In Plain Sight

This week we are talking with Colleen Ashby, who had a heart transplant in 2017, which due to complications left her also becoming blind.But, Colleen’s natural optimism, determination and generous spirit  used this life changing event as a motivational force.  She is also an example of someone who is driven by a strong sense of purpose linked to community and a desire to `Give Back`.        

On Sunday 1st November 2026; Colleen wil join 19 other team leaders with heart or lung transplant recipients along with  hundreds of riders on either a 34km or 60km route through South Perth.For the Breaths And Beats ride fundraising for Heart and lung research.Now in its third year the Capital Limited Breaths and Beats Ride for Research is a great way to help change the lives of West Australians with advanced heart and lung disease by funding dedicated research.
Colleen Ashby who never sits still and is always doing so much for other people and great causes is one of the many people who wil be participating in this bike ride to help raise essential funds to further research into heart and lung disease and research.

Local support for heart and lung transplant patients in Western Australia is provided by the Heart & Lung Transplant Foundation of WA, which offers equipment loans, patient advocacy, and community programs connected with Fiona Stanley Hospital and Royal Perth Hospital. And will be one of the main beneficiaries  of this fundraising event in Perth in November.

To support the Breaths And Beats ride fundraising for Heart and lung research.go to the CAPITAL LIMITED BREATHS AND BEATS RIDE FOR RESEARCH, website. 
Breaths and Beats Ride for Research 2026breathsandbeatsride.org.au 
To support Colleen Ashby specifically go to 
Colleen Ashby - Capital Limited Breaths and Beats Ride for Research 2026breathsandbeatsride.org.au 

Join Colleen in changing the lives of West Australians with heart and lung disease by joining the ride or donating today.

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This week we present a fabulous conversation with Sandee Facy, 
 the Head of Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Australia and New Zealand.
The Sunflower and Hidden Disabilities are trying to  increase awareness, & understanding of non-visible disabilities, and helping to create communities where people feel seen, supported and included.

We learn of what is a Hidden Disability and how the Sunflower campaign is helping to rase awareness with its subtle, and yet very effective approach.
A global initiative working in partnership with organisations such as airports and large companies to provide training and assistance to them so that they can provide customer service to people with a Hidden Disability in an accessible and inclusive manner.

Living with a Hidden Disability can make daily life more demanding for many people, but it can be difficult for others to recognise, acknowledge or understand the challenges faced. Wearing the Sunflower discreetly indicates to staff, colleagues and health professionals that the wearer has a hidden disability and may need additional help or simply more time.
  
 
 Hidden Disabilities
Website
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://hdsunflower.com/au/?_gl=1*j80eq5*_up*MQ..*_ga*NzE0NzI0Njk0LjE3OTExNzc3MTc.*_ga_QH2Q9GE934*czE3OTExNzc3MTYkbzEkZzAkdDE3OTExNzc3MTYkajYwJGwwJGgw*_ga_9NBHMF5E90*czE3OTExNzc3MTYkbzEkZzAkdDE3OTExNzc3MTYkajYwJGwwJGgw__;KioqKioqKioq!!BW9V2p7J0Kl2QvQ!G7JnTH00c-d65ruMBYpTmf715hIDen0VBRV1doPoz7oLMBSiXlyZqTChrp9nxMV4F-B03ftWf5HM-DmfuVi4HXGOsvfAFN6m$

Sandee Facy
Head of Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Aus/NZ
[email protected]

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This week on In Plain Sight we have a very pleasant conversation with Darryl Davenport; Principle of Ballroom Fit, & Chairperson of Para Ability Dance WA.
Darryl shares his passion and insights into these wonderful dance opportunities for people with disabilities, in both the social and competitive spaces.

Darryl has successfully transitioned his life-long participation and many years of being a dance coach to creating a supportive & thoughtful accessible, inclusive dance environment.  Both the Ballroom Fit dance classes, predominately for vision impaired & other sensory disabilities, and social dance events and the Para & Ability competitive dance sport events are very popular with great participation levels.          
 
The Para Ability Dance groups participate in several events and competitions throughout the year including 
the 2026 Australian DanceSport Championship, which will be held in Melbourne on 3 December 2026.
A Bingo Night is being held to raise funds to assist our dancers with disability to attend this highly prestigious event.  Both the Ballroom Fit & ParaDance participants are active members of the community who regularly support other major charity events as well as conducting fundraising events to help support their dancers, coaches and dance assistants or partners.
 
