For Jane, accessing the education she was entitled to wasn't easy. But the 31 year-old knew the best way to be treated fairly was to stand up for her rights, and it worked.
Jane's determination has allowed her to complete a number of university degrees and she now hopes others will follow her lead.
"I've spent the past 10 years at university and have completed multiple degrees. When I first started, I was having issues with accessing the content," Jane said.
"The text in the course materials wasn't large enough so I approached the course coordinators. If I didn't get a good response, I visited the disability advisor to get their advice as they were more inclined to help," she said.
After experiencing discrimination or barriers as a result of being blind or having low vision at school, university or in the community, it can be challenging to find the confidence to speak up – even when the law is on your side.
Understanding and navigating through all the options can also be challenging. This is where Vision Australia's Stand up for your Rights Guides can support you.
The best course of action, templates and contact details of the agencies that exist to represent your rights are covered in these resources.
In order to make sure the guides are effective, they were developed through consultation with individuals, including Jane, who have lived experience with vision loss, and Vision Australia's advocacy team.
"The guides are really useful, especially the information on the Disability Discrimination Act and other laws. I now know my legal standing. I didn't really know what it all meant before, but the guides simplify all the terminologies," Jane said.
"There's also a list of all the external bodies like the Human Rights Commission. I didn't realise that they were there for me. I thought they only looked after big issues concerning businesses, not students."
Speaking from experience, Jane encourages all students and anyone who's standing up for their rights that they never have to go through the journey alone. Sharing your voice with others is important.
"If you're not feeling very confident, take someone with you to any meetings. It's nice to have someone to chat with, and it gives you more confidence just having someone with you.
"Your experiences are typically shared by others. Simply knowing you’re not alone also has an impact."
It's never too late to stand up for your rights. Like Jane, if you need some support to live the life you choose, check out the full range of our Stand up for Your Rights Guides.