June 17, 2025 • 27 mins
Deafblind Awareness Week (the last week of June) honours Helen Keller’s birthday and shines a light on the Deafblind community. To mark the occasion, Deafblind West Australians have a special event celebrating connection, creativity, and advocacy.
This week on our podcast, meet Deborah Kazich, Deafblind advocate sharing her vibrant, active life, and Linni Oliver, a dedicated Communication Guide.
Deb has many interests including public speaking training with Toast Masters, and she never misses an opportunity to share her passion for her community and to help bring awareness of people living with Deafblindness.
- Event Details:
- Tuesday 24 June 2025
- Perth City Farm
- Activities: DBWA will unveil a new tactile art piece, alongside the 2023 community mosaic
- Inspiring stories, sensory art, and community connection
Be part of this powerful celebration! If you can't attend on the day, head down to Perth City Farm anytime to experience the artwork installation.
More information about Deafblind West Australians can be found on their website.
Support Vision Australia Radio: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
S1 (00:09):
Hello, I'm Simon Cheung and welcome to In Plain Sight,
a program where we highlight people who are making a
difference and impact within the disability sector and their community.
We shine a light on those who otherwise would be
hidden in plain sight. And it's a pleasure to bring
you these programmes on a weekly basis here on Vision
Australia Radio. This week we're doing something a little bit different.
(00:40):
My good friend and colleague and co-producer, Abby Green is
away for a while and in the studio this week
I have a new producer whose name is Andrew Williams. Hello, Andrew.
S2 (00:51):
Hello, Simon.
S1 (00:52):
Thanks for being with me today and thanks for helping
out while Abby is away.
S2 (00:56):
It's a pleasure.
S1 (00:56):
Great that you could be with us now, Andrew. How
did you get involved with Vision Australia radio?
S2 (01:01):
Well, um, I've just recently moved permanently to Perth early
December last year. Prior to that, probably about 25 years ago,
I used to do some work with what was then
called three PP in Melbourne and in the process of
planning to move to Perth, I thought I'd love to
get involved with Vision Australia Radio over here as the
(01:24):
organisation is now called. So I got in touch with Bridget,
the volunteer coordinator here at Vision Australia Radio in Perth,
and had a bit of a chat. And long story short,
here I am in the studio and one of the
programmes I do here is the National NewsHour, which is
a national program, comes out of the studios here in
(01:44):
Perth and goes out at 5:00 weekdays. It's sort of
like a bit of a drive program and done some
filling in shifts for other programs as well, including here
as well. So I'm having a terrific time learning all
about digital stuff, because when I was last on air,
everything was reel to reel, tape and cart machines and
(02:05):
stuff like that.
S1 (02:05):
What was your initial interest and motivation being part of
what is termed print handicapped radio?
S2 (02:11):
It was a two fold thing. I guess it was
being part of a service that provides, you know, incredible
information for people that are vision impaired. But it was
also just the fact that I really loved working on radio.
And it's I just find it a real buzz to
to combine the two things of being involved in a
(02:31):
fantastic community organization that provides a brilliant service and a
brilliant stream of information. Yes. Um, and, um, just me
having fun in being in the studio.
S1 (02:44):
That's great, because I just like to take this moment
to acknowledge the fabulous people that work on Vision Australia
Radio across Australia. They're all volunteers. They give their time
freely to assist people who otherwise wouldn't be able to
access the print news Information and other parts of the
(03:05):
world that people would normally read themselves.
S2 (03:09):
An interesting aspect I used to find as well when
I talked to people in Melbourne when I was over there, is, um,
you know, sighted people when I'd say, oh, I was
involved with, um, three PP and, and so forth. And
I said, I listen to that all the time because
I've never got time to read the paper in the morning.
So it's fantastic to, you know, sit in the car
and so forth.
S1 (03:26):
And so some people use it to help them learn English.
S2 (03:30):
Yeah. Yeah, absolutely.
S1 (03:31):
Now moving on to this week's program, Andrew. We've got
a fabulous program coming up for you all surrounding Deafblindness
and Deafblind Awareness Week, which revolves around the birthday of
Helen Keller. So the dates for Deaf Blindness Awareness Week
is 22nd of June to the 29th of June. And
(03:53):
here in Perth, we've got some great events happening to
acknowledge that, and our guests in the studio today will
explain all about that. But following up from a recent
interview that we did here with Rita Shillingford, Powell, who
is also deaf blind, we mentioned at the time a
(04:14):
woman from Western Australia, Vanessa, who happens to be in
Britain at the moment competing in a ballroom dancing event. Now, Andrew,
what was that event and what did Vanessa get up
to over there in England?
S2 (04:27):
Well, the event was the Blackpool Dance Festival. Yes, this
is a bit of a news flash. Nessa Vlajkovic and
her dance partner Simon have just won a major dancing
title at the Blackpool Dance Festival and it's not in
the vision impaired category, but in the mainstream events. So
this is an absolutely fantastic, wonderful achievement for any dancer.
(04:49):
This is a big deal because this competition is considered
the the Wimbledon of dance sport.
S1 (04:54):
And a shout out to all my friends that are
dancers on the different realms of dancing. And no, it
wasn't me who was the dance champion. I still haven't
made it down to the dance floor yet, people, but
I will one day. So the interview coming up, as
I said, revolves around Deafblind Awareness Week, which acknowledges Helen
(05:17):
Keller's birthday on the 26th of June. Obviously, for those
who don't know, Helen Keller was one of the most
famous deafblind people in the world and broke lots of
barriers and was groundbreaking in so many different ways. The
interviews we've got coming up are so very informative and
very interesting and lively, and I hope you enjoy, and
(05:39):
we'll introduce our guests in the studio to you now.
