On this week's episode Simon has a chat with Paralympian and project officer at Rebound WA Natalie Alexander. Natalie discusses her wheelchair basketball career from winning silver in the U25 World Championships in 2011 and 2015 to competing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 

She uses her passion for sport, community and resilience in her Project Officer role at Rebound WA, a not-for-profit organisation that helps people with physical disabilities engage in sport and recreation opportunities. Natalie chats with Simon about how wheelchair basketball operates, her role at Rebound WA and the joy of helping people find themselves and community through sport. 

If you're interested in learning more about Rebound WA you can click here to get involved.

On this week's episode Simon has a chat with Paralympian and project officer at Rebound WA Natalie Alexander. Natalie discusses her wheelchair basketball career from winning silver in the U25 World Championships in 2011 and 2015 to competing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.&nbsp;
She uses her passion for sport, community and resilience in her Project Officer role at Rebound WA, a not-for-profit organisation that helps people with physical disabilities engage in sport and recreation opportunities. Natalie chats with Simon about how wheelchair basketball operates, her role at Rebound WA and the joy of helping people find themselves and community through sport.&nbsp;
If you're interested in learning more about Rebound WA you can&nbsp;<a href="https://reboundwa.com/">click here</a> to get involved.

In Plain Sight, hosted by Simon Chong and produced by Andrew Williams, is a program where we highlight the incredible stories of people who are making a positive impact in the community and disability sector. Giving a voice to dedicated disability advocates demonstrating advocacy in all its different forms, shining a light on those who might otherwise be hidden ‘in plain sight'.

Get in touch with the program team via: inplainsight@visionaustralia.org. Simon and Andrew would love to hear your feedback, thoughts and ideas.

In Plain Sight, hosted by Simon Chong and produced by Andrew Williams, is a program where we highlight the incredible stories of people who are making a positive impact in the community and disability sector. Giving a voice to dedicated disability advocates demonstrating advocacy in all its different forms, shining a light on those who might otherwise be hidden &lsquo;in plain sight'.
Get in touch with the program team via:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:inplainsight@visionaustralia.org">inplainsight@visionaustralia.org</a>. Simon and Andrew would love to hear your feedback, thoughts and ideas.

In Plain Sight

In Plain Sight by Vision Australia Radio

Rebounding From Adversity with Wheelchair Sports

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa7924ac-d4fd-4bff-b1b4-ac7f006dda87/clips/0cbef801-f1e0-4fa7-97c1-b3df005a4ec1/transcript

Introducing Martin Stewart a long term campaigner, activist & advocate of rights and needs for people who are blind.  Martin was born blind and in 2002 was seriously injured  an horrific public transport accident.
In his current role at Blind Citizens Australia (BCA) as the National Individual Advocacy Officer he assists people who are blind or vision impaired to empower them to achieve the things they need.

BCA is one of the leading national advocacy agencies that provide both systemic & individual advocacy.
There aim is  to inform, connect, and empower Australians who are blind or vision impaired and to help fight for the rights and needs of this community. 

During our engaging conversation with Martin we discover the variety and diversity within the Blind Community and learn that sometimes shouting loudly is the best way to be noticed and other times polite diplomacy is the preferred method. WE really appreciated getting a very brief insight in to Martin’s dedication and hard work over many years working to improve the lives of the vulnerable and under-represented.

Some of the reforms and actions initially advocated on behalf of Blind Australians are now common place and not even recognised as special treatment or applications and are now well-known everyday objects and sounds. We enjoye bringing to light some of these actions and developments. BCA is constantly working towards making life for people who are blind or have low vision as equitable as possible.
Within our conversation with Martin we highlight some everyday things that are still not as fair or equal for those who are blind, and learn what more needs to be done.
 
A very informative & educational conversation, that we are sure you will enjoy.

Introducing Martin Stewart a long term campaigner, activist &amp; advocate of rights and needs for people who are blind.&nbsp; Martin was born blind and in 2002 was seriously injured&nbsp; an horrific public transport accident. In his current role at Blind Citizens Australia (BCA) as the National Individual Advocacy Officer he assists people who are blind or vision impaired to empower them to achieve the things they need. BCA is one of the leading national advocacy agencies that provide both systemic &amp; individual advocacy. There aim is&nbsp; to inform, connect, and empower Australians who are blind or vision impaired and to help fight for the rights and needs of this community.&nbsp; During our engaging conversation with Martin we discover the variety and diversity within the Blind Community and learn that sometimes shouting loudly is the best way to be noticed and other times polite diplomacy is the preferred method. WE really appreciated getting a very brief insight in to Martin&rsquo;s dedication and hard work over many years working to improve the lives of the vulnerable and under-represented. Some of the reforms and actions initially advocated on behalf of Blind Australians are now common place and not even recognised as special treatment or applications and are now well-known everyday objects and sounds. We enjoye bringing to light some of these actions and developments. BCA is constantly working towards making life for people who are blind or have low vision as equitable as possible. Within our conversation with Martin we highlight some everyday things that are still not as fair or equal for those who are blind, and learn what more needs to be done. &nbsp; A very informative &amp; educational conversation, that we are sure you will enjoy.

