Lisa volunteers at a support group for Deafblind people which advocates for their rights. She encourages Deafblind people to get involved in the community to help reduce social isolation.
Lisa was born deaf with CHARGE syndrome and Pierre Robin syndrome. She became blind at the age of 21 due to retinal detachment. Learning to communicate with others as a Deafblind person was a challenge.
Learn about the accommodations Lisa has made at home, how she communicates with her Indonesian parents, and her work sharing her experiences and stories as a public speaker.
Often people don't know how to approach the Deafblind, and don't understand our needs.Lisa
Learn more about Lisa in this episode of Humans of the Australian Deaf Community, and find all other episodes in the series on the SBS Australia channel and .
is the second series of Our Deaf Ways - a video podcast created by SBS and Deaf Australia for Deaf, DeafBlind and hard of hearing people who use Auslan, but we also invite hearing people to watch. The video portraits introduce you to the stories of Deaf people from different walks of life.
Series created by Paula Thornton, Deaf Australia.
Additional editing by Max Banyat.
Deaf Australia and SBS acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. We extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who are watching with us.
Deaf Australia and SBS celebrate Auslan and recognise all Deaf leaders in Australia who have advocated for Deaf, Deafblind and hard of hearing communities. Deaf Australia is proud of everyone’s contribution, whether big or small, in preserving our language, community and culture.
Transcript
I'm Lisa, and I live on Darug land in west Sydney.
I'm 36 years old. I was born deaf with CHARGE syndrome and Pierre Robin syndrome.
As I grew up, I became blind due to retinal detachment at the age of 21.
How did you adjust when I became blind at the age of 21?
Yes, I think it got harder.
Previously I could communicate with you at a distance.
But now sometimes I have to repeat twice and make sure I had to communicate with you at close proximity.
So you can see me better and sometimes hear me. So that was a lot harder.
Welcome to my world, this is my home.
I can walk alone, only on routes that I am familiar with near my home.
If it is an area that is unfamiliar to me, I will make sure that I have a support worker or one of my family to go with me.
*tapping on Lisa’s hand* Hold on. Let's turn around away from the light.
*moving Lisa away from the glare* Can you see me now?
*nodding*
Better? Where do you want to go?
What is the time now?
Time?
It is 12pm.
During the day, I communicate in Auslan and English.
At night, I switch to hand-over-hand or tactile communication, except with my family, who will speak and sign with me, depending on the situation.
I volunteer at the support group for Deafblind people that advocates for their rights.
This is a Deafblind workshop.
This reduces isolation when it comes to Deafblind people, as we are prone to isolation due to our deaf and blindess.
We need to be involved in the community. There are many barriers in the community so we need to encourage more Deafblind to participate and be involved in support groups.
I have lived here for five years, I first moved here in 2018 which was before COVID-19.
I could see better back then but it is now 2024 and my eyesight has worsened over the years compared to then.
My cleaner knows me quite well, so she doesn't move anything.
If anything is moved around, I get upset because I won't be able to find anything again or become confused.
I learnt how to use the washing machine by myself. There are orange buttons on the machine.
The orange buttons that I can feel tell me whether the power is on or off, as well as temperature settings.
This is called magnifier screen reader
With the Deafblind, some prefer this screen size whereas some others prefer a portable magnifier to read with.
Some Deafblind people prefer a different kind of magnifier, there are different kinds of technology available.
Not everyone uses the same, everyone has different preferences.
Pierre-Robin syndrome makes my ears look different, with one being bigger than the other.
It also means I can only hear a little bit on one side.
Our mum and dad were born in Indonesia
Yes, *show correct sign* Indonesia
Yes
Our mum was born overseas in Indonesia before moving here
Our parents didn't speak English very well, they knew a bit.
Yes, that’s right.
So their Auslan wasn't exactly great either.
Yes, that’s why I am close to her.
Lisa knows a bit of Indonesian language.
Yes, because our mother sometimes spoke in Indonesian at home.
If we were naughty or didn't understand what our mum was saying in Indonesian, we would ask her to try and tell us in English.
So we do understand some Indonesian language.
Lisa will use Auslan but more English based signs with me, same with the other family members.
Yes I sign to you then Mum, dad, brother and I speak when responding.
I have my other work as a motivational speaker. I share my lived experiences and stories through public speaking.
Often people don't know how to approach the Deafblind, and don't understand our needs.
Deafblind Australia was keen to raise awareness when they filmed me.