Thank you. Thanks for joining us once again on In
Plain Sight on Vision Australia Radio. This week we've got
a very special show for you lined up, and we're
all about celebrating Deafblind Week. And this week we have
(05:59):
two guests in the studio. One is Deb Cacic and
she is deaf blind, and the other one is Lindy Oliver,
and she is a communications guide who also supports people
who are deaf and blind. And I will start by
introducing Deborah Kasich to the audience now. Hi, Deb. How
are you going?
S3 (06:18):
Hi, Simon. Hi, everyone.
S1 (06:20):
Thanks for joining us. Deb, now, Deb, I'll start with
the bare basics. First, your deaf blind.
S3 (06:26):
Correct.
S1 (06:27):
Tell us about that. How? What is that condition caused
by my conditions?
S3 (06:31):
I was born deaf blind with syndrome because my mum
was pregnant with me. Caught German measles. It is with
down syndrome because she got German measles. My vision. I've
got limited sight in my left eye. No sight in
my right eye. My hearing is I can hear the sound.
(06:55):
And I wear hearing aids When I'm in their environment,
I use my roger pen.
S1 (07:03):
And what's that?
S3 (07:04):
It's the microphone that connects to my hearing aids. Oh, yes.
For those of you who doesn't know about the Roger pen. Mhm.
Many people who are deaf blind can use when they
go to a large environment, like for example, the hate
speech run for a reason.
S1 (07:21):
Yes.
S3 (07:21):
The Roger pen really helps me to focus on my
support worker or family member, whoever I was with on
that day.
S1 (07:32):
Righty o. Now you just mentioned Hbf run for a reason.
That's one of the many things that you do, Deborah.
I follow you on social media and you're very active
member of the deaf blind community and very active person
within our community in general. What do you do for work, Deb?
S3 (07:48):
I work at Sammy's in Canning Vale. On Mondays I
work in the canteen on Wednesdays and On Fridays. I
work in the warehouse.
S1 (07:59):
What's the warehouse?
S3 (08:01):
The warehouse is based in Canning Vale. We got a
whole range of jobs in the warehouse, and we march.
I do the folding the clothes in the factory, and
I make sure all my peers work colleagues are happy
with their job.
S1 (08:20):
Okay. How long have you been working there?
S3 (08:22):
19.5 years. This Christmas, I'll be there for 20 years.
S1 (08:27):
Wow. 20 years. Sounds like you enjoy that job.
S3 (08:31):
I'm currently on long service leave.
S1 (08:34):
Wow. Okay. And I know that you also do Toastmasters,
where you're learning public speaking and you are a public speaker.
Is that right?
S3 (08:44):
Correct.
S1 (08:44):
Tell me about that. What do you do there at Toastmasters?
For those who don't know what Toastmasters is.
S3 (08:50):
For those of you who don't know about Toastmasters, Toastmasters
is the group where we go and learn to do
public speaking. For example, when we do pathways speeches, we
do project and then to mark off our projects on
their base camp. And then we do our speeches, and
(09:10):
then we get back to you, by the way, to
provide feedback with combination, recommendation, combination.
S1 (09:21):
Why do you want to be a public speaker?
S3 (09:23):
Deb, the reason why I want to do Toastmasters is
to do public speaking, because I want to do presentations
at census and the Blind Information Australia so I can
present on technology and many other things.
S1 (09:37):
Because that's the main reason I want you in here,
because you are a very proud, hard working representative of
your deafblind community and you are a strong advocate for
people who are deaf, blind and the disability sector in general.
And I really find it fascinating and fabulous that you
work so hard at what you do. Deb, what motivates
(10:00):
you to be an advocate for deaf blind people?
S3 (10:03):
When I'm in my local community and I've seen some
of the places that are not accessible, and I get
out there and get strong advocate for the deaf blind community.
And I like my area to know, to understand that
many of our people who are deaf, blind.
S1 (10:21):
What are the main things you would like people to
know about being deaf blind?
S3 (10:26):
One of the main things I would like to see
the community to understand how to work with people who
are deaf, blind, like the support workers and guides and
health professionals. They need to know how to understand what
people who are deaf, blind?
S1 (10:44):
Yep. Being deaf blind. Are you able to use sign
language or Auslan as it's known?
S3 (10:51):
I know a few basic was learned just recently on
Sunday when we have our Metronet open line for the
Throne Line. I demonstrates a few items with our Premier
of Western Australia, Brian Cook, and he was so impressed
with me, with the with my Australian skills. And I
(11:12):
told him I'm coming on this show to thank you.
S1 (11:15):
Well done. And so do you use the touch sign language?
S3 (11:20):
Yeah, yeah I mainly use the general Auslan and and
we do dips as well. The CWA connect hub for
example we went to Busselton. I did a presentation in
Busselton and I did talk about technology and stuff like that.
And I've been getting into haptics by leaning that way.
(11:44):
I get more information in audience and engage.
S1 (11:47):
Yeah. Now I believe you attend what's known as the DB.
w a hub where people who are deaf blind go
to congregate and to meet up together and socialize and
to learn things. Do you do that? Deb?
S3 (12:04):
Yes, I do that. I started doing that since last
year because I cut down my work hours, and that
way I can attend and go learn.
S1 (12:15):
What are some of the things that you learned there, Deb?
S3 (12:17):
Auslan haptics. And we do crafts. We do presentations from
different various people in the community. Yeah, so much fun.
S1 (12:27):
With the Toastmasters that you're doing. What do you hope
to do once you get further ahead with that?
S3 (12:35):
I just wanted to compete in competitions at Toastmasters. We
do international speech contest. Yeah, and we do the evaluation
speech contest later in the year. We do the table
topics speech contest and we do the speech contest.
S1 (12:56):
That's fantastic. Now, I also believe that you are a
keen ballroom dancer. Deborah. Is that right?
S3 (13:03):
Correct.
S1 (13:04):
Tell me about that. Tell me about what you love
about ballroom dancing.
S3 (13:07):
I just love to go dancing. I like to go.
