Karen
Occupational Therapist, Karen Aird started working with VisAbility Tasmania in April 2021. She is authentic, committed and effortlessly stylish.
Prior to joining VisAbility, Karen worked in hospital settings, with a homeless population, in aged care, and with private providers.
Prior to becoming an OT, she worked in management roles in both the clothing and pharmaceutical industries.
Karen enjoys the diversity of her role at VisAbility and engages with a range of clients who have varied needs and expectations.
When Karen isn’t at work, you can find her on the tools renovating her house, hiking, swimming and catching up with friends and family.
“I enjoy being challenged to identify ways to support our clients to meet their individual goals”
Anna
Anna Cottrell-Davies moved to Tasmania from New Zealand in early 2021 and joined the VisAbility Occupational Therapy team in August.
She has worked in a variety of inpatient and community based roles including:
- Older adult mental health
- Needs assessment and complex care planning
- Acquired brain injury (ABI) rehabilitation
- Spinal cord injury (SCI) management
- Complex equipment prescription
- Pressure care
- Assistive technology
- Home modification
Anna is warm, honest and thoroughly enjoys working in the field of low vision.
Anna loves being in the outdoors and most weekends she will be riding her mountain bike or going for a walk in the bush. If she needs a quiet weekend at home she enjoys spending time in the kitchen.
“The people I work with in this role have often been living with a vision impairment for a large proportion of their life and I get great satisfaction learning from them, whilst also being able to share my knowledge to help them achieve their goals.”
Jordan
Jordan joined VisAbility in early September as our Assistive Technology Specialist.
Jordan has a Bachelor of Education (Special Education) with a specialisation in vision impairment, a Certificate IV in Information Technology, and also undertook a Bachelor of Counselling.
As an Assistive Technology Specialist, Jordan works with clients to explore what technology is available to meet their needs and supports them to learn the equipment.
Jordan has lived experience of low vision and first-hand experience of how technology has benefitted his life.
Jordan has always enjoyed working with technology and teaching, and enjoys the opportunity this role provides to combine them to inform clients about technology options and provide training where necessary.
As an avid gadget hobbyist, Jordan enjoys trialling new equipment and is excited to explore all the new solutions that will be developed in the future. “Sharing that information with others who may enjoy the benefits in various aspects of life is another wonderful aspect of my role,” he said.
When not at work Jordan volunteers for numerous organisations including Riding for the Disabled Association of Tasmania (link opens in new window). He also enjoys bushwalking and investigating or tinkering with new software or gadgets whenever he can.
“My life experience of having low vision since birth are of great benefit as they give me lived experience in how technology can assist our lives. I’ve seen much development in my lifetime.”