Adalee
Content Warning: These stories are about violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation and may include references to suicide or self-harming behaviours. They may contain graphic descriptions and strong language and may be distressing. Some narratives may be about First Nations people who have passed away. If you need support, please see Contact & support.
‘Everywhere I go I’ve been disliked … I don’t think people understand me ... being vision impaired.’
Adalee, mid-50s, is vision impaired. Her eyes make repetitive uncontrolled movements. She has epilepsy and, more recently, anxiety and depression.
In the 1970s, Adalee’s family migrated to Australia and she attended state primary and secondary schools. She couldn’t see the board or read notices in glassed-covered noticeboards. In secondary school she had to climb up on a chair and put her face against the glass to read the timetable.
Adalee told the Royal Commission students continually bullied and harassed her. One student chased her home growling at her. Another repeatedly punched her in the genital region until she cried. ‘The students kept bullying and bullying but the teachers didn’t do anything about it.’
Because of the bullying and lack of support, Adalee failed year 12 and had to repeat the year.
Repeating year 12 was a much better experience. A teacher noticed the bullying and Adalee’s vision impairment. She arranged for someone from the department of education to come and assess her. As a result, the school made reasonable adjustments for Adalee, which included extra time and a separate space to complete her exams. Students became ‘much calmer and much more accepting’ of her disability.
Following school, Adalee went to university and completed a social work degree. She then got an administrative job with a large government department.
Adalee enjoyed her work but said the department was not supportive. They didn’t understand her vision impairment and often ‘berated her’ for making mistakes. One supervisor told her she ‘belonged on a farm working with animals’.
The staff who completed the medical assessment prior to Adalee starting work didn’t comment on her vision impairment. Soon after she started, the department arranged another assessment. She feels they did this ‘just to get rid of [her] from the job’. They moved her to a high-pressure call centre where all her work involved using computer screens. Without supports, Adalee’s mistakes increased. ‘At the end they were so happy to write a bad report about me.’ The department didn’t extend her probation.
Adalee went back to university. She did a teaching degree and taught English as a second language.
In the 2010s Adalee worked for a neighbourhood centre. Her first manager was very ‘understanding’ and ‘helpful’. But the next manager didn’t understand her vision impairment. When Adalee asked for an interactive monitor and a laptop, her manager refused. At one stage Adalee’s manager told her she was ‘scaring people’ when she interacted with them in person. Adalee knew he was talking about her eye movement.
A short time later, the manager terminated her employment after she gave her opinion on another teacher’s lesson plan. Adalee made a complaint to the Fair Work Ombudsman and received compensation for unfair dismissal.
‘I got into a deep deep depression,’ Adalee said.
Adalee’s GP diagnosed her with work-related depression and anxiety. She made a complaint to WorkCover. She had to attend various medical assessments and appear before a medical panel. The panel decided she was ‘exaggerating’ her injury and gave her 15 per cent incapacitation.
Adalee is disappointed by the outcome. She says the weekly payments are a constant reminder of what happened. If the panel had given her 30 per cent incapacitation they would have made a lump sum payment and Adalee could get on with her life.
Disclaimer: This is the story of a person who shared their personal experience with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability through a submission or private session. The names in this story are pseudonyms. The person who shared this experience was not a witness and their account is not evidence. They did not take an oath or affirmation before providing the story. Nothing in this story constitutes a finding of the Royal Commission. Any views expressed are those of the person who shared their experience, not of the Royal Commission.