Dance is a fabulous way to get active, find a place to join in with a supportive group that is fun to commit your time to which helps give a sense of belonging which is fantastic for your mental health and well-being.

Contact Ballroom Fit to  learn more.
Whether you’re interested in classes, DanceSport, NDIS support, or inclusive dance opportunities.
Contact -
Email”
[email protected]

For further information about Para & Ability Dance WA
Website: -
 https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://padwa.org.au__;!!BW9V2p7J0Kl2QvQ!D316uPoF6jOhKhcjRxuYJEkiQpS5WknlRSoY7AFHdiXYSgGJSeOJ4dLPJGj2pfpWqzAUoAhJapmM3FWUUFLExT21DGbOxjQu$
Email: [email protected]
Chairperson
[email protected]

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In recognition of International Day of Sign Languages that falls on  Wed 23 September we are revisiting a fabulous conversation with Linda de Rozario, CEO of Vital Interpreting Personnel.  In Australia, we celebrate & acknowledge  National Week Of Deaf People from 21-27 September; which incorporates International Day of Sign Languages. Auslan is the sign language used in Australia.
 In Australia in 1991 the government formally recognized Auslan as a community language and the unique language of the Australian Deaf community. And since 2021 Auslan was included as an explicit, marked choice of language on the Census form. Given all of this we thought it would b great to hear from Linda with her vast personal and professional background & experiences with Auslan and Interpreting.
 Linda de Rozario, a professional Auslan interpreter, with a family background of living with a Deaf parent,  is a brilliant communicator who is a passionate advocate for the Deaf community and strongly believes in full access and inclusion for all. During this very engaging conversation held with Abby Green, & Simon Chong with Linda in February 2025 they explore many fascinating topics surrounding Auslan and being Deaf, including the sub-groups within the broader deaf community and representation of deaf people in all forms of life and media.
Together, we show that sign language rights are fundamental human rights of Deaf people.
This was a wonderfully  informative episode, that we’re sure you wil enjoy.

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Hi this week we bring you a revisit to an excellent interview with the dynamic and positive Colleen Ashby;an author athlete and fundraising champion. Colleen is involved in so many wonderful things and we share this episode now to highlight a fundraiser that is literally close to Colleen’s heart.
Colleen will be captain of a team participating in the the Breaths and Beats Ride for Research,scheduled for Sunday, November 1, 2026, to support heart and lung disease research.  In 2017, Colleen Ashby received a life-saving heart transplant. The operation saved her life but resulted in the loss of around 95% of her vision.
Colleen is someone who does not sit still and let things happen. She is a life-long competitive swimmer and now a keen cyclist. As the Chairperson of WATCAC (Western Australia Tandem Cycling Advisory Council), Colleen proves nothing will stand in her way.Colleen uses this enthusiasm & undaunting passion to encourage others to get involved and to promote great fundraising events.    Join Colleen in changing the lives of West Australians with heart and lung disease by joining the ride or donating today.
Breaths and Beats Ride https://www.breathsandbeatsride.org.au
Colleen’s fundraising page;https://www.breathsandbeatsride.org.au/colleen-ashby

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This week we have a very interesting conversation with Adam Schickerling, the CEO of Synapse, one of Australia’s leading support agencies for people with an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). As it was recently Brain Injury Awareness Week, we thought it would be good to learn more about brain injury and the support and services aimed to assisting people living with an ABI. The theme of Brain Injury Awareness Week 2026 is Brain Injury: Many Pathways, One Community.

Adam highlights some of the impacts on individuals and their families living with a brain injury and why it is important to raise the knowledge & awareness of this often hidden disability. We explore some of the services and assistance that Synapse provides and how they try to make people’s lives a little easier while adapting and living with an ABI.

While there is a variety of causes of a brain injury, two of the areas of interest that Synapse focuses on are injury resulting from family & domestic violence and supporting Aboriginal Communities where brain injuries are present. This was an interesting insight and both good that the service is available and sad that it is needed.

Synapse also provides Advocacy support to help make important decisions about the rights and best interests of people with an ABI and their supporters, along with helping people get connected with others in a similar situation.

Their head office is in Brisbane, with locations throughout Australia.  

