Link February 2017 Volume 26 Issue 1 | Page 19

He also became involved with the university ’ s Student Equity and Disability Support service , where he was surprised to learn that most students with disability and access issues didn ’ t tell anybody .
” Only 10 per cent of people with disabilities enrolled at uni disclose they have a disability . You can ’ t voice an opinion if you ’ re not disclosing . Information access is even more important if you have a disability ,” he said .
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Jack ’ s readiness to open up about his access issues had other benefits ; his natural communication skills , combined with his strong persuasive abilities , had not gone unnoticed and he landed a job with the university ’ s Student Equity , Support and Disability Service as a project officer .
Vision Australia swiftly picked him up in their graduate program , where he has been employed for the past 12 months , and more recently , Sydney company Media Access head-hunted him for a sales and business development role .
Jack was also invited to present at the 2016 World Continence Week launch , where he spoke about the powerful impact of adaptive technologies on the lives of people with disabilities . He also commended the Continence Foundation of Australia for its initiatives in providing greater disability access to its resources , such as adaptive technologies for online and webbased resources and the development of Easy English fact sheets .
Jack encouraged anyone with access issues to “ be brave and open up ” about their disability .
“ Be open . State what you need and get the required support . People don ’ t know what you need until you tell them . No-one ’ s going to read your mind .”
We can assist you to find the right person quickly and efficiently , as South Australia ’ s only Deaf and hearing impaired specialist employment service provider .
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Jack ’ s address at the launch of World Continence Week in June , 2016 , can be viewed at tiny . cc / jacktyrrell . For advice on continence issues call the free National Continence Helpline on 1800 33 00 66 .
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