Do what?
S1 (13:11):
What's coming up soon?
S3 (13:13):
We got another dance competitions. I love to do competitions.
One of my favorite styles. I like to do ballroom.
I go to visibility on every second Tuesday and Como
Primary School on Saturdays for my lessons.
S1 (13:31):
And a shout out to all the ballroom fit people
out there, and to the man that gets mentioned a
lot on this program, Darryl Davenport, and to all his
dancers and supporters. They do a fantastic job with assisting
people with all different disabilities, including the deaf, blind and
the blind and everything in between. How long have you
(13:51):
been doing the ballroom dancing, Deb?
S3 (13:53):
I joined up ballroom community since 2021. Great community, great community.
Best community I've ever been to.
S1 (14:02):
Oh that's excellent. Now, I might bring in Lindy. Oliver now. Hi, Linda.
How are you?
S4 (14:08):
Hi, Simon. I'm good, thank you.
S1 (14:09):
Great that you could join us today on a really
busy time for you guys.
S4 (14:14):
Yeah. Happy to be here. Thank you.
S1 (14:15):
Now, I'll just start with the basics with you two. Lindy,
that you're a communications guide, is that right?
S4 (14:20):
A communication guide, yes.
S1 (14:22):
Can you tell us what that is?
S4 (14:23):
A communication guide is like a support worker, but with
specialized skills to work 1 to 1 with a person
who is deafblind. So we've done some additional training to
give us the skills to help people to safely navigate
around their environments, the skills to be able to give
them environmental information that they're missing out on, and communication
(14:45):
support as well.
S1 (14:46):
How long have you been doing that, Lindy?
S4 (14:47):
Oh, I was involved in the initial pilot project that
introduced communication guides to, um, Australia, and that was 14.5
years ago.
S1 (14:58):
Fabulous. And you're also involved with what I call Dvwa,
which is deafblind Western Australia. Is that right?
S4 (15:06):
Yes. That's right. I am very much involved. Yes.
S1 (15:09):
And you participate in these hubs that was just talking about.
S4 (15:12):
Uh, yes I do. I help support the haptic lessons
that we do there, and also support some of our
deafblind clients that come along to the hub.
S1 (15:22):
Now, Deb mentioned haptics a few times, and I've seen
it happen. I don't fully understand it. Can you tell
us what haptics are and how they work?
S4 (15:32):
Absolutely. Haptics are touch messages that are given on neutral
areas of the body that provide the person who is deaf, blind,
or a person who is blind as well, to receive
additional information that they're not receiving through their hearing loss
and their vision loss. So what sighted people and hearing
(15:52):
people can see and hear. We provide that information through
haptics to the deafblind person so we can give information about, like,
when Deb and I arrived here today, she wanted to
know what this room looked like. So I mapped that
out on her back for her to let her know
what the layout of the room was like, where she
was sitting in the room, and where everyone else was
(16:13):
positioned in relation to where she is as well. So
we can ask people if they want a cup of
tea or coffee without having to, you know, communicate that
verbally to them and you can just do seamless, um,
additional communication with the person through haptics, through the touch messages.
S1 (16:30):
So that's a separate thing to the fingerspelling for the
deafblind and the physical Auslan that you might also have
to do.
S4 (16:38):
Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. Haptics is not a language. It's a
communication tool that provides additional information. So it's not like
Islam where it's a full language, but it does use
some signs from Auslan for the touch messages.
S1 (16:54):
Just for those listening. A great example of this was
just recently on the ABC TV program The Piano, where
one of the people on that program who was playing
the piano is a deaf blind woman by the name
of Michelle Stephens. And the they showed how her assistance
communicated with her. And what it also showed was that
(17:17):
Michelle is a wonderful piano player and that music can
communicate with everybody, regardless of their ability or disability. And
it was a fabulous representation of deaf blindness in action.
S4 (17:29):
Yes.
S1 (17:31):
The other reason we've got you in, because it's Deaf
Blind Week coming up at the last week of June
to acknowledge Helen Keller's birthday. Yep. And DB, I've got
a special event that is being held at City Farm.
Can you tell us a little bit about what's happened there?
S4 (17:51):
Yes. Every year internationally, deafblind communities all over the world
celebrate Deafblind Awareness Week. And it does coincide with Helen
Keller's birthday the week of her birthday. So this year,
it's from the 22nd of June until the 29th of June.
And the event is all about connection and just celebrating
(18:11):
our community and the achievements of our community. So our
event is at Perth City Farm. At the event, members
of our deafblind community will be sharing their lived experiences
through a series of presentations on peer support and self-advocacy,
leadership and achievements. And we're having this really, really unique,
(18:32):
interactive experience session that will focus on deafblind awareness and
that will involve all our guests participating and just getting
that tiny moment of insight into what our people live
with each and every day. So we'll also be launching
our DWA. Young Leaders program, which is a fantastic new
initiative that's aimed at nurturing and supporting the next generation
(18:57):
of deafblind advocates and changemakers. But for our community, the
highlight of the community will be the unveiling of a
brand new tactile art collaboration we've been working on. So
over the last month we've been creating some fantastic concrete
stepping stones mosaicking them and those mosaic stepping stones that
(19:19):
our community members have all done will form part of
a lasting legacy that's being installed at Perth City Farm
and will be featured alongside our existing art installation, which
is a wonderful mosaic totem that we created our community
created for Deafblind Awareness Week in 2023. We would love
(19:41):
the broader community out there. Anyone who's listening to this
program to please go along to Perth City Farm and
have a look at this wonderful, wonderful piece of art
that our community has created and the addition to it
with the stepping stones. And you'll find some signs there
that you can, um, you know, scan some QR codes
that will lead you to some information about deafblind West Australians,
(20:05):
about what deaf blindness is. Lots of information that you
can access by going along to Perth City Farm and
seeing this fantastic art installation.
