, I have a strong understanding of academic workloads, assessment
pressures, and institutional constraints. I use this understanding when shaping
advice and support options, with the aim of ensuring arrangements translate
smoothly into courses and are clear and workable for both students and teaching
staff. I value collaborative, respectful relationships and frame support in
ways that align with academic practice and institutional requirements.
I take
time to understand the full context of a student’s situation, hold that
information, and work through options step by step. My aim is to reduce the
effort students need to spend navigating processes or explaining their
circumstances, and to support clear, confident next steps through calm,
structured, and student-centred practice.
I bring lived experience of disability, deep knowledge of assistive technology, and a strong understanding of how universities and academics work. With over 20 years’ experience across higher education, I have supported students, academics, and professional staff in a wide range of contexts. This background informs a practical, grounded approach to accessibility that focuses on what is realistic, sustainable, and workable within the university environment. Having studied at university with a disability myself, I understand how assessment design, deadlines, and academic expectations interact with disability over time. I am attentive to factors such as processing speed, fatigue, pressure, and cumulative workload, not just individual tasks or assessments. This perspective allows me to look beyond the short term and consider what will support students across a semester and over the course of their studies. I am a subject matter expert in digital access and assistive technology and work with students to identify tools and strategies that align with how they study. My approach is task-focused and practical, with an emphasis on solutions that integrate into everyday study without adding unnecessary complexity. I work closely with service providers and technology partners, which allows me to stay connected to emerging practice and contribute informed feedback that supports effective implementation of accessible technologies. Through long-standing work with academics, I have a stro...
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Last updated
on 04/02/2026
by Carly Austin