S1: From Vision Australia. This is talking vision. And now here's
S1: your host Sam Colley.
S2: Hello, everyone. It's great to be here with you. And
S2: for the next half hour we talk matters of blindness
S2: and low vision.
S3: So one person will say this isn't accessible to me.
S3: It's not inclusive. I'm being excluded. And businesses aren't fixing
S3: it because they think it's one person and they go, well,
S3: there's not really a business case for me to do that.
S3: And even though that one person has a really valid voice,
S3: I thought, well, why can't we just get lots of voices?
S3: So where are all those voices? Let's combine them all
S3: together and really create those business cases.
S2: Welcome to the program. Coming up this week, we speak
S2: with the manager and founding director of an organization Giving
S2: people with disabilities the opportunity to voice their opinions and
S2: give feedback on products and services they use every day
S2: to make them more accessible and all around a more
S2: enjoyable experience. That conversation is coming up very shortly, so
S2: make sure to stick around. And then following on from that,
S2: I catch up with Jason Gibbs from Vision Australia Radio,
S2: who's here to tell us all about some upcoming events
S2: and shows that people can look forward to, such as
S2: the Bendigo Open Day on August the 16th and then
S2: to wrap up the program. Francis Callan joins us for
S2: a reader recommended, and we finish with a little bit
S2: of news and information. I hope you'll enjoy this week's
S2: episode of Talking Vision. Our first guest on Talking Vision
S2: this week is the manager and founding director of Noble Me,
S2: a market research company offering opportunities for people within the
S2: disability community to make their voices heard on the products
S2: and services that matter to them. Her name is Kelly
S2: Schultz and she joins me right now. Kelly, welcome to
S2: Talking Vision. Thanks so much for your time. Thank you so.
S3: Much for having me, Sam.
S2: Now, firstly, Kelly, let's get an overview of noble Me.
S2: What's it all about?
S3: Noble me is a disability focused market research company. So
S3: when you hear market research, it sounds a bit scary.
S3: It's like people using you for marketing purposes. But market
S3: research generally is about getting talking to people about what
S3: they want, what they like, what they love. And we
S3: focus on doing that with people with disability. So often
S3: in society, generally, we get asked, do can we use something?
S3: Is it accessible? Which is a perfectly reasonable question. But
S3: often when you're talking to people with disability, that's all
S3: they get. They don't get the do you love it?
S3: Would you buy it? You know, that kind of extra
S3: bit about actually that our opinions have value. And so
S3: nobody is trying to bridge that gap between accessibility and lovability.
S2: Was there any particular reason why you started Noble Me?
S2: Was there one sort of thing that sort of jumped
S2: out that you thought, nah, this isn't good enough, we
S2: need to change this? Or was it sort of a
S2: series of things, or maybe feedback you'd gotten from other
S2: people in the disabled community. Things like that.
S3: I think it came from this whole thing of we
S3: always have to prove why we're worth changing things for.
S3: And often that comes from one voice, which is perfectly
S3: valid voice. So one person will say, this isn't accessible
S3: to me, it's not inclusive, I'm being excluded, and businesses
S3: aren't fixing it because they think it's one person and
S3: they go, well, there's not really a business case for
S3: me to do that. And even though that one person
S3: has a really valid voice, I thought, well, why can't
S3: we just get lots of voices? So where are all
S3: those voices? Let's combine them all together and really create
S3: those business cases. So it's about having as many voices
S3: as possible, passing off their opinions and going, yes, this
S3: is my feedback. And sometimes that feedback is the same
S3: as other people in the same situation. And sometimes it's different.
S3: So not just being one voice and really creating that
S3: movement that says to businesses, hey, there's actually lots of
S3: people who want you to change and want you to
S3: be better.
S2: And for people out there who are listening from the
S2: blind and low vision community, they're probably nodding their heads
S2: vigorously and thinking, oh my God. Yep, that's absolutely something
S2: I'm really keen to get involved with. Absolutely. I agree 100%.
S2: So how can members of the blind and low vision
S2: community sign up to, you know, share their experiences?
S3: As with most things these days, we've got a website
S3: which is knowable and knowable is actually spelt k n
S3: o w a b l e, as in everyone is,
S3: can be known and is knowable and is worth knowing.
S3: So knowable. Me is the website and there's a sign
S3: up on the website. But to be as accessible as possible,
S3: you can also email us research at knowable Me or
S3: even give us a call 043518, double five, double seven.
S2: And Kelly. Why is it so important that people who
S2: are blind or have low vision in particular, do get
S2: involved with knowable me and provide their feedback and experiences?
