Rizwan looks to a bright future and keeping work, with innovative solutions from JobAccess

Rizwan is completing a PhD and works in the equity and inclusion space at the Australian National University. It’s been quite a journey for Rizwan over recent years. He relocated across the world, acquired vision loss, and more. From a difficult period through to adapting and thriving, this is Rizwan’s story.

International relocation, career change and a diagnosis

Rizwan moved to Australia with his family around six years ago. Relocating from the Middle East to Canberra, Rizwan was looking for a new challenge with his career. He wanted to explore something different.

To date, Rizwan had worked in systems change and improvement, relationship management and project management. He has focused on digital transformation projects.

Rizwan’s career change involved starting a PhD and working with the Australian National University (ANU). In his role at ANU, Rizwan leads and supports a team of staff and students, focused on making the university more equitable and inclusive for students from traditionally under-represented backgrounds.

Some of the diverse groups the team supports include migrant students as well as from regional, rural, and remote Australia. The team also support students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

Not long after relocating to Australia, Rizwan started to notice changes in his vision. This was in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic was present, and lockdowns were in place. So, getting a diagnosis was not possible.

In 2021, he received an official diagnosis. Rizwan was of the mindset that he would wait until he felt an adjustment was absolutely necessary before taking steps in that direction. He grew up with the thinking that he can solve things independently. As such, reaching out for help was not a straightforward step.

Rizwan recognises the need for guidance

Rizwan’s adjustment journey started in October 2023. “I started feeling that it was a time for some expert help,” shared Rizwan.

This was a tough time for Rizwan, as he navigated his vision loss and how this changed the way he accessed, interpreted and created information. Rizwan describes this time as a “bottomless abyss of doubt, fear and uncertainty for me and for my loved ones, especially my wife.”

Beyond the loss of vision, a lot of Rizwan’s fears were around what his diagnosis meant for his family, friends, his wife, and his work. Rizwan was questioning how he could continue to contribute at work in the way he is used to.

It was also a huge journey coming to terms with his vision loss, and what it meant day to day. For example, using his cane in public. “My ego had to catch up. Using my cane in my driveway was amazing. Using my cane in public, I was a blind person for the first time,” shared Rizwan.

Although it was a difficult period, Rizwan felt fortunate that he worked at ANU who had an amazing workplace adjustments team on site. “My manager and each team member showed up with generous hearts!” shared Rizwan.

The adjustments team linked Rizwan to JobAccess. Connecting with JobAccess was an experience he described as amazing from the very beginning, lifting some of the heaviness of this time.

“I have worked in service design for 15 years, and the JobAccess process is just amazing. As soon as my enquiry touched the inbox of JobAccess, that feeling was something else. They took over, and the process was excellent,” he said.

With JobAccess involved, Rizwan was feeling his doubts subsiding, and a new wave of confidence and hope emerging. “I began to gain confidence in my ability to access what was previously inaccessible, be it spaces, places, or information,” Rizwan added.

JobAccess’ tailored and specialised support

Rizwan was connected with JobAccess Professional Adviser Lynette Tieleman. Lynette organised an external, independent assessor to visit Rizwan at work. The assessor reviewed Rizwan’s workplace set up and made tailored recommendations to help remove the barriers he experienced at work.

Rizwan was instantly comforted by the support he received from JobAccess and Lynette. “JobAccess is more responsive than the best corporate service providers, kinder and more caring than the most empathic carers. They are proactive in responding to all the queries, foreseeing and foretelling the next steps,” he said.

Some bespoke adjustments the assessor recommended were a screen reader (Fusion = JAWS + ZoomText), and a text to speech software (OpenBook). This enabled Rizwan to buy his first physical book in years! Rizwan describes the adjustments as “game changing.”

When the items arrived, he admittedly felt a little overwhelmed at all the possibilities and functionality. Once he started using the adjustments and did the training to use the new equipment, Rizwan marvelled at how the brain adapts. “I am retraining my brain. Now I am using the adjustments, and I haven’t used the old tools in weeks,” shared Rizwan.

Rizwan felt that the external assessor organised by JobAccess “just got it.”

“He came very quickly and was amazing, assessing all aspects of my work,” said Rizwan. Even when a piece of software was not working, Rizwan was impressed to see that JobAccess fixed it within a day or two.

Rizwan commended JobAccess on their responsiveness and overall service experience. “They are super responsive. Their work is exceptional, they are superstars!”

A bright future ahead

From that “bottomless abyss”, Rizwan is in a very good place. On a personal level, Rizwan feels very lucky. “The way humanity shows itself to me every day is just amazing.” As for work, Rizwan continues to thrive at work. “I get to bring my best to work, I get to be self-critical and assess my own work,” said Rizwan.

“Now not only do I know what the future looks like, I can do more than 90% of what I was doing before my vision loss. The rest I just haven’t figured out yet! All of this is made possible through JobAccess, and importantly, made possible with the kindness and care that I come across everyday by everyone,” he concluded.

Are you looking for advice and support with workplace adjustments? Get in touch with JobAccess

JobAccess is the go-to expert for disability employment matters. It removes barriers to sustainable employment for people with disability.

JobAccess has a team of allied health professionals who provide expert, confidential and tailored advice on workplace adjustments from the first point of contact.

For expert advice and tailored support, get in touch with JobAccess on 1800 464 800 or submit an online enquiry. You can also visit the JobAccess website for more information.

Related pages

Employment Assistance Fund
Available support for people with disability
JobAccess stories

Last updated: 8 November 2024 - 7:58am