Counting fifty-eight years and more years to come

Part Two continue… Click the photos as it is gallery.

Looking through many photos, I treasure the pen drives over many years.

Without a problem, I gained my first job – as a Bank Officer/Data Entry under the BNZ (Bank of New Zealand). Straight from work experience while I was at school. The Bank Manager (I forgot his name was) was a well-respected man, for he knew my disability, and there was no stopping me from working in the bank. Because he saw my skill and photo memories where there were so many human errors by the customers, bank tellers, storage files, and the customers of Hamilton East knew me through my late grandparents. My firsts job was the longest-serving until I chose redundancy due to bank change, merged to cover central North Island as a data entry processing banking and the changing of barriers that prevent people with disabilities from communicating within their banks. There was the discrimination of not putting me into a higher position like a team leader or supervisor, and yes, they breached the Human Right Acts many times. The main problem was the telephone, communication where staff does not understand my deaf, which is slightly different from customers who don’t have any problem with me. They knew I had excellent skills with no human errors each year, only the other staff. I chose against their advantage of using me on the ground level and their choice to have me continue to work in the new system covering the central North Island data processing centre. It was their fault, and they must continue to improve themselves without too many human errors.

I received an award from the Hamilton City Council – Unsung Heroes in the community. I was the first Deaf receipted to receive the award in Hamilton. Our late friend/mentor – Rev Edna Garner, filled out the submission form – Unsung Heroes for my work involved with the churches and breaking down the barriers to allow Deaf Christian people to be included in their church.

I went on to work in other areas such as a Health Carer/Assistant, Disability Support Worker under two organisations, Literacy Tutor in NZSL/ESOL, Teacher Aides for two Deaf students in mainstream schools, and currently a Deaf Specialised Community Worker/Advocator under Social Services. Now I am involved with a substantial area: the Disability sectors, along with the Government, such as EGL Waikato Leadership, Advisory Groups, and Churches ministry. In New Zealand, there is so much work for the people/children with disabilities by making their lives equal to others and better accessible everywhere as inclusion, even to communicate in NZSL (New Zealand Sign Language). I am saying this because you people need to hear their (People/children with disabilities, D/deaf people and D/deaf people with disabilities)’s voices first before deciding on building, accessible, live better, learn to communicate in sign language, technology such as video chat.

I spent my time travelling worldwide – starting in 1981 with my first income and saving income. I travelled independently except twice in tour groups in Itlay and Ireland. One time we did not have flash technology like today – the internet or a fax machine. I recalled my mother, who was worried and waiting at the airport in Auckland, wondering if I was coming home okay or not. My understanding was that my sister told her to go up to the airport and wait and see if I came home. I came home and greeted my mother. Mum said she had not received my last postcard before coming home, and I told her I did from Switzerland before arriving to stay a week in The Netherlands. Oh, bother! Well, mum, I am home okay and guess what, the postcard arrived a couple weeks later after I got home. I missed travelling to many countries, catching up with families and friends, and sightseeing in many new places. Here is one of the many photos.