S1 (20:14):
How can people get involved if they want to, or
if they know someone who's deaf, blind for one, or
if they want to help and maybe volunteer or assist
with deaf blind West Australia and assist with maybe learning
Auslan or learning how to do the hat tricks for
people or help with the hub. How would people go
about doing something like that?
S4 (20:34):
Well, everyone is welcome at our um, DB connect hub
that we run at the Rise in Maylands, which is
on eighth Avenue. And that's every fortnight on a Wednesday
from 1230 to 3 p.m.. We welcome anyone to come
along and support our community. Or if people are wanting
to learn some Auslan. We have free Auslan lessons as well.
(20:56):
And we have haptic lessons once a month as well.
And we're always looking for volunteers in our community. And yeah,
we we welcome everybody. It's not just for people.
S1 (21:07):
Who.
S4 (21:07):
Are deafblind. Our hub is open to people who are blind,
people who are deaf, people who are hard of hearing.
People with any disabilities can come along. We just we're
so inclusive. It's not just about deafblind. We're part of
a bigger community out there.
S1 (21:23):
Indeed you are. And you're very welcoming to everybody in
and around that community as well. Now, Deborah, I'll ask you,
did you make one of the mosaics that will be
part of this installation at City Farm?
S3 (21:35):
Yes, it's part of that project as well. And I
really enjoyed doing that project.
S1 (21:39):
What did you make?
S3 (21:41):
I've I dumped a few tiles and made out of
clay hearts and white canes and hands. Whole range of things.
S1 (21:51):
Okay.
S4 (21:52):
And what did you do with your stepping stone that
you created, Deb?
S3 (21:56):
Some flowers and. Yeah, I don't do flowers because I
do it in the flowers, in my normal mosaics, in
my own personal mosaics.
S1 (22:07):
Okay. You do that for a hobby as well?
S3 (22:09):
Yeah.
S1 (22:10):
Okay, well, you are a busy woman, Deborah, because I
also know that on events like White Cane Day, you
like to give a presentation that you put on the
social media to to tell people the importance of white canes.
Can you use a white cane and what the different
white canes are for? That's right as well isn't it.
S3 (22:29):
Yeah. It's really important I raise awareness. Last year I
did white cane video about taking a cane on the holiday. Yes.
Can you spare one on the holiday? And I highly
recommend that you take a spare key with you when
you go on the holiday.
S1 (22:44):
Now time is quickly running away with us, everybody. So
we're going to have to, uh, wind up the conversation
very quickly. Um, I'll just go back to you again, Lenny.
Is there anything else you'd like us to know about? Firstly,
what's happening deaf Blind Week and what's happening for DB
now and in the future.
S4 (23:03):
Well, we have our like I mentioned, we have our
hub running fortnightly. We also have a pub lunch gathering
once a month, and it's, uh, very much led and
run by our community members. They tell us where they
want to go and that's where we go. And that, again,
is open to everybody. And we get, you know, some
amazing people come along to that from all walks of
(23:26):
life who have, you know, some have come and stuck
around and become very valuable members of our community. And
it's been absolutely wonderful to yeah, to do that.
S1 (23:35):
Tell us again more about the Young Leaders program that
you are trying to develop?
S4 (23:42):
Absolutely. So yeah, our Young Leaders program will be launched
at the Deafblind Awareness Week event. And yeah, it's it's
a really great initiative to sort of get some deafblind
youth involved and become the new changemakers and advocates of
our community. So we're reaching out to young people aged
(24:03):
between 18 to 35 who would like to be involved
in this program, and we want them to be involved
in co-designing, a program with the people from Dvwa who
are running the program. And yeah, it will all be
about upskilling them to go out there and, you know,
do presentations and to sort of get the word out
(24:24):
there about dvwa and deafblind awareness.
S1 (24:27):
And we'll definitely get someone in from that project to
come in to talk to us, because I'm not a
young person, and I like to find out about all
these things that are happening for the young people and
to see the great things that our upcoming leaders are achieving.
Because we've got great role models like Derek here who
are helping to lead the way and show us how
(24:48):
things could be and should be done. So, Deborah, what
would be the last message you'd like to tell people
before we have to say goodbye about being deafblind and
something that the general public should know?
S3 (25:00):
I would like the general public to understand that I
am deafblind. If you see a white cane, please give
me some time and space when you're out in your community.
I will put out another White Cane Day video later
in the year.
S1 (25:17):
I like what you said there. Give us time and space. Yes,
we talk about that a lot when we have blind
people in. Give us time and space and ask in
a polite way if we need assistance. Yeah, don't just
come up and grab people without asking them. And please
don't pat or interact with seeing eye dogs or guide dogs.
(25:39):
And what's the next thing that you're looking forward to,
Deb with DWA.
S3 (25:43):
I'm looking forward to doing more presentations going forward and
teaching people about the blind community and white canes.
S1 (25:53):
Well, thanks so much for joining us today, Debra. It's
been a delight to have you in the studio this week,
and you're really informative and a really good fun. Linda Oliver,
thank you for joining us this week as well. It's
been great. I'm sure people will get a lot from
our conversation. Thanks for joining us, Lynn.
S4 (26:10):
My pleasure. And yes, everyone head out to Perth City
Farm when you've got the chance. And yeah, find out
about deaf blind West Australians and become involved and have
a look at our fantastic art installation.
S1 (26:22):
I'm definitely going to check that off. Seen photos of
it and to go and look at it in person.
And I like the idea of it's a tactile sculpture. Yes.
S4 (26:30):
They're very tactile indeed. Yes. And the stepping stones as
well are very, very tactile, so people are welcome to
touch our art installation. It's not there just to be
looked at.
S1 (26:41):
Okay. Well that's it for this week folks. Thanks for
joining us and thanks so much for our two guests
in the studio this week. And thanks for Andrew Williams
for being my producer and panel operator today. Look forward
to speaking to you all next time. Bye for now.
