Kintsugi Heroes
Narelle Gatti · 31 min
In 15 minutes at age 42, Narelle Gatti went from computer programmer and driving mum to legally blind — and chose to turn that loss into a national advocacy movement for digital accessibility.
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At 42, Narelle Gatti walked into an optometrist's appointment as a computer programmer, mum of three, and someone who drove eight hours regularly to see family in Central Queensland. She walked out legally blind, never able to drive again. In fifteen minutes, everything changed for her, her husband, and her three sons. There was no public transport in their Brisbane suburb. One car. Three kids in footy, cricket, school. One licensed driver. The problem seemed impossible to solve.
Narelle grew up on a cattle property without electricity until age twelve, where making do was survival. No nearby shops meant her family planned ahead: milk powder in the cupboard, meat bought in bulk, a freezer full of bread. When vision loss hit, she reached back to that same skill. Bulk groceries when Mark could shop. Friends helping with uniforms. Her sons stepping up. She cried in the shower, not in front of the boys. To them, she said what her father had taught her: get over it, get on with it. You've gotta live. Her sister Jude and her best friend Jude held her up through panic attacks. When her friend Jude was dying, she asked Narelle to take on her two daughters. Narelle said yes. Now six kids in one house learned that disability was just another thing to adapt to.
Today, Narelle runs The Digital Access Show, a podcast featuring disabled people who work, run businesses, and solve problems every day. It exists so that anyone struggling knows they are not alone. Her message is simple: treat people like everyone else. Say your name so she knows who she's talking to. Don't stare. Have a normal conversation. Never be ashamed of who you are. Asking for help is not weakness. Everyone is normal.
Every story here belongs to the person who lived it. They said yes to sharing it, and we sat with it carefully before it went up. Nothing here is exaggerated and nothing is used without permission. Read how we handle these stories ↗
Kintsugi Heroes · Registered Australian not-for-profit · kintsugiheroes.com.au ↗