James Teeken – A Disability Advocate
Mr. James Teeken is a committed disability advocate and lives with a disability himself. He has been a member of the 3CR community radio station “Raising Our Voices” program for the last 30 years. The program is produced and presented by people with disabilities covering issues such as housing, discrimination, difficulties with public transport, self-advocacy, and justice issues. James is also part of other disability rights groups such as “Action for More Independence and Dignity in Accommodation” (AMIDA) and the Reinforce Committee. AMIDA acknowledges that people with disability have a right to good quality housing which is accessible, affordable, and non-institutional. He has also taken part in conferences such as the “Have a Say Conference” in Geelong and recently a Deafblind Australia workshop.
James was born in Carlton and grew up in the Northern suburbs attending Coburg West Primary School and the Ascot Vale Special School. He left school at 16 but went on to complete a Certificate course in Workforce Education at Broadmeadows TAFE. James has enjoyed working in a variety of roles including at the Brunswick Industries Packing Factory and cleaning the ClubMates tour bus. Unfortunately, in 2019 James was diagnosed with Cancer in his right leg and spent 10 months in hospital, undergoing numerous skin grafts. His leg movement has been significantly impacted since then, but he has maintained his positive outlook on life.
James has lived independently since 2011, when his application for a NDIS package was approved. He moved into a Housing Choices social housing apartment in the Docklands, where he now lives with his beautiful and loveable girlfriend Tash. They met 4 years ago at a ClubMates Christmas function. ClubMates is a global disability travel company, able to help anyone with a disability wanting assistance to organise a holiday.
James enjoys a wide variety of activities including art and crafts and has sold several of his art works through the Sussex Neighbourhood House in Pascoe Vale. He has also been a member of the Thunder Birds Phantom Ten Pin Bowling League at Highpoint, winning several trophies. He enjoys his Pizza and Lasagne but before his operations was able to offset his calorie intake with dance classes.
James understands how important it is to keep fit and healthy, given his own personal health scares. This was really highlighted at a recent Deafblind Australia workshop he attended as a representative of Easy Living Care Solutions. A guest speaker at the workshop shared his very powerful story of being diagnosed with Diabetes and eventually losing his sight because of the condition. It was a sad story but also inspirational to see how this gentleman continues to lead a fulfilling and busy life with support from a NDIS funded Disability worker.
Vision Australia speakers discussed the five most common types of vision impairment which if not managed properly can lead to blindness. Special glasses supplied to all workshop attendees gave everyone a tiny insight into what it is like to lose your vision through conditions such as:
- Diabetic Retinopathy causing reduced vision and sensitivity to glare and decreased night vision
- Macular Degeneration which blurs the central vision used for detailed tasks like reading and sewing
- Cataracts which can lead to blurred vision and sensitivity to glare
- Retinitis Pigmentosa which may cause tunnel vision and night blindness and led to a loss of peripheral (side) vision
- Glaucoma a condition associated with ageing that also impacts on peripheral vision.
Whilst it is scary to think about how quickly someone can lose their sight it was also fantastic to learn about the many types of aids available that can make life just that little bit easier for people with a vision impairment. From simple devices that beep when your coffee or teacup is full to innovative adaptive technology with powerful magnification capabilities which can help someone with low vision to read.
James as a public transport user with a disability, wondered how a person who was blind would cope using a Myki card and we all leant something new from this important question. Many attendees were not aware that they could obtain a special vision impaired travel pass, which simplifies travel.
James remains a strong advocate for people living with a disability and can be contacted by emailing info@easylivingcare.com.au
If you want to know more about blindness and low vision, or some of the disability advocacy organizations mentioned in this article click on the tabs below.
- Raising Our Voices 3CR Radio self-advocacy group www.3cr.org.au/raisingourvoices
- AMIDA (Housing Advocacy for people with a Disability) www.amida.org.au/about-amida
- Club Mates (A Disability Travel Company) www.clubmatestravel.com/contactus
- Deaf blind Australia (An organization that supports people with vision and hearing impairments and deaf blindness) www.deafblind.org.au
- Vision Australia (A Not for Profit organization for people who are blind or have low vision) www.visionaustralia.org
Like us on social!