S2 (27:04):
That concludes in Plain Sight for this week. Join us
at the same time next week on Vision Australia Radio,
VA radio Digital and online at VA Radio.com. You can
also listen on demand by searching for In Plain Sight
by Vision Australia Radio. Wherever you get your podcasts, or
ask your smart device to play in Plain sight by
(27:25):
Vision Australia Radio. Thanks for listening.
S1 (27:28):
Thank you.
Hello, I'm Simon Cheung and welcome to In Plain Sight,
a program where we highlight people who are making a
difference and impact within the disability sector and their community.
We shine a light on those who otherwise would be
hidden in plain sight. And it's a pleasure to bring
you these programmes on a weekly basis here on Vision
Australia Radio. This week we're doing something a little bit different.
(00:40):
My good friend and colleague and co-producer, Abby Green is
away for a while and in the studio this week
I have a new producer whose name is Andrew Williams. Hello, Andrew.
S2 (00:51):
Hello, Simon.
S1 (00:52):
Thanks for being with me today and thanks for helping
out while Abby is away.
S2 (00:56):
It's a pleasure.
S1 (00:56):
Great that you could be with us now, Andrew. How
did you get involved with Vision Australia radio?
S2 (01:01):
Well, um, I've just recently moved permanently to Perth early
December last year. Prior to that, probably about 25 years ago,
I used to do some work with what was then
called three PP in Melbourne and in the process of
planning to move to Perth, I thought I'd love to
get involved with Vision Australia Radio over here as the
(01:24):
organisation is now called. So I got in touch with Bridget,
the volunteer coordinator here at Vision Australia Radio in Perth,
and had a bit of a chat. And long story short,
here I am in the studio and one of the
programmes I do here is the National NewsHour, which is
a national program, comes out of the studios here in
(01:44):
Perth and goes out at 5:00 weekdays. It's sort of
like a bit of a drive program and done some
filling in shifts for other programs as well, including here
as well. So I'm having a terrific time learning all
about digital stuff, because when I was last on air,
everything was reel to reel, tape and cart machines and
(02:05):
stuff like that.
S1 (02:05):
What was your initial interest and motivation being part of
what is termed print handicapped radio?
S2 (02:11):
It was a two fold thing. I guess it was
being part of a service that provides, you know, incredible
information for people that are vision impaired. But it was
also just the fact that I really loved working on radio.
And it's I just find it a real buzz to
to combine the two things of being involved in a
(02:31):
fantastic community organization that provides a brilliant service and a
brilliant stream of information. Yes. Um, and, um, just me
having fun in being in the studio.
S1 (02:44):
That's great, because I just like to take this moment
to acknowledge the fabulous people that work on Vision Australia
Radio across Australia. They're all volunteers. They give their time
freely to assist people who otherwise wouldn't be able to
access the print news Information and other parts of the
(03:05):
world that people would normally read themselves.
S2 (03:09):
An interesting aspect I used to find as well when
I talked to people in Melbourne when I was over there, is, um,
you know, sighted people when I'd say, oh, I was
involved with, um, three PP and, and so forth. And
I said, I listen to that all the time because
I've never got time to read the paper in the morning.
So it's fantastic to, you know, sit in the car
and so forth.
S1 (03:26):
And so some people use it to help them learn English.
S2 (03:30):
Yeah. Yeah, absolutely.
S1 (03:31):
Now moving on to this week's program, Andrew. We've got
a fabulous program coming up for you all surrounding Deafblindness
and Deafblind Awareness Week, which revolves around the birthday of
Helen Keller. So the dates for Deaf Blindness Awareness Week
is 22nd of June to the 29th of June. And
(03:53):
here in Perth, we've got some great events happening to
acknowledge that, and our guests in the studio today will
explain all about that. But following up from a recent
interview that we did here with Rita Shillingford, Powell, who
is also deaf blind, we mentioned at the time a
(04:14):
woman from Western Australia, Vanessa, who happens to be in
Britain at the moment competing in a ballroom dancing event. Now, Andrew,
what was that event and what did Vanessa get up
to over there in England?
S2 (04:27):
Well, the event was the Blackpool Dance Festival. Yes, this
is a bit of a news flash. Nessa Vlajkovic and
her dance partner Simon have just won a major dancing
title at the Blackpool Dance Festival and it's not in
the vision impaired category, but in the mainstream events. So
this is an absolutely fantastic, wonderful achievement for any dancer.
(04:49):
This is a big deal because this competition is considered
the the Wimbledon of dance sport.
S1 (04:54):
And a shout out to all my friends that are
dancers on the different realms of dancing. And no, it
wasn't me who was the dance champion. I still haven't
made it down to the dance floor yet, people, but
I will one day. So the interview coming up, as
I said, revolves around Deafblind Awareness Week, which acknowledges Helen
(05:17):
Keller's birthday on the 26th of June. Obviously, for those
who don't know, Helen Keller was one of the most
famous deafblind people in the world and broke lots of
barriers and was groundbreaking in so many different ways. The
interviews we've got coming up are so very informative and
very interesting and lively, and I hope you enjoy, and
(05:39):
we'll introduce our guests in the studio to you now.
Thank you. Thanks for joining us once again on In
Plain Sight on Vision Australia Radio. This week we've got
a very special show for you lined up, and we're
all about celebrating Deafblind Week. And this week we have
(05:59):
two guests in the studio. One is Deb Cacic and
she is deaf blind, and the other one is Lindy Oliver,
and she is a communications guide who also supports people
who are deaf and blind. And I will start by
introducing Deborah Kasich to the audience now. Hi, Deb. How
are you going?
S3 (06:18):
Hi, Simon. Hi, everyone.
S1 (06:20):
Thanks for joining us. Deb, now, Deb, I'll start with
the bare basics. First, your deaf blind.
