This podcast episode from The Flagstaff Group features an interview with Laurinda Martin, a woman who shares her journey of living and working with total blindness.
After a lengthy career in reception, she transitioned into a role helping others use assistive technology and Braille. Laurinda discusses how Toastmasters helped her build confidence in public speaking, using a specialised computer and memory techniques to prepare her presentations.
She advocates for inclusive employment, urging businesses to look past physical limitations and focus on an individual’s adaptability. The source highlights that with simple workplace adjustments, people with disabilities can contribute significantly to any professional organisation.
Transcript:
[Chris] Good day. Welcome to Flagstaff, the Flagstaff Group. Our vision, a world that only sees abilities. Thank you for joining this podcast series. We belong.
[Laurinda] Hello, my name’s Laurinda Martin. I joined Flagstaff in 1999. I was head reception from 2006 to 2022. So, I was there for 23 years. So I had just a normal computer and I was answering the phones for Flagstaff.
[Chris] Have you retired? Have you?
[Laurinda] No, I went to do a fantastic job and it was in open employment. It was with Guide Dogs New South Wales and I was helping visually impaired and blind people with their adaptive technology and their braille
[Chris] We belong. We belong. We belong. We belong. Could you just talk to your disability, please?
[Laurinda] My disability? I’ve got retinitis pigmentosa. So, it affects your retina and you watch yourself go totally blind. That’s it in a nutshell. But also, I’ve got Cone-rod Dystrophy which affects your balance.
[Laurinda] Also with the Retinitis Pigmentosa also affects a bit of my balance. So unfortunately I popped double whammy of balance with both of my diseases. I’ve been totally blind since the age of 23.
[Chris] Has that been with you all your life or is it in some way at 23 it came on very quickly?
[Laurinda] Well, we found out when I was 9 years of age. I could do things and then I learned Braille when I was 16 years of age and then 18 I needed it cuz I couldn’t read print anymore and then after 23 yeah I couldn’t see but I can see light and dark that’s all I can see.
[Chris] ToastMasters very significant part of your Yes. enjoyment. Yeah. Talk to me about that.
[Laurinda] So in 2020, Allison uh introduced me to Speechcraft, which was funding through Flagstaff, and I really enjoyed it. So I asked one of the people where was the closest Toastmasters Club, and they said it was at Dapto. And I was a guest speaker for just one meeting to start off with because then I got my beautiful guide dog summer and I did a few more guest um like being a guest member and then in February I joined DAPTO and I really enjoyed it and then I became another member in Berkeley and which I attend every second Thursday
[Chris] And at Toastmasters is something where you’re given a topic and you have to speak to that very almost unprepared in a manner?
[Laurinda] What it is that with toastmasters you get speeches with the different levels and all that. So they give me a topic and then I’ve got to meet the criteria for that level that I’m up to. And then we do table topics which the table topic master will give six questions to random members and then we’ve got to think of an answer and talk between one and 2 minutes. So you got to think very quickly on your feet. Yeah.
[Chris] That’s challenging, isn’t it? Yes. And do you in preparing those speeches, do you type those on a computer or do you record your speech into a recording device and then learn from that?
[Laurinda] So, how I do it is I type the speech on my computer which has got speech on it. So, it’s just like a normal computer keyboard’s the same, but it’s got a speech input on it and then I transfer it into braille and then I learn it from that. But sometimes I don’t go off my notes. It’s all in my memory. So, yeah.
[Chris] To the program we belong the the manner for which you would be suitable for a role that people listening might be employers and how they could benefit by having someone with disability working in their organization.
[Laurinda] Um they should just give us a chance to show them what we can do and and not be a barrier um with people who are visually impaired or blind. And I don’t need much. Just a computer with a speech input on it as well as a pair of headsets. And I can do anything what they ask. If they do have a bit of a problem, then I can adapt to what could be changed to in their organization. So that’s what I think “We Belong” means to me.
[Chris] We hope you are enjoying this podcast series. We belong. Are you finding it hard to be out in the community? Any difficulty when joining in with another group or activity? We’re here to help you do the things you’ve always wanted to, like playing your favourite sport, working the job you’ve always dreamed of, or learning a new skill. Let us know what we can do to help you to be a part of an inclusive community.
The Flagstaff Group, providing life skills and work for people with a disability. This podcast was recorded and produced on Dharwal, Jerringer, Yuin and Wandi Wandanian country. Thank you again for listening.
