employment
“It’s up to us to get out there and
raise the bar, but to do that, we need
to be seen.”
Mal Turnbull (pictured far left) ran
assistive technology company Seating
Dynamics Ltd (SDL), which was bought
by global leader Permobil in 2015.
Mal is now Senior Advisor and
Ambassador for Permobil Australia.
“It’s up to us
to get out
there and
raise the bar,
but to do
that, we need
to be seen.”
He believes business owners with
disability bring unique insights while
also helping to drive accessibility and
inclusiveness.
“In my own experience in the
assistive technology industry,
wheelchair users who started
their own businesses have been
instrumental in driving innovation
and product development,” Mal said.
“For me, being a business owner
highly flexible, part-time employment more than employees who are simply has given me the opportunity to
to Paralogic staff, and this means grateful for any job we’re offered.” grow in self-confidence, financial
they can live lives that wouldn’t be She said physical barriers are possible otherwise. It doesn’t get still common issues for people with SDL was established in 1997
much better than this.” disability in Australian work places. and in 2001, Mal was offered an
Despite her success, Anne-
opportunity to purchase a share in
Marie still faces barriers – mostly places still lack accessible parking, the company. By 2015, when SDL
attitudinal ones – as a business an accessible bathroom, and many was acquired by Permobil, it had
owner with disability. simply just have stairs. There is also grown from small beginnings to be
a great lack of roles with flexible a significant force in the Australian
Anne-Marie had a part-time job. For working hours, part-time work or assistive technology industry.
three years, she would go into her options to work from home,” she said.
When she started Paralogic,
“We were the biggest TiLite
day job, sneak into the conference “Overall, I think attitudes are dealer outside of North America, our
room to return customer calls, and the biggest issue. Employers don’t ROHO sales continued to gain awards
then drive home in the afternoon, know what’s involved in employing for growth, we were the biggest
pack orders and take them to the someone with a disability, and there’s SmartDrive dealer outside of North
post office in a big sack on the back this idea that someone else will take America, and we had other leading
of her wheelchair, often with boxes care of it, maybe the government or brands such as BodyPoint in our
on her lap as well. bigger corporates. But small business portfolio. We sold the business at a
accounts for almost 50 per cent of price that was good enough to secure
woman with a disability was doing all employment in Australia and most of our future. By any measure SDL was a
of this,” she said. these businesses are not accessible. resounding success!” Mal said.
“People were surprised that a
“We all know that expectations
42
“The vast majority of work
security and resilience.”
This needs to change, and as
Mal said he loved being a
about our capabilities are far too employers we need to take ownership business owner, but there were
low. But we can, and should be, a lot of making this happen. inevitable challenges.
employment
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