S3: Honestly, people with blindness and low vision are the most
S3: in demand for our research, and I think that comes
S3: from it being such a different experience to a lot
S3: of people in the world. We know the world is
S3: incredibly visual and relies on, you know, information that that
S3: people get visually. And so our the blind community are
S3: very much in demand for our research because they have
S3: such a unique experience, but also because they can be
S3: disproportionately impacted by inaccessibility. And so because that impact is
S3: so big, we really need the community to come and
S3: join us to share their insights.
S2: And of course, people can earn some cash through knowable Me.
S2: So that's quite exciting. Tell us a bit about the
S2: process there. And you know how people can really sort
S2: of provide feedback and get that in return.
S3: Well, once again, so often people with disability are expected
S3: to give their opinions for free. We want it because
S3: we want to help make the world more accessible. So
S3: we should want to give that out, right? But I
S3: don't think anyone should have to do that for nothing.
S3: It's actually really valuable experience and insight. So everything that
S3: we do that is done by one of our clients
S3: that is paid for by our clients. And so therefore
S3: we pass on into rewards for each of those activities.
S3: So an online survey might only take you 5 or
S3: 10 minutes and is worth 5 or $10. We might
S3: do some mystery shopping, which we're doing at the moment.
S3: Those are $30. And sometimes we do in-depth interviews that
S3: can go for an hour, and some of those are $100.
S3: So there's lots of different opportunities to participate from around
S3: Australia in lots of different ways.
S2: Oh, wow, that's really cool. And, um, since you started
S2: knowable me? What are the sort of positive outcomes you've
S2: seen since the platform kicked off?
S3: One of the big ones is just the sense of, oh,
S3: we didn't even know that feedback was possible. And people,
S3: clients coming to us and saying, it's just so valuable.
S3: They'd never thought of it before, never got such in-depth
S3: detail before because we can talk to multiple people. So,
S3: you know, they say when you've talked to one blind person, well,
S3: you've talked to one blind person, you don't necessarily know
S3: that the experience is different for everybody. And so being
S3: able to talk to multiple people, they get multiple different experiences.
S3: And that comes from all of our different experiences in
S3: the world. And so things have changed. Some of them
S3: are confidential because they're our clients. But products have changed
S3: as a result of the feedback that's been provided. We've
S3: had a few startups come through who are now putting
S3: tactile elements onto their products because they've heard from people
S3: that we've spoken to. So it's a it's it's young,
S3: we're still quite young, but really feel like we're having
S3: an impact.
S2: What are some of the upcoming ways that people can
S2: get involved and provide their feedback and experiences?
S3: Well, like I said, right now, mystery shopping is the
S3: big thing. And for people who don't know, mystery shopping
S3: means you go into a shop and pose as a customer.
S3: We give you a task to do, and maybe that's
S3: asking a question from staff or finding a particular product
S3: on a shelf, and you then fill in a survey
S3: that tells us how your experience was, how your how
S3: the staff treated you, whether the store was accessible, how
S3: was the layout, how was the lighting, did it smell
S3: funny in there? You know, all of those sorts of
S3: things that you might notice. Um, so that's coming up
S3: at the moment. There's also a range of things in
S3: the pipeline. Not all of them I can talk about yet,
S3: but we've definitely got some more interviews, in-depth interviews coming
S3: up which are quite long and quite well paid. So
S3: anyone who's got time to sit and talk, to talk
S3: to our researchers, um, are going to be a big
S3: benefit coming up.
S2: All right. And of course, to check all of that out,
S2: you can head to the Noble Me website, which Kelly
S2: has given just before. But, um, as we wrap up, Kelly, um,
S2: why don't you give that website again, just one more
S2: time for people out there?
S3: That's noble dot me k n o w a b
S3: l e dot m e.
S2: And also we'll get that email and phone number again.
S3: Email is research at noble me and the phone number 0435185.
S3: Double seven.
S2: Perfect. Okay. Well I've been speaking today with Kelly Schultz,
S2: founder and managing director of Noble Me, making products and
S2: services accessible for everybody within the disability community. Kelly, thank
S2: you so much for your time today. It was great
S2: to catch up with you and hear all about noble May. Thanks, Sam.
S2: I'm Sam Kelly and you're listening to Talking Vision on
S2: Vision Australia Radio, Associated Stations of Reading Radio and the
S2: Community Radio Network. I hope you enjoyed that conversation there
S2: with Kelly Schultz from Noble Me. If you missed any
S2: part of that conversation with Kelly or you'd love to
S2: listen to it again. Talking vision is available on the
S2: Vision Australia Radio website at RVA radio.org. That's RVA radio
S2: or one word.org. You can also find the program on
S2: the podcast app of your choice or through the Vision
S2: Australia library. Coming up now, we bring the show a
S2: lot closer to home with an update on the latest
S2: happenings around Vision Australia Radio. There's some exciting things coming up,
S2: like new shows and events such as the Bendigo Open Day,
S2: which is kicking off in just a couple of days time.