S3 (06:26):
Correct.
S1 (06:27):
Tell us about that. How? What is that condition caused
by my conditions?
S3 (06:31):
I was born deaf blind with syndrome because my mum
was pregnant with me. Caught German measles. It is with
down syndrome because she got German measles. My vision. I've
got limited sight in my left eye. No sight in
my right eye. My hearing is I can hear the sound.
(06:55):
And I wear hearing aids When I'm in their environment,
I use my roger pen.
S1 (07:03):
And what's that?
S3 (07:04):
It's the microphone that connects to my hearing aids. Oh, yes.
For those of you who doesn't know about the Roger pen. Mhm.
Many people who are deaf blind can use when they
go to a large environment, like for example, the hate
speech run for a reason.
S1 (07:21):
Yes.
S3 (07:21):
The Roger pen really helps me to focus on my
support worker or family member, whoever I was with on
that day.
S1 (07:32):
Righty o. Now you just mentioned Hbf run for a reason.
That's one of the many things that you do, Deborah.
I follow you on social media and you're very active
member of the deaf blind community and very active person
within our community in general. What do you do for work, Deb?
S3 (07:48):
I work at Sammy's in Canning Vale. On Mondays I
work in the canteen on Wednesdays and On Fridays. I
work in the warehouse.
S1 (07:59):
What's the warehouse?
S3 (08:01):
The warehouse is based in Canning Vale. We got a
whole range of jobs in the warehouse, and we march.
I do the folding the clothes in the factory, and
I make sure all my peers work colleagues are happy
with their job.
S1 (08:20):
Okay. How long have you been working there?
S3 (08:22):
19.5 years. This Christmas, I'll be there for 20 years.
S1 (08:27):
Wow. 20 years. Sounds like you enjoy that job.
S3 (08:31):
I'm currently on long service leave.
S1 (08:34):
Wow. Okay. And I know that you also do Toastmasters,
where you're learning public speaking and you are a public speaker.
Is that right?
S3 (08:44):
Correct.
S1 (08:44):
Tell me about that. What do you do there at Toastmasters?
For those who don't know what Toastmasters is.
S3 (08:50):
For those of you who don't know about Toastmasters, Toastmasters
is the group where we go and learn to do
public speaking. For example, when we do pathways speeches, we
do project and then to mark off our projects on
their base camp. And then we do our speeches, and
(09:10):
then we get back to you, by the way, to
provide feedback with combination, recommendation, combination.
S1 (09:21):
Why do you want to be a public speaker?
S3 (09:23):
Deb, the reason why I want to do Toastmasters is
to do public speaking, because I want to do presentations
at census and the Blind Information Australia so I can
present on technology and many other things.
S1 (09:37):
Because that's the main reason I want you in here,
because you are a very proud, hard working representative of
your deafblind community and you are a strong advocate for
people who are deaf, blind and the disability sector in general.
And I really find it fascinating and fabulous that you
work so hard at what you do. Deb, what motivates
(10:00):
you to be an advocate for deaf blind people?
S3 (10:03):
When I'm in my local community and I've seen some
of the places that are not accessible, and I get
out there and get strong advocate for the deaf blind community.
And I like my area to know, to understand that
many of our people who are deaf, blind.
S1 (10:21):
What are the main things you would like people to
know about being deaf blind?
S3 (10:26):
One of the main things I would like to see
the community to understand how to work with people who
are deaf, blind, like the support workers and guides and
health professionals. They need to know how to understand what
people who are deaf, blind?
S1 (10:44):
Yep. Being deaf blind. Are you able to use sign
language or Auslan as it's known?
S3 (10:51):
I know a few basic was learned just recently on
Sunday when we have our Metronet open line for the
Throne Line. I demonstrates a few items with our Premier
of Western Australia, Brian Cook, and he was so impressed
with me, with the with my Australian skills. And I
(11:12):
told him I'm coming on this show to thank you.
S1 (11:15):
Well done. And so do you use the touch sign language?
S3 (11:20):
Yeah, yeah I mainly use the general Auslan and and
we do dips as well. The CWA connect hub for
example we went to Busselton. I did a presentation in
Busselton and I did talk about technology and stuff like that.
And I've been getting into haptics by leaning that way.
(11:44):
I get more information in audience and engage.
S1 (11:47):
Yeah. Now I believe you attend what's known as the DB.
w a hub where people who are deaf blind go
to congregate and to meet up together and socialize and
to learn things. Do you do that? Deb?
S3 (12:04):
Yes, I do that. I started doing that since last
year because I cut down my work hours, and that
way I can attend and go learn.
S1 (12:15):
What are some of the things that you learned there, Deb?
S3 (12:17):
Auslan haptics. And we do crafts. We do presentations from
different various people in the community. Yeah, so much fun.
S1 (12:27):
With the Toastmasters that you're doing. What do you hope
to do once you get further ahead with that?
S3 (12:35):
I just wanted to compete in competitions at Toastmasters. We
do international speech contest. Yeah, and we do the evaluation
speech contest later in the year. We do the table
topics speech contest and we do the speech contest.
S1 (12:56):
That's fantastic. Now, I also believe that you are a
keen ballroom dancer. Deborah. Is that right?
S3 (13:03):
Correct.
S1 (13:04):
Tell me about that. Tell me about what you love
about ballroom dancing.
S3 (13:07):
I just love to go dancing. I like to go.
Do what?
S1 (13:11):
What's coming up soon?
S3 (13:13):
We got another dance competitions. I love to do competitions.
One of my favorite styles. I like to do ballroom.
I go to visibility on every second Tuesday and Como
Primary School on Saturdays for my lessons.
S1 (13:31):
And a shout out to all the ballroom fit people
out there, and to the man that gets mentioned a
lot on this program, Darryl Davenport, and to all his
dancers and supporters. They do a fantastic job with assisting
people with all different disabilities, including the deaf, blind and
the blind and everything in between. How long have you
(13:51):
been doing the ballroom dancing, Deb?
