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Talking Vision is Vision Australia Radio’s flagship program, discussing the latest news and issues from a blindness and low vision perspective. 

This week we celebrate International Women’s Day with a special take over. Tess Herbert takes the reins and catches up with two women who are working to make the world a better place for all women with disabilities. 

First up we hear from Professor Linda Agnew, the newly-appointed Dean of Health at Griffith University’s campus on the Gold Coast.  

Linda is the first woman in Australia with lived experience of blindness or low vision to become a professor and dean of faculty. She speaks with Tess about the challenges and highlights of her work, and has advice for young women with disabilities looking to start their careers. 

“I believe that disclosing your disability can have a range of benefits, and it allows your organisation to provide the most supportive environment for you to achieve your goals,” Linda said. 

Tess also speaks with Judith Bowtell, who has partnered with Accessible Arts in Sydney to run the Front and Centre program, an annual career coaching and professional development program for women and non-binary people with disability working in the arts, creative and cultural sectors. 

Following the conclusion of the career and professional development workshops, Judith has received a great deal of positive feedback from participants in terms of representation for women and non-binary people with disability in the workplace. 

“Participants have told us it’s rare to find spaces that are openly feminist, openly non-ableist and openly non-homophobic or transphobic, where the commitments to accessibility and personal safety are so high, and that’s wonderful to be a part of,” Judith said. 

Listen to the full episode of Talking Vision on Omny or in the player below: 

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