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Victoria Government
Last year I graduated from RMIT University with a Bachelor of Communications. I am now pursuing a career. I have a severe vision impairment and rely on a large black guide dog called Volly. I think Volly enjoys powering through life at my accelerated pace.
I am passionate about human rights and equal opportunity. I am actively involved with Young Blind Citizens Victoria. Sport is an important part of my life. I play vision impaired tennis. I also play swish, which is a cross between table tennis and air hockey. Travel is another challenge which I enjoy. I have travelled throughout Australia and to the United States.
People with disability who are unemployed can get help to find a job. The Disability Employment service can give all kinds of help to both the unemployed person and to the employer. However those who already have a job, but who will soon lose it, cannot get this kind of help. The government needs to give more help for people with a disability who are already in a job.
More information about Stepping into your next job
Posted by: Kristy Hyland, on 12/03/13 | Lifestyle | Healthy living
I enjoy doing sports with my partner. He doesn't have a disability but we have found the perfect sport for us. It is indoor rock climbing. I can't see where or what my partner is doing when he's climbing a wall. But the tension in the rope tells me if he has fallen or needs to be lowered to the ground. When I climb I use my hands and feet to scan the wall. Rock climbing is great. You try and improve what you did last time by climbing higher, faster or using a more difficult path up the wall.
More information about Reaching rocky heights
Posted by: Kristy Hyland, on 03/07/12 | Lifestyle | Sport
As a vision impaired person I find it stressful to use checkouts at department stores and supermarkets. I struggle to find the shortest queue and can't see the checkout operator waiting for me. I can't use a self-service checkout. People with disabilities have the right to access stores and checkouts. When I have trouble at the registers I take the time to try and educate staff on how they can help. Sometimes I also make a formal complaint. I want to see a time when blind and vision impaired people won't have to struggle to access checkouts.
More information about I can't see the checkout
Posted by: Kristy Hyland, on 21/05/12 | Rights & policies | Know your rights
Head over heels
is a book about the true story of Sam Bailey. Sam grew up in regional Queensland and dreamed of being a farmer. But at the age of 19, he was involved in a serious car accident and became a quadriplegic. Over time, Sam began learning to do things for himself. Against all odds he learned to fly a plane and realised his dream of being a farmer. This book is about trying to have a positive attitude in life. Even in the toughest of circumstances. The book is written by Sam Bailey and his wife Jenny.
More information about Head over heels
Posted by: Kristy Hyland, on 02/05/12 | Arts | Books
Swish is a sport that is like both table tennis and air hockey. Players hit a ball filled with bells across a table and over the net. A wooden paddle is used to hit the ball. Over the past 18 months swish has become more popular in Victoria. I am involved in the junior swish program in Melbourne. Over time the juniors have got better at playing swish. There has been a 50 per cent increase in the number of people joining the Melbourne group. Swish groups have also started in many regional areas of Victoria.
More information about Redefining inclusion with swish
Posted by: Kristy Hyland, on 07/03/12 | Lifestyle | Sport
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