S2: So to tell us all about the latest news and
S2: things to get excited about in the future, it's my
S2: great pleasure to welcome back a long time favourite of
S2: ours on Talking Vision Jason Gibbs. Jason, welcome back to
S2: Talking Vision. Great to have you.
S4: Thanks, Sam. It's nice to be here outside of radiothon time.
S4: Certainly is.
S2: But, um, speaking of, we're into a new financial year now, Jason.
S2: And so what does that mean from your side of things?
S4: Yeah, we get a little bit of excited, a bit
S4: excited about financial year at Vision Australia Radio, because so
S4: much of what we do relies on funding to come
S4: in some shape or form. Our sponsors, our grants that
S4: we can, you know, get access to our wonderful donors,
S4: that all it all keeps us on air. So, yeah,
S4: so we've been very, uh, you know, having to be
S4: very strategic about what the next financial year will look like,
S4: like everybody else.
S2: What are some exciting things coming up that listeners can
S2: look forward to on the Vision Australia radio? It really is.
S4: That exciting time of the year, I think for for
S4: Vision Australia Radio. Sam, because as we get past the
S4: middle point of the year, we start to look towards
S4: White Cane Day on October 15th, which we always use
S4: as a, I guess, a platform to promote and celebrate
S4: the wonderful things that happen in the blind and low
S4: vision community. Celebrating its triumphs. You know, really thinking about
S4: things that you know, the community still needs to be
S4: able to excel at what they do. We go forward
S4: a little bit further to Disability Sports and Recreation Festival,
S4: which we're usually involved in on International Day of People
S4: Living with Disability. Always a great opportunity to celebrate inclusion
S4: in sport. We've got our audio described Carols by Candlelight
S4: on Christmas Eve. So many wonderful things happening and a
S4: few exciting content projects as well. I could share if
S4: you want.
S2: Oh, that would be lovely. Very keen to hear about
S2: them and I'm sure the listeners will be keen to,
S2: you know, have a listen to some new programs. So
S2: they do have their favourites, but it's always good to
S2: mix it up a bit.
S4: Yeah. Well it's hard to trump talking vision. I'll do
S4: my best. But I have been involved in this project
S4: which is just about to launch. So you will absolutely
S4: hear more about this if you subscribe to Vision Australia
S4: newsletters or are a keen visitor of VA radio. Org.
S4: Our website. It's a wellness podcast, so there are seven
S4: episodes and aligns with our wellness team at Vision Australia,
S4: and it basically shares tips and tricks on how to
S4: support yourself from a mental and physical health perspective. So
S4: these are seven episodes. I'm the host of one of
S4: the episodes, Sam, and then six others from the Wellness Team,
S4: our client services team at Vision Australia. Interview and interview
S4: a range of guests have some wonderful thoughts on how
S4: we can support our mental and physical health. Sharing that
S4: lived experience of blindness and low vision. Diagnosis. The things
S4: that went through their head at time, at the time
S4: of being diagnosed with low vision or blindness, and how
S4: Vision Australia's services and other supports across the community got
S4: them through and helped them excel at what they do.
S4: It's been such a nice series to be involved in,
S4: Sam and I can't wait for people to listen to it.
S2: Okay, now let's get the name of that podcast and
S2: give us a bit of a recap on how people
S2: can access that when that does come out.
S4: Sure thing. Sam, you may have already heard. If you
S4: do listen regularly to Vision Australia Radio, our 62nd Mindful
S4: Minute update. So they're usually scattered across the day at
S4: different times, and they're a chance for people to just
S4: sit back, take a step back and just get a
S4: little bit mindful, in touch with themselves for 60s and
S4: think about their breathing and chair, yoga and all sorts
S4: of things like that. And this series, this podcast series
S4: carries on for that. So the series is called also my.
S4: It's also called Mindful Minutes. So it's a mindful minutes
S4: podcast seven episodes. It'll be accessible via our homepage via
S4: radio.org and also available on all the major platforms like Google,
S4: Amazon Music, Apple and of course, Spotify. So wherever you
S4: get your podcasts, you'll be able to search Vision Australia
S4: Radio Mindful Minutes and you'll be able to have a listen.
