Jess's story – video transcript
Watch Jess talk about workplace accommodations for vision impairment.
[Description]
Jess is walking down a path in a park with her mobility cane. An on-screen graphic appears; 'Jessica, Carers Queensland'. There is a big pine tree, with the sun shining through the branches.
[Jess Kendall]
So I was born three and a half months early, and I was given oxygen, which was wonderful, but they gave too much. And it gradually detached the retinas. So I had a little bit of mobility vision until I was about three years old. But I have no memory of that. It's called retrolental fibroplasia.
[Description]
Jess is sitting in an interview-style set up, in an office boardroom.
[Jess Kendall]
I’m a Local Area Coordinator for Carers Queensland, and my role involves assisting people to navigate the NDIS access process, helping them utilise their NDIS funding and linking them with other community supports and services where required.
[Description]
Jess walking on a sidewalk next to a road. There is a close up shot on the NDIS and Carers QLD Building signage. The shot cuts to Jess sitting at her desk in her office cubical. She is typing on her laptop. Her mobility cane is folded on the desk next to her.
[Jess Kendall]
There's a lot of phone calls, case notes, data entry, a lot of communicating with people face to face as well. There's a number of things that help me do my job here at Carers Queensland.
[Description]
Jess is wearing headphones, making a phone call using assistive touch on her phone. The shot cuts to her typing on her laptop, and then walking through the office, using her cane to guide her. She sits down at a table to have a conversation with a co-worker.
[Jess Kendall]
Physically, there's the tactile type which enables me to get around independently. JAWS, which is a screen reading program which converts what's on screen into speech so I can read and type and compile case notes, etc.
[Description]
There are close up shots of yellow and black tactile tape on the office carpet. The shot cuts to Jess sitting at her office desk, earphones in, and typing on her laptop.
[Jess Kendall]
And then the admin staff also assist me with processing paperwork for clients as well.
[Description]
Jess sitting in a board room with a co-worker, and some paperwork on the table. There is a closeup shot on the paperwork, which reach ‘NDIS Access Request Form’. Jess and the co-worker laugh together.
[Jess Kendall]
When I was searching for work, there was some confusion or lack of experience from employers as to how they would accommodate someone with a visual impairment. So they worried about, you know, is it going to cost a lot to get the software on the system or am I going to take more time to do the job, that sort of thing.
[Description]
A series of shots. There is a closeup of Braille on a toilet sign. A poster about gratitude that reads ‘Gratitude in advance is the most powerful creative force in the Universe’. The words ‘Integrity’ and ‘Adaptability’ in cut out letters are pinned up on the office wall.
[Jess Kendall]
People want to be hired on merit. If you're going to hire an employee with a disability, make sure that you're hiring them because they can do the job and they're a good fit for your team or your office, whatever your program or your project is. They don't want it to be a tokenistic thing. Take that into account for everyone, whether they have a disability or not.
[Description]
A certificate awarded to Jess for Value of Adaptability is pinned to her cubicle wall. The shot cuts to a paper tree on an office wall, with photographs of people who work in the office attached to the branches of the tree. There is a close up shot of Jess’ photo.
[Jess Kendall]
I know that I'm valued by my colleagues, and I value them, and we value each other as a team.
[Description]
A poster reading 'Respect, Adaptability, Empowerment, Diversity, Integrity' is taped to a wall. The shot cuts to Jess having lunch in the office break room with two co-workers.
[Jess Kendall]
Keep trying, and never give up because it might take a while, but you'll find the sort of job you are looking for. And if you don't find it, you can create it.
[Description]
Jess is walking along park pathway, using her mobility cane. There is another tree with sun shining through the branches. Jess sits on a bench with her cane folded on her lap, enjoying the sunshine. 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 Jess talk about workplace accommodations for vision impairment.