S3 (13:53):
I joined up ballroom community since 2021. Great community, great community.
Best community I've ever been to.
S1 (14:02):
Oh that's excellent. Now, I might bring in Lindy. Oliver now. Hi, Linda.
How are you?
S4 (14:08):
Hi, Simon. I'm good, thank you.
S1 (14:09):
Great that you could join us today on a really
busy time for you guys.
S4 (14:14):
Yeah. Happy to be here. Thank you.
S1 (14:15):
Now, I'll just start with the basics with you two. Lindy,
that you're a communications guide, is that right?
S4 (14:20):
A communication guide, yes.
S1 (14:22):
Can you tell us what that is?
S4 (14:23):
A communication guide is like a support worker, but with
specialized skills to work 1 to 1 with a person
who is deafblind. So we've done some additional training to
give us the skills to help people to safely navigate
around their environments, the skills to be able to give
them environmental information that they're missing out on, and communication
(14:45):
support as well.
S1 (14:46):
How long have you been doing that, Lindy?
S4 (14:47):
Oh, I was involved in the initial pilot project that
introduced communication guides to, um, Australia, and that was 14.5
years ago.
S1 (14:58):
Fabulous. And you're also involved with what I call Dvwa,
which is deafblind Western Australia. Is that right?
S4 (15:06):
Yes. That's right. I am very much involved. Yes.
S1 (15:09):
And you participate in these hubs that was just talking about.
S4 (15:12):
Uh, yes I do. I help support the haptic lessons
that we do there, and also support some of our
deafblind clients that come along to the hub.
S1 (15:22):
Now, Deb mentioned haptics a few times, and I've seen
it happen. I don't fully understand it. Can you tell
us what haptics are and how they work?
S4 (15:32):
Absolutely. Haptics are touch messages that are given on neutral
areas of the body that provide the person who is deaf, blind,
or a person who is blind as well, to receive
additional information that they're not receiving through their hearing loss
and their vision loss. So what sighted people and hearing
(15:52):
people can see and hear. We provide that information through
haptics to the deafblind person so we can give information about, like,
when Deb and I arrived here today, she wanted to
know what this room looked like. So I mapped that
out on her back for her to let her know
what the layout of the room was like, where she
was sitting in the room, and where everyone else was
(16:13):
positioned in relation to where she is as well. So
we can ask people if they want a cup of
tea or coffee without having to, you know, communicate that
verbally to them and you can just do seamless, um,
additional communication with the person through haptics, through the touch messages.
S1 (16:30):
So that's a separate thing to the fingerspelling for the
deafblind and the physical Auslan that you might also have
to do.
S4 (16:38):
Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. Haptics is not a language. It's a
communication tool that provides additional information. So it's not like
Islam where it's a full language, but it does use
some signs from Auslan for the touch messages.
S1 (16:54):
Just for those listening. A great example of this was
just recently on the ABC TV program The Piano, where
one of the people on that program who was playing
the piano is a deaf blind woman by the name
of Michelle Stephens. And the they showed how her assistance
communicated with her. And what it also showed was that
(17:17):
Michelle is a wonderful piano player and that music can
communicate with everybody, regardless of their ability or disability. And
it was a fabulous representation of deaf blindness in action.
S4 (17:29):
Yes.
S1 (17:31):
The other reason we've got you in, because it's Deaf
Blind Week coming up at the last week of June
to acknowledge Helen Keller's birthday. Yep. And DB, I've got
a special event that is being held at City Farm.
Can you tell us a little bit about what's happened there?
S4 (17:51):
Yes. Every year internationally, deafblind communities all over the world
celebrate Deafblind Awareness Week. And it does coincide with Helen
Keller's birthday the week of her birthday. So this year,
it's from the 22nd of June until the 29th of June.
And the event is all about connection and just celebrating
(18:11):
our community and the achievements of our community. So our
event is at Perth City Farm. At the event, members
of our deafblind community will be sharing their lived experiences
through a series of presentations on peer support and self-advocacy,
leadership and achievements. And we're having this really, really unique,
(18:32):
interactive experience session that will focus on deafblind awareness and
that will involve all our guests participating and just getting
that tiny moment of insight into what our people live
with each and every day. So we'll also be launching
our DWA. Young Leaders program, which is a fantastic new
initiative that's aimed at nurturing and supporting the next generation
(18:57):
of deafblind advocates and changemakers. But for our community, the
highlight of the community will be the unveiling of a
brand new tactile art collaboration we've been working on. So
over the last month we've been creating some fantastic concrete
stepping stones mosaicking them and those mosaic stepping stones that
(19:19):
our community members have all done will form part of
a lasting legacy that's being installed at Perth City Farm
and will be featured alongside our existing art installation, which
is a wonderful mosaic totem that we created our community
created for Deafblind Awareness Week in 2023. We would love
(19:41):
the broader community out there. Anyone who's listening to this
program to please go along to Perth City Farm and
have a look at this wonderful, wonderful piece of art
that our community has created and the addition to it
with the stepping stones. And you'll find some signs there
that you can, um, you know, scan some QR codes
that will lead you to some information about deafblind West Australians,
(20:05):
about what deaf blindness is. Lots of information that you
can access by going along to Perth City Farm and
seeing this fantastic art installation.
S1 (20:14):
How can people get involved if they want to, or
if they know someone who's deaf, blind for one, or
if they want to help and maybe volunteer or assist
with deaf blind West Australia and assist with maybe learning
Auslan or learning how to do the hat tricks for
people or help with the hub. How would people go
about doing something like that?
S4 (20:34):
Well, everyone is welcome at our um, DB connect hub
that we run at the Rise in Maylands, which is
on eighth Avenue. And that's every fortnight on a Wednesday
from 1230 to 3 p.m.. We welcome anyone to come
along and support our community. Or if people are wanting
to learn some Auslan. We have free Auslan lessons as well.
