Each member of our team is passionate about the role we play in making a positive impact in the community. Learn more about the people behind the passion and what makes them proud to be part of the work we do.
Introducing Assunta
Being of Italian background, I spend a lot of time surrounded by family and friends, usually over a meal comprising of multiple main courses, the espresso coffee often served twice. I had a regular upbringing, sharing chores with my siblings while my parents worked full time. I was often looked after by my grandparents, or as we call them in Italian, Nonno and Nonna. I had a passion for soccer as a teenager. I also enjoyed watching the World Cup on Lygon Street many times and played into my early twenties – both indoor and outdoor.
My first job was as a casual administration assistant at a government-funded registered training organisation while completing my Bachelor of Business (Computer Systems Support). This position introduced me to – and had me in love with – the training and development sector. Within 4 years, I became the National Administration/IT Manager of the organisation. It was particularly rewarding to see students with additional needs, such as low literacy skills, complete their traineeships as a result of simplified learner materials, different communication platforms or additional supports. This opened my
eyes to the importance and of reasonable adjustments.
How has your professional life changed since losing your sight?
I began to lose my eyesight in my late 20s. Now 13 years later, I am totally blind and have been so for 3 years. Upon initial vision loss, I took a career break to adjust to my new way of life – legally blind. It was challenging and at times overwhelming, but now
at the other end of the tunnel I am so extremely grateful for technology, all my little gadgets and endless support from family
and friends.
I re-entered the corporate world as someone with low vision, using screen magnification. I began with freelance work in all things digital: websites, tailored Customer Relationship Management and anything in-between. As time progressed, it was becoming more and more evident that digital accessibility was a topic people didn’t understand, were fearful of or didn’t think was important as it served the minority of digital platform users. I returned to the classroom and gained a qualification in digital accessibility to kick start what I hope is my final transition – a career of digital inclusion and accessibility. Having worked as a fully sighted person in the information and communications technology sector, I am acutely aware of the way digital technology can and should work, in comparison to how it's presently designed, developed and deployed.
I believe one of the greatest benefits of living currently is that almost everything can be done remotely. In addition to being convenient and efficient, services in accessible formats are essential for someone like me who has a disability and chooses to live an independent life full of choice and control.
What is the most valuable lesson you have learned?
The most valuable lesson that both my professional and personal journey has taught me is that any goal and outcome can be achieved with the right attitude, tools and commitment. When I had low vision, I solely relied on a magnifying glass I carried around in my pocket, using it to assist with everything from the dial on the oven to mobile phone use. Now, as a person who is totally blind, I function more efficiently and effectively and am doing so much more than I was as a person with low vision. This is because of assistive technology, support services and devices. I bring this experience and attitude to the amazingly talented team at the Information Access Group, as we work together to educate and enhance digital end-user experiences and break down accessibility barriers.
You originally started learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as a form of self-defence. What does it mean to you now?
Brazilian Jujitsu came recommended to me by the broader vision impaired community as a good format of martial arts and
self-defence training after a few incidents in the community had me concerned about my personal safety. I had never participated in any format of sports as a vision impaired or blind person. After 8 weeks of one-on-one with the trainer, he mortified me by telling me I was ready to join the regular training group – a group consisting largely of men except for one female, all substantially physically larger in size than myself and all fully sighted.
I now have a deep appreciation and respect for the sport. It has taught me vital concepts like body size is not the determining factor of submission. Instead, it’s a combination of timing, technique and force. Additionally, Brazilian Jujitsu proves that muscle power will not guarantee a positive outcome – disturbing your opponent’s post or posture does most of the muscle work for you. I am tremendously grateful for the many ways Brazilian Jujitsu has helped change my life. From keeping fit and active, to making new friends, socialising and restoring my sense of personal safety. Being one strike away from my blue belt is a bonus!
What is your role at the Information Access Group?
I am the Inclusion Advisor at the Information Access Group. The main function of my position is to research and test digital content for accessibility, ensuring it is perceivable, operational, understandable and robust when accessed with my assistive technology tool – a screen reader. Other methods of digital interaction such as PC navigation via keyboard and other physical disability aids are also considered in accessible design. I participate and provide feedback in meetings, webinars and discussions about digital accessibility.
What do you find most rewarding about the work you do at the Information Access Group?
Many organisations are unfamiliar with digital accessibility, and those who are aware of it often don’t have the correct understanding of the simple ways digital content can be made more accessible. I am ecstatic when an organisation chooses to invest their time in understanding and implementing accessible approaches following a discussion with the Information Access Group. It means that continual improvements are being made and future user experiences will be better, enabling those people who rely on accessible systems to live a life of choice and control as I do.
Aside from being an active person, you love to garden. What are you growing now?
As its name states, my planting of rocket seeds took off in a blink! My vegetable patch is booming with zucchinis and silver beat. The cos lettuce, basil and spinach are wrapping up, and for some bizarre reason this year’s capsicums and tomatoes are in ‘mini’ mode. The pumpkin vines are growing metres long and protruding out of the vegie patch onto the lawn. Hopefully the actual pumpkins will start growing soon. The sunflowers I have grown from seeds are also wrapping up. Overall, the perennial gerberas win my heart!
