Category: News and Views
With a little vision: Krystel Keller
12/19/2005
From: Newcastle Star, Australia
By: LARISSA MEIKLE
Submitted by Leon Gilbert
Tuesday, 20 December 2005 - Central Coast's Krystel Keller, a singer, songwriter and motivational speaker, was given help by Vision Australia's adaptive
technology consultant Chris Waller, to gain financial help to attend JMC (John Martin Cass) Academy.
Mr Waller, who is based at Vision Australia's Hamilton office, said money was needed to provide Ms Keller, who has been completely blind since the age of
two, with equipment such as computer screens and software and to generally make the course more accessible.
"Less than three per cent of technology in this country is accessible to blind or vision impaired people.
"My role in assisting Ms Keller was to help her gain a Scholarship Bursary Award, which is a $6000 special technology grant," Mr Waller said.
The bursary award is funded privately by donors who support Vision Australia, formerly known as the Royal Blind Society.
Ms Keller has been enrolled in her music course, in Sydney, for one year and has two years to go.
Mr Waller has been working with her since she completed her final year of high school and said his job is a rewarding one.
"It all comes down to a lot of simple things that can enable vision impaired people to do a lot of hard things – if I can create something that will make
someone's life easier I am satisfied."
He will be one of many proud people, when Ms Keller makes her debut performance at Carols by Candlelight at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne on Christmas
Eve, in front of a live audience of 20,000. It will also be televised by Channel 9 and viewed by 2.4 million Australians.
Vision Australia's Carols by Candlelight was launched by Ms Keller on December 6, in Newcastle.
All the proceeds from the concert with go to Vision Australia services for children, who are blind or visually impaired.
"I am really excited about Carols by Candlelight, it is a privilege to perform at such a prestigious event and at the same time support Vision," Ms Keller
said.
lol sean where on earth did you find this *hides self from world*
Awesome, thanks for posting this shawn.
Wow!!! This is so cool, Shawn!!! Congratulations, Krystel!!! You are definetly the best!!!
*SG*
I ecco the thanks from everyone for finding this Shawn and Pugster, You've always been a super star to me, and it's about time the rest of the world saw the light! Go Keller!
Ditto! Awesome job, sissy! Love ya. *GRIN*
Honestly I didn't go looking for it, it found me. Iwas lookig for another story about blindness and a guy I know has this section on his website called digital eyes. it's every story out there that has to do with blind people blind studys etc etc. anything blindness basicly. well I just ran across that article by mistake. Your way too humble puggle. grin. btw, if anyone is interested in that website here it is.
www.geoffandwen.com/
yayayayyayay chicky, the world will love you, smile. huggleeieeieeieeiees
Lol. We luv ya chicky. And good luck hiding! *g*