Melvin Fernando
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The Accessibility Design Competition is a student-focused initiative aimed at promoting workplace inclusiveness for people with disabilities. This competition invites students to collaborate with industry partners to develop innovative solutions that enhance accessibility in professional environments. Participants benefit from mentorship provided by both industry professionals and mentors with lived experience of disability. Throughout the competition, students gain valuable insights, guidance, and real-world feedback. Final entries are evaluated by a panel of judges from our industry partners, ensuring a strong connection between innovation and practical application.
Since the first event in 2020, ADC’s ultimate goal has been to embrace diversity and achieve a greater acceptance of differences among our communities.
The inspiration for this initiative came from witnessing the challenges our students with disabilities face in securing internships and full-time employment. Compared to their peers, they often experience significantly longer wait times for placements. When opportunities do arise, they frequently involve compromises—such as accepting roles within the university while others secure positions in industry.
For students without disabilities, the likelihood of transitioning to full-time employment could be around 50% - 80%. Moreover, many students with disabilities are compelled to accept roles that do not align with their academic background or personal interests. Another critical barrier I observed was the role of family perceptions. In some cases, parents were hesitant or even resistant to allowing their child to pursue an internship, believing that their child was not capable of working. This mindset further limits opportunities and reinforces exclusion.
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What began as a small, internal project at RMIT has grown into a national movement. Now in its fourth season, the Accessibility Design Competition (ADC) has expanded to include 25 universities across Vietnam and has engaged over 70 industry partners as mentors and judges. The students have consistently delivered impressive, innovative solutions—many of which have caught the attention of industry leaders interested in testing these products in real-world markets. A number of teams have even progressed into incubation programs, with the goal of transforming their ideas into viable businesses.