Why do you think it’s important for organisations to test their materials with people with lived experience of disability?
I believe there are reasons why customers are asked to ‘take a quick survey at the end of the call’, why hospitals have Consumer Advisory Committees and why there are thumbs up or thumbs down rating and comments. They are all used to gain insights of end-user experiences. The best way to understand the needs of your end users is by asking them, not presuming their needs, struggles or improvement suggestions. It’s impossible to fully understand the ways people with disability interact with digital content. The best way to gain insights is by getting them involved in the conversation.
Why are you passionate about digital accessibility?
It’s a very simple answer: when things work as they should, I am not restricted to requiring support services to complete tasks I would like to and should be able to complete independently. Take for example a supermarket app. I wake up in the morning forgetting I finished the milk and eggs on a cake the previous day. If the app doesn’t work, I certainly won’t be having scrambled eggs on toast for breakfast. Or think about a transport app, like Uber. If I can’t book the ride or message my driver to park in my driveway upon arrival, I won’t be able to meet my friends at our favourite cafe in the city.
What some people consider a luxury – like a supermarket shopping app – are useful to some, but essential for independent living for someone like me with a disability.
Its extraordinarily frustrating to have a bachelor’s degree in computing and distinction grades in a digital accessibility course yet have to spend so much time gaining extra supports because I can’t interact with certain digital elements, such as non-interactable buttons on a website or inaccessible PDF forms. Very frequently I find myself explaining to service providers that their perception that I am not able to interact with their digital platforms or materials is not an issue related to blindness, it’s their inaccessible systems. I believe my contributions to this space has the capacity to educate others who have limited understanding on the topic, and to contribute to improvements in working towards a more digital inclusive world for all.
You’ve been playing the drums since you were in
high school – how have you found ways to continue playing?
In high school, I learnt to play percussion instruments. Our school band consisted of woodwind and brass instruments, including trombones and trumpets, and often played music to the tune of Beethoven.
Growing up in a household with 3 siblings was noisy enough, so I had to wait until I moved into my own home to purchase my own instruments and continue as a hobby. I left behind the bongos, rattles and xylophone, drove myself in my beloved Jeep to pick up a bargain second-hand drumkit I found advertised on the now very outdated ‘Trading Post’.
As my eyesight deteriorated, I found it more and more difficult to follow learning channels, such as YouTube and PDF sheet music, to maintain my skills and learn new ones. So I reached out to a few YouTubers I followed at the time, explained my circumstances and asked them to supplement their visual videos with verbal descriptions so they were more inclusive, not just for me, but for all. A few did, so I still follow them to this day. I contribute to inclusive spaces, like Blind Citizens Australia’s music recording group. We have recorded many fabulous tracks in this group, ranging from tributes to Tina Turner to Christmas carols.
What has been the hardest, or most frustrating, experience about losing your eyesight?
Learning how to function as a person with a disability in my late 20s was a challenge I thought I would never overcome.
Not having known anyone with a disability made the concept in my head seem almost impossible to achieve. But harder than learning a way to identify everything – from my clothing to the different products in my shower rack, to keeping safe in a kitchen full of hot pots and pans – was people’s reactions and changed behaviour towards me upon discovering I was vision impaired or blind. I have had 3 or so years of being totally blind, but every new occurrence still surprises me to this day.
Customer service representatives often respond to the support person standing beside me when they answer my verbal question. They will also often answer in third person, such as ‘Does she have a Medicare Card?’ or ‘Does she want white or black?’. At the end of meetings, I’ve also had people feel the need to locate my support person waiting in the other room and inform them of the discussions we have just had, regardless of their context or what may be private and confidential. I often fold away my white cane when shopping as I like to feel objects – often my white cane is the only way you will visually be able to tell that I am blind. I could be minutes into a conversation about a product or service, and upon asking for an adjustment to cater for my blindness their response becomes slow and louder, as though I have suddenly developed a cognitive or hearing disability.
It's understandable that people with disability are the minority of people in society, but it doesn’t excuse presumptions that all people with disability are of the same level or incompetent. These situations are difficult to repeatedly deal with, but I now use it as an opportunity to politely educate, often sending the organisation correspondence of my experience and what they could do to make sure it does not happen in future. This fuels my passion for advocacy and working towards better digital experience for people with disability – a sector that needs much attention.
You recently competed in the 2024 Sport Climbing Australia Para climbing National Championships in Sydney. Can you tell us about para-climbing and your future goals?
I was sent an email about adaptive sports, which had an upcoming ‘come and try’ rock climbing day. This struck my brain as perfect – a tactical wall, the safety of a harness and no visuals to remind me of my fear of heights. I got the attention of a fellow vision impaired climber at my local climbing gym who encouraged para competitions. Eighteen months later I found myself at the national competitions in Sydney.
Today I am 1 of 12 para rock climbers who make up the Australian team. Our first training camp is in Sydney next month. The goal is to work hard, develop training plans and goals, be guided and supported by nutritionists and other physicians, all in effort to be selected as the competing team for the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles. This is a very exciting time for the Australian Para Climbing Team as para-climbing will be included in the 2028 Paralympics for the first time.