(20:56):
And we have haptic lessons once a month as well.
And we're always looking for volunteers in our community. And yeah,
we we welcome everybody. It's not just for people.
S1 (21:07):
Who.
S4 (21:07):
Are deafblind. Our hub is open to people who are blind,
people who are deaf, people who are hard of hearing.
People with any disabilities can come along. We just we're
so inclusive. It's not just about deafblind. We're part of
a bigger community out there.
S1 (21:23):
Indeed you are. And you're very welcoming to everybody in
and around that community as well. Now, Deborah, I'll ask you,
did you make one of the mosaics that will be
part of this installation at City Farm?
S3 (21:35):
Yes, it's part of that project as well. And I
really enjoyed doing that project.
S1 (21:39):
What did you make?
S3 (21:41):
I've I dumped a few tiles and made out of
clay hearts and white canes and hands. Whole range of things.
S1 (21:51):
Okay.
S4 (21:52):
And what did you do with your stepping stone that
you created, Deb?
S3 (21:56):
Some flowers and. Yeah, I don't do flowers because I
do it in the flowers, in my normal mosaics, in
my own personal mosaics.
S1 (22:07):
Okay. You do that for a hobby as well?
S3 (22:09):
Yeah.
S1 (22:10):
Okay, well, you are a busy woman, Deborah, because I
also know that on events like White Cane Day, you
like to give a presentation that you put on the
social media to to tell people the importance of white canes.
Can you use a white cane and what the different
white canes are for? That's right as well isn't it.
S3 (22:29):
Yeah. It's really important I raise awareness. Last year I
did white cane video about taking a cane on the holiday. Yes.
Can you spare one on the holiday? And I highly
recommend that you take a spare key with you when
you go on the holiday.
S1 (22:44):
Now time is quickly running away with us, everybody. So
we're going to have to, uh, wind up the conversation
very quickly. Um, I'll just go back to you again, Lenny.
Is there anything else you'd like us to know about? Firstly,
what's happening deaf Blind Week and what's happening for DB
now and in the future.
S4 (23:03):
Well, we have our like I mentioned, we have our
hub running fortnightly. We also have a pub lunch gathering
once a month, and it's, uh, very much led and
run by our community members. They tell us where they
want to go and that's where we go. And that, again,
is open to everybody. And we get, you know, some
amazing people come along to that from all walks of
(23:26):
life who have, you know, some have come and stuck
around and become very valuable members of our community. And
it's been absolutely wonderful to yeah, to do that.
S1 (23:35):
Tell us again more about the Young Leaders program that
you are trying to develop?
S4 (23:42):
Absolutely. So yeah, our Young Leaders program will be launched
at the Deafblind Awareness Week event. And yeah, it's it's
a really great initiative to sort of get some deafblind
youth involved and become the new changemakers and advocates of
our community. So we're reaching out to young people aged
(24:03):
between 18 to 35 who would like to be involved
in this program, and we want them to be involved
in co-designing, a program with the people from Dvwa who
are running the program. And yeah, it will all be
about upskilling them to go out there and, you know,
do presentations and to sort of get the word out
(24:24):
there about dvwa and deafblind awareness.
S1 (24:27):
And we'll definitely get someone in from that project to
come in to talk to us, because I'm not a
young person, and I like to find out about all
these things that are happening for the young people and
to see the great things that our upcoming leaders are achieving.
Because we've got great role models like Derek here who
are helping to lead the way and show us how
(24:48):
things could be and should be done. So, Deborah, what
would be the last message you'd like to tell people
before we have to say goodbye about being deafblind and
something that the general public should know?
S3 (25:00):
I would like the general public to understand that I
am deafblind. If you see a white cane, please give
me some time and space when you're out in your community.
I will put out another White Cane Day video later
in the year.
S1 (25:17):
I like what you said there. Give us time and space. Yes,
we talk about that a lot when we have blind
people in. Give us time and space and ask in
a polite way if we need assistance. Yeah, don't just
come up and grab people without asking them. And please
don't pat or interact with seeing eye dogs or guide dogs.
(25:39):
And what's the next thing that you're looking forward to,
Deb with DWA.
S3 (25:43):
I'm looking forward to doing more presentations going forward and
teaching people about the blind community and white canes.
S1 (25:53):
Well, thanks so much for joining us today, Debra. It's
been a delight to have you in the studio this week,
and you're really informative and a really good fun. Linda Oliver,
thank you for joining us this week as well. It's
been great. I'm sure people will get a lot from
our conversation. Thanks for joining us, Lynn.
S4 (26:10):
My pleasure. And yes, everyone head out to Perth City
Farm when you've got the chance. And yeah, find out
about deaf blind West Australians and become involved and have
a look at our fantastic art installation.
S1 (26:22):
I'm definitely going to check that off. Seen photos of
it and to go and look at it in person.
And I like the idea of it's a tactile sculpture. Yes.
S4 (26:30):
They're very tactile indeed. Yes. And the stepping stones as
well are very, very tactile, so people are welcome to
touch our art installation. It's not there just to be
looked at.
S1 (26:41):
Okay. Well that's it for this week folks. Thanks for
joining us and thanks so much for our two guests
in the studio this week. And thanks for Andrew Williams
for being my producer and panel operator today. Look forward
to speaking to you all next time. Bye for now.
S2 (27:04):
That concludes in Plain Sight for this week. Join us
at the same time next week on Vision Australia Radio,
VA radio Digital and online at VA Radio.com. You can
also listen on demand by searching for In Plain Sight
by Vision Australia Radio. Wherever you get your podcasts, or
ask your smart device to play in Plain sight by
(27:25):
Vision Australia Radio. Thanks for listening.
S1 (27:28):
Thank you.
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