S2: Perfect. And speaking of that website and different ways for
S2: people to donate, it does help so much people when
S2: they give. It just means so much to us and
S2: enables us to really do what we do. Jason, it's
S2: so important and we can't stress how grateful we are
S2: for every donation that does come in and every little
S2: bit does help. So again, what's the best way for
S2: people to donate? If they have a listen and they
S2: like what they hear, what's the best way to get
S2: involved and give a donation?
S4: Yeah, thanks for the question, Sam. It's always worth reminding
S4: people that we are a not for profit community radio network.
S4: We achieve great things, but with that comes many overheads.
S4: So I think our costs, you know, for the next
S4: 12 months, will exceed $2.2 million, even though we've got
S4: 600 wonderful volunteers helping us out, a very small team
S4: of staff. It's always great to have a plug for donations.
S4: And yeah, the best way to do that is by
S4: going to VA radio. Org and click on a few
S4: tabs there, donate links and you can then choose if
S4: you'd like to be a regular donor and you can
S4: set an amount yourself. It might be $5 a month,
S4: it might be $100 a month. Whatever you are comfortable
S4: with giving and able to. Or it might just be
S4: a one off donation. And the good news is that
S4: both options are tax deductible. So if you're a regular
S4: giver and you give the same amount every month, at
S4: the end of the financial year, you'll get your tax
S4: receipt and it'll help you with your tax. If it's
S4: a one off donation, you'll also get a receipt.
S2: That's right. And that's any donation of $2 or above.
S2: So quite a few of them out there. Definitely tax deductible.
S2: So yeah it's a great little bonus there. Now something
S2: really exciting that's coming up very shortly for our regional
S2: listeners in the Bendigo region. There's um, there's an open
S2: day and an open door that's going on in Bendigo.
S2: So tell us a little bit about the details there.
S4: Yeah. You know post-Covid we're trying to connect with our
S4: community a little bit more than we were able to
S4: do during that pandemic period. And you might remember that
S4: last year we opened the doors of our Albury studios,
S4: which was a great event. We're doing the same in
S4: Bendigo this Friday, so the 16th of August from 930
S4: till 1130. So it's a great opportunity if you are
S4: in Bendigo or nearby areas, to come along to our
S4: studios at 20 Bridge Street in Bendigo and learn what
S4: we do, mix with the volunteers, get to meet some
S4: of us, the staff, and get a grasp of how
S4: you know what you hear on the radio actually comes
S4: out through the microphone in the studio. Sit down, get
S4: comfy in the studio, have some snacks, have a bit
S4: of a banter, maybe learn about volunteering. It should be
S4: a really fun day. I'm really looking forward to it.
S4: I'm going to leave Deer Park at 630 in the morning,
S4: and I'm going to be there by 830 because I'll
S4: just be knocking on the window waiting for the studio
S4: to open. Yeah. Oh.
S2: Super committed. Love that commitment, Jason. Oh that's fantastic. And, Jason,
S2: if people want to head along to that open day,
S2: what's the best way for them to RSVP?
S4: If you want to RSVP for that, all you need
S4: to do is go to our Facebook page. So just
S4: search for facebook.com/v e radio network. Or of course just
S4: search for Vision Australia Radio and you'll find our Facebook page.
S4: The event is pinned to the top of the page
S4: and if you are attending, we'll know that you're going
S4: to be there. I'll make sure there's plenty of food
S4: for you.
S2: I've been speaking today with one of our favorites on
S2: Talking Vision. Jason Phillips from Vision Australia Radio. It's always
S2: great to chat with you, Jason, and hear what's going
S2: on in the world of Vision Australia Radio very shortly
S2: and into the future.
S4: And don't forget, Sam, you're my mum's favourite number one fan.
S2: Oh that's lovely. We'll say hello to her for me.
S2: It's always great to hear when you've got another fan
S2: out there.
S4: Thanks, Sam.
S2: And now here's Frances Kelland with a reader recommended.
S5: The reader recommended today is by Sterling comedian Amanda Keller.
S5: The book is Natural Born Keller, My Life and other
S5: Palava by turns hilarious and moving. Amanda Keller takes us
S5: on a nostalgia filled journey through her life, from her
S5: childhood in sunny Brisbane to her daggy teen years in
S5: suburban Sydney, then on to heady college days in Bathurst,
S5: where wine was called claret and came in a box,
S5: and finally to establishing a stellar career in TV and radio.
S5: Along the way, she falls in love with a nice
S5: Kiwi boy who becomes her husband, and she tells the
S5: story of the arrival of their two hard won sons,
S5: but without too many icky bits. Amanda also takes us
S5: behind the scenes of her TV career, from the challenge
S5: of turning on a typewriter at Simon Townsend's Wonder World
S5: to the fun of traveling the globe for beyond 2000.
