Last year, Jasper was interviewed on diHARD: Diversity and Inclusion – The Hard Topics, a show on community radio station JOY 94.9. Jasper shared his lived experience as a deafblind queer trans man and raising awareness about what deafblindness really means in everyday life.
In the interview, Jasper spoke honestly about common misconceptions. “Being treated as if we’re either children or don’t have the capacity to run our own lives is one of the biggest misunderstandings,” he said. “We can make our own decisions and have our own views and values.”
Alongside these challenges, Jasper also highlighted positive and affirming life experiences. He shared how moving to Melbourne helped him find stronger community connections and meaningful work within a Deafblind-led organisation. “It’s an indescribably different workplace,” Jasper explained. “Access needs come first, and there’s a lot of empathy, care, and respect.”
Jasper also reflected on moments of inclusion within the queer community, from Pride March to new social and community connections. “Other times, people have come up to have chats with me and it’s been a lot more inclusive,” he said.
As Midsumma Festival comes to a close this Saturday, Jasper’s story is a timely reminder of why accessible, inclusive, and welcoming spaces matter — not just during festival season, but all year round.
By sharing both the barriers and the joys of his life, Jasper continues to raise awareness of the deafblind experience and the importance of accessible, respectful, and inclusive spaces for everyone.
You can listen to the whole podcast and read the transcript on the Joy website.
