I’m Renée, I’m 51, and I’ve always been someone who finds meaning in people, family and helping others move forward. I was born in Rotorua and grew up between Rotorua, Whangārei and Thames in Aotearoa New Zealand. Life has taken me through many different experiences, from studying to become a teacher to working in government organisations for the past 13 years, where I’ve continued to learn, grow and gain new skills along the way. I’ve also completed a Diploma in Professional Coaching, which has connected strongly with my natural desire to support and encourage people.
Family is a huge part of who I am. I’m married with three children and am a very proud nana to my three-year-old grandson. I’m also close with my three nephews and three nieces, and their little ones have become part of our wider whānau. I love being surrounded by family and seeing the different generations grow. At heart, I’m someone who enjoys helping people find their way forward, whether that’s supporting someone through a challenge, helping them reach a goal, or turning an idea into something real. Looking ahead, I’d love to bring together my coaching experience and my love of getting things done through project management, helping people take an idea and turn it into action.

Source document: https://drnz.co.nz/travelling-while-disabled-pitfalls-and-better-practice/

Note: We use AI voices for our Deep Dives. The source document (link above) is the base for the discussion, if you prefer to read the source.

00:00 Introduction - Disability Disrupters Podcast
00:21 Introduction to Podcast guest - Renee Wells
00:57 Ad - Get interviewed for Disability Disrupters podcast
24:19 Update from Renee and Flight Centre
25:29 Ad - Get interviewed for Disability Disrupters podcast
26:03 Deep Dive - Travelling while Disabled: Pitfalls and Better Practice
48:32 Advert - Tipjar support for the podcast
49:25 Goodbye from Dr Pam

Support the Disability Disrupters podcast by contributing to our tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/disability-disrupters

Disability Responsiveness New Zealand offers personalised mentoring and workshops, view the content of these at https://drnz.co.nz/about-our-workshops-and-programmes/

Audio Shorts background music, credit and thanks to www.andrelouis.com

Podcast Host: Dr. Pam MacNeill

Podcast editor: Britta Offergeld

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My name is Wally Noble and I am a T4 paraplegic and manual wheelchair user whose work is grounded in lived experience, disability awareness, and creating greater understanding of the everyday realities faced by disabled people. I work as a researcher with the Donald Beasley Institute and also as an online presenter, delivering disability awareness training that encourages respectful communication, inclusion, and practical change.

Outside of this professional work, I am a proud father of six and grandfather to seven mokopuna. I am a keen pool player and a former Waka Ama paddler. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is an important part of my life, and I consistently work on my fitness and making healthy food choices. My approach to both work and life is focused on participation, independence, wellbeing, and helping build communities where disabled people are understood, respected, and included.

Wally is bookable for Workplace Health & Safety presentations, keynote presentations, workshops, and organisational briefings at https://wallynoble.co.nz/

00:00 Introduction - Disability Disrupters Podcast

00:21 Introduction to Podcast guest

00:47 Ad - Get interviewed for Disability Disrupters podcast

01:18 Interview with Wally Noble

33:07 Deep Dive - Changing the Conversation, Shifting the Power

55:28 Goodbye from Dr Pam

55:41 Advert - Tipjar support for the podcast

Support the Disability Disrupters podcast by contributing to our tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/disability-disrupters

Disability Responsiveness New Zealand offers personalised mentoring and workshops, view the content of these at https://drnz.co.nz/about-our-workshops-and-programmes/

Audio Shorts background music, credit and thanks to www.andrelouis.com

Support Disability Disrupters by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/disability-disrupters

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David Goldfield is a visually impaired technology user with over 35 years of experience working in the blindness technology space. He provided tech support for Blazie Engineering and then spent 18 years providing computer training to blind children and adults. After that, he worked at Comcast as a program manager for the company’s accessibility team. David is now the marketing director for Blazie Technologies, developers of computers with an eight-dot Braille input keyboard. David is a practicing Catholic. In his spare time, you’ll find him interacting with people on Mastodon and listening to interfaith debates. David has also been a dedicated Doctor Who fan for over 40 years and enjoys audio drama, particularly science fiction.

Personal Web Site:

www.DavidGoldfield.com

Blazie Technologies, developers of BT Speak and BT Braille

www.BlazieTech.com

Leasey Central (an add-on for JAWS or Fusion)

https://hartgenconsultancy.com/leaseycentral/

FastSMRW, a Mastodon client

https://brynify.me/pages/FastSuite.php

Fedra, another Mastodon client

https://github.com/trypsynth/fedra

Mona, my Mastodon client of choice for iOS

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mona-7-for-mastodon/id6755672518

00:00 Introduction - Disability Disrupters Podcast

00:21 Introduction to Podcast

00:47 Ad - Get interviewed for Disability Disrupters podcast

01:18 Introduction to Podcast guest - David Goldfield

44:12 Advert - NZ Election 2026 Disability Policies report

44:46 Introduction to the Deep Dive discussion

45:25 Deep Dive - The exhaustion of continually educating people about blindness and disability

01:19:09 Goodbye from Dr Pam

01:19:22 Advert - Tipjar support for the podcast

Support the Disability Disrupters podcast by contributing to our tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/disability-disrupters

Disability Responsiveness New Zealand offers personalised mentoring and workshops, view the content of these at https://drnz.co.nz/about-our-workshops-and-programmes/

Audio Shorts background music, credit and thanks to www.andrelouis.com

Support Disability Disrupters by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/disability-disrupters

Read transcript