S5: Despite having no scientific background and absolutely no sense of direction.
S5: More recently, she was able to officially represent an entire
S5: generation on Talkin Bout Your Generation and share a couch
S5: with three blokes and the odd snake on the living room.
S5: Amanda loves the wireless and looks back on 20 years
S5: of radio. From sharing a mic with Andrew Denton on
S5: Triple M to topping the breakfast show ratings with Jonesy. Vivid,
S5: funny and hugely entertaining, Natural Born Killer will have you
S5: laughing out loud, nodding in recognition and occasionally bawling uncontrollably
S5: in a cathartic sort of way. Let's hear a sample
S5: of Natural Born Killer. My Life and Other Palava by
S5: Amanda Keller, narrated for the Vision Australia Library.
S6: To me, this picture sums up my early childhood two
S6: nuclear parents, two nuclear children. We were living in Brisbane
S6: and my memories of the time are of sunshine, picnics
S6: and stability. They were truly happy days. I know I'm
S6: wearing my pants a little high in this pic, but
S6: apparently that was my preference. Two years older than me.
S6: My brother Cameron is the one lounging rakishly in a
S6: Hawaiian shirt next to dad. As a kid, I thought
S6: my mom was the prettiest of all the mums though
S6: as I and she got older, I realized she actually
S6: looked a lot like the Queen. My dad, I reckoned,
S6: looked like JFK. So handsome. I guess that made me
S6: a heady mixture of Caroline Kennedy and Princess Anne. I
S6: loved the way my hand is resting on mum's shoulder.
S6: She was such a committed mother. She never said, do
S6: it yourself. She would still peel apples for me well
S6: into my 30s. She folded socks in such a way
S6: that they were ready for your toes to slide in.
S6: She thought everything could be fixed by either eating a
S6: mashed banana or applying a mystery ointment called borax. Mum,
S6: my arm's falling off. Pop some borax on it and
S6: I'll mash you a banana that'll stick to your ribs.
S6: She described all food as is nourishing, which I think
S6: best describes her to other mums, me included. Tell their
S6: kids to sort out their sibling fights themselves, but mum
S6: would always calmly wade in and apply reason. I went
S6: through a phase of taunting my brother Cameron with constant
S6: rounds of Cameron's name is Shirley. Hurtful I know. Cameron
S6: would naturally enough, react by instantly flying into an apoplectic rage.
S6: Instead of dragging us outside and calling us idiots as
S6: I would have done, mum would merely say in a
S6: measured voice, Cameron, ignore your sister. You know your name
S6: isn't Shirley.
S5: So that was Natural Born Killer by Amanda Keller. If
S5: you would like to listen to that book, or if
S5: you would like to find out how to join the
S5: library and get access to over 40,000 audiobooks and books
S5: in Braille as well, you can always call them on 1300 654 656.
S5: That's 1300 654 656. Or you can email the library at Vision Australia. Org.
S5: That's library at Vision Australia. Org.
S2: Are you a woman over 50 with vision loss? Join
S2: us for a cancer screening information session to learn about breast,
S2: cervical and bowel cancer screening. Your questions will be answered
S2: about mammograms, home test kits and more. Speak to people
S2: from Cancer Council Victoria and Breastscreen Victoria and explore accessible
S2: at home test kits, plus access large font and braille
S2: brochures that events. Thursday, August the 29th from 10 a.m.
S2: to 12 p.m. at Cancer Council Victoria on 200 Victoria
S2: Parade in East Melbourne. It's a free event and to
S2: register you can ring 039802876. That's. 03 9800 2876 or email Miriam
S2: at blind Sports.org dot edu. That's Miriam at Blind Sports.
S2: All one word.org.edu. And in other news, this week Frankston
S2: District Basketball Association is delighted to announce that due to
S2: popular demand, they've added two more sessions to this term's
S2: blind and low vision basketball program. The new remaining dates
S2: are the 3rd of September and the 10th of September,
S2: from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Frankston Basketball
S2: Stadium at 90 Bardia Avenue in Seaford. 3198 on court, two.
S2: And that's all the time we have for today. You've
S2: been listening to Talking Vision. Talking vision is a Vision
S2: Australia radio production. Thanks to all involved with putting the
S2: show together every week. And remember, we love hearing from you.
S2: So please get in touch any time on our email
S2: at Talking Vision. At Vision australia.org. That's talking vision all
S2: one word at Vision australia.org. But until next week it's
S2: Sam Collins saying bye for now.
S1: You can contact Vision Australia by phoning us anytime during
S1: business hours on 1300 847 406. That's one (300) 847-4106 or by visiting
S1: Vision australia.org. That's Vision australia.org.