Martin Stewart: Advocacy with Blind Citizens Australia

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa7924ac-d4fd-4bff-b1b4-ac7f006dda87/clips/a4d2e911-c7d3-4c86-83b2-b47900b70fc6/transcript

Join us this week as we celebrate the lives and stories of Deafblind Western Australians. Simon and Andrew have a chat with Linni Oliver and Jason Rowland from Deafblind WA (DBWA) to help us celebrate and acknowledge Deafblind Awareness Week which runs from June 22nd to the 28th.

This year's theme is 'Connected by touch: Breaking barriers, building bridges." While we can't connect via touch in this audio format we do hope to help reduce barriers and build bridges between individuals and communities. 

During Deafblind Week there will be celebrations across Australia highlighting community, advocacy and inclusion. We make mention of activities happening in Victoria but our main focus is on our recording location, WA. An example of the activities being held is the Lawn Bowls Event on Saturday 27 June, which is a celebration to wrap up the week with an afternoon on fun, friendship and community connection. 

You can contact Linni at linni@dbwa.org.au to find out more. 

This is a warm, friendly and engaging program that we are sure you will enjoy.

 

Join us this week as we celebrate the lives and stories of Deafblind Western Australians. Simon and Andrew have a chat with Linni Oliver and Jason Rowland from Deafblind WA (DBWA) to help us celebrate and acknowledge Deafblind Awareness Week which runs from June 22nd to the 28th.
This year's theme is 'Connected by touch: Breaking barriers, building bridges." While we can't connect via touch in this audio format we do hope to help reduce barriers and build bridges between individuals and communities.&nbsp;
During Deafblind Week there will be celebrations across Australia highlighting community, advocacy and inclusion. We make mention of activities happening in Victoria but our main focus is on our recording location, WA. An example of the activities being held is the Lawn Bowls Event on Saturday 27 June, which is a celebration to wrap up the week with an afternoon on fun, friendship and community connection.&nbsp;
You can contact Linni at <a href="mailto:linni@dbwa.org.au">linni@dbwa.org.au</a> to find out more.&nbsp;
This is a warm, friendly and engaging program that we are sure you will enjoy.
&nbsp;

Deafblind Week 2026 & Deafblind WA

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa7924ac-d4fd-4bff-b1b4-ac7f006dda87/clips/fbd24c23-fa8b-46b5-9942-b472007cfc62/transcript

This week we enjoyed the company of Matt Spencer, a well respected member of the Blind Community in Perth. We really appreciate learning about such positive and active people, and to be able to share their stories with you. Matt is one of those wonderful people who is actively involved in many aspects of community and we aim to bring his story to light, which would otherwise be hidden in plain sight. 

It is always a privilege to speak with our guests and we acknowledge that Matt shares some very personal details about his life including his vision loss, Keratoconus and many aspects of living a full life while being vision impaired. Matt's delightful sense of humour warmly threaded through our personal, anecdotal conversation. It's so great to get a brief insight into peoples' lives, ordinary and extraordinary, and to hear wonderful stories, all worth shining a light on. 

This week we also preview events happening for DeafBlind Week 2026 with Deafblind West Australians (DBWA) which runs from June 22 to 28. DBWA will hold two special events to acknowledge this on Wednesday the 24th and Saturday the 27th of June. You contact DBWA at this link https://dbwa.org.au/contact-us/ for more info.

Stay tuned to In Plain Sight on Vision Australia Radio on digital, you can also contact us at inplainsight@visionasutralia.org with any questions or comments. 

This week we enjoyed the company of Matt Spencer, a well respected member of the Blind Community in Perth. We really appreciate learning about such positive and active people, and to be able to share their stories with you. Matt is one of those wonderful people who is actively involved in many aspects of community and we aim to bring his story to light, which would otherwise be hidden in plain sight.&nbsp;
It is always a privilege to speak with our guests and we acknowledge that Matt shares some very personal details about his life including his vision loss, Keratoconus and many aspects of living a full life while being vision impaired. Matt's delightful sense of humour warmly threaded through our personal, anecdotal conversation. It's so great to get a brief insight into peoples' lives, ordinary and extraordinary, and to hear wonderful stories, all worth shining a light on.&nbsp;
This week we also preview events happening for DeafBlind Week 2026 with Deafblind West Australians (DBWA) which runs from June 22 to 28. DBWA will hold two special events to acknowledge this on Wednesday the 24th and Saturday the 27th of June. You contact DBWA at this link <a href="https://dbwa.org.au/contact-us/">https://dbwa.org.au/contact-us/</a> for more info.
Stay tuned to In Plain Sight on Vision Australia Radio on digital, you can also contact us at <a href="mailto:inplainsight@visionasutralia.org">inplainsight@visionasutralia.org</a> with any questions or comments.&nbsp;

My Mate Matt - An Active Community Member

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa7924ac-d4fd-4bff-b1b4-ac7f006dda87/clips/b5248acf-2411-4223-8788-b46b00136fe8/transcript

Rebounding From Adversity with Wheelchair Sports

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