To find out more contact Synapse 

 https://synapse.org.au/brain-injury-awareness-week/

Call: 1800 673 074

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This week on IPS we are learning about brain injury and living with an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI).
 We had a fabulous warm & insightful conversation with Fiona Hopper, Peer Project Coordinator at Brain Injury Matters (BIM). BIM is a membership based peer to peer support group based in Melbourne.

There are many aspects of living with an acquired brain injury (ABI), while firstly acknowledging it can be traumatic and a major stressful change of life and circumstance. 
And, BIM has several aims which include supporting people with an Abi and trying to educate and inform the public of what brain injury is and its impacts on people with an ABI.

As both a support group and an advocacy agency BIM aims to;
Help provide support to alleviate the isolation and marginalisation experienced by people living with an Acquired Brain Injury. BIM is also an active advocate that acts as a voice of people with an Acquired Brain Injury to inform local, state, and national bodies around relevant issues affecting people with an ABI.

It was a pleasure to meet and talk with Fiona Hopper who is a passionate skilled peer worker.
Fiona describes some of the important  roles and functions of BIM and particularly the peer networks and supports.  She helps to coordinate  both the in person groups and online catch-ups.     

This conversation with Fiona who has an ABI and also happens to be blind reminds us about the importance of good quality supports and keeping connected with people who have similar life experiences to yourself.
It’s a great example of a community working well and working together with the same aims.

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This week we speak with Dennis Collins, Arts Mentor from DADAA & Joe Teakle, arts participant and Radio DADAA presenter, about their visit to Canberra to interview some federal politicians, to gain some insights into their views on Arts and Disability Inclusion.

We learn about the background and aims & objectives of this bold project.

During this fun, lively & informative conversation, we explore and discuss many avenues of the importance & relevance of creating and supporting accessible and inclusive arts practice and involvement.  People with disabilities want to be part of the conversation that allows for broader representation in and around the Arts Sector. However,; while Art is DADAA’s main focus, the team will also explore and question the politicians around all aspects of important issues for people with disabilities, including areas of funding & the NDIS .     

We discover what Radio DADAA has to offer and how people can get involved.

Joe shares his enthusiasm to shift his focus from being a filmmaker to a budding radio reporter and presenter. And, I can highly recommend Joe’s program on Radio DADAA called Film Talk with RadJoe, which is very informative, engaging & entertaining. Check it out sometime soon.

Engaging with the Arts releases aspects of the soul and can be beneficial to the overall welfare and well-being of our society, so it’s important to support and encourage.

Radio DADAA =

https://www.dadaa.org.au/shows/

DADAA  web homepage =

https://www.dadaa.org.au

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This week we’d like to introduce you to a new online platform & app called “Connect Up”.ConnectUp is a free Australian app launched in June 2026 to help people with disability, unpaid carers, and families reduce social isolation and find physical activities. It lets users build online connections, arrange in-person meetups, and discover accessible venues using an interactive map and many other useful functions that makes it easier for people with a disability to connect with others with a similar interest.
We had a very interesting & informative conversation with Craig Thompson, one of the leading researchers & developers from Curtin University; & Nina Butler one of the active Co-Design team.We also enjoyed discovering some of the fabulous interests and  pursuits of Nina Butler who is Deafblind and has a physical disability. Nina’s enthusiasm & positive energy was captivating and fun to talk with.
Some of Nina’s interests include; writer, speaker, and advocate. Nina uses her writing as a form of education and advocacy and she also enjoys producing a blog. - You can check out Nina’s  blog , “Inner Musings Of A Funny Looking Kid” at www.ninimeany.wordpress.com or like it on Facebook https://m.facebook.com/Inner-Musings-Of-A-Funny-Looking-Kid-151852385305430/
Connect Up - can be found online at; -https://www.connectup.org.au

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This week on the show join Simon and Andrew as they chat to Joe Teakle about his career as a filmmaker and host of Film Talk on radio DADAA. He recounts his experience making the documentary 'Theatricality' (2024) for SBS and future plans for acting and film making. 

His love of movies has expanded to hosting the show Film Talk on the newly launched Radio DADAA every Wednesday from 11am to 12pm (Perth Time). You can find the accessible website here to see program rosters and learn more. Joe's show discusses films, old and new, diving into stories, the production process and the state of the industry. 

We also discuss how Joe's Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) affects his life currently and his goals for the future. 

We hope you enjoy this episode and check out Rad Joe's new show.

THIS IS A PROGRAM ENCORE, initially published Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 6:00 AM

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