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From Engineer to Educator

by Human Book John

56 years living as a “normal person” changed in an instant. My journey from impairment to inclusion for people with disability.

I joined the Hobart Human Library in early 2021.

I’m a human ‘book’ because I look normal but experience information discrimination because I can’t hear like everyone else. I want people to understand that my impairment/disability doesn’t define me or others for that matter. I want people to understand that people with disabilities are not disabled, the environment and society disables them!

My favourite movie is “Chariots of Fire”. Fantastic story choc-a-block with British acting royalty. It is about racial stereotyping and how one man overcame it. I can still vaguely remember the soundtrack which is/was also my favourite musical score.

The best experiences I have whilst being a book is watching children react when I explain the suddenness and associated impact losing hearing in 2 minutes had on me.

Something that people can do to make others feel more included is recognise we are all impaired in some way – nobody is perfect – and accept people the way they are.

Alice Webb

Alice Webb is a passionate advocate for diversity, inclusion, and social justice, bringing over 18 years of leadership experience to her role as CEO of A Fairer World. With a background in education, disability advocacy, and organisational leadership, Alice is dedicated to empowering individuals and organisations to create meaningful change. She holds a Master’s in Education and a Master’s in Business Administration, equipping her with both the strategic insight and educational expertise to drive impactful change. Alice is a skilled facilitator in unconscious bias training, diversity and inclusion programs, and workplace cultural change initiatives. Under her leadership, A Fairer World delivers innovative programs like the Hobart Human Library, where real-life storytellers share lived experiences of bias and discrimination to foster empathy and challenge assumptions. Committed to creating inclusive spaces, Alice believes that awareness leads to action and that education is the key to breaking down barriers. Her engaging training style, