Brendon's story – video transcript
Watch Brendon talk about the importance of workplace inclusion.
[Description]
Brendon is walking down a sidewalk with his mobility cane. He is holding a navigational device in his right hand, which he stops to use. An on-screen graphic appears: 'Brendon, Disability Advocate'.
[Brendon Donohue]
I've been blind since birth, and I have glaucoma and Peters anomaly, and those two conditions combined to create legal blindness.
[Description]
Brendon is sitting in an interview-style set up, in a home office space.
[Brendon Donohue]
Basically I have a little bit of colour and shadows, but that's about it.
[Description]
Brendon is pouring hot water from an accessibly designed kettle into a glass mug. He answers a phone call in his kitchen.
[Brendon Donohue]
The stats or the numbers say between 50% and 70% people who are blind are unemployed or are underemployed based on the general population.
[Description]
Brendon is unlocking his phone using assistive touch. He is wearing headphones.
[Brendon Donohue]
I think the main barrier is the not knowing, and people being really scared about really wanting to hire somebody who is blind and not actually understanding that technology exists, and technology is available.
[Audio description]
An Electronic Brailler is shown on a desk. Brendon is sitting on a bed, talking to his phone and using assistive touch to send messages to people.
[Brendon Donohue]
And not knowing that these systems like Job Access have been set up by governments to have people with disability succeed.
[Description]
He is sitting having coffee with a woman at an outdoor cafe, with trees around the tables. They are having a conversation. Brendon is laughing.
[Brendon Donohue]
I go into organisations, and teach organisations that are unaware about how to make a document accessible to a person who is blind, that can be read with assistive technology like screen readers and Braille displays.
[Description]
Brendon is using a laptop with a document open titled 'The Totally Blind Accessibility Formatting Workshop Guide'. Brendon’s reads the Braille on his laptop with his finger. He smiles as he works.
[Brendon Donohue]
I can get an income, but I can also give back to organisations that actually do want to be inclusive, hopefully increasing their employment of people who are blind.
[Description]
On the wall there is a map of the world titled 'World at Your Fingers' with countries labelled in Braille. There is a close-up of shot of Australia on the map.
[Brendon Donohue]
Organisations that do not have lived experience or people with disability are really missing out on different views, different understandings, and being able to think in different ways.
[Description]
Brendon is walking with the woman from the coffee shop, using her arm as a guide. He talks on his mobile phone as they walk. A Queensland Government logo graphic appears, with text and URL underneath it. This reads: For more information visit qld.gov.au/qld-disability-plan.
Watch Brendon talk about the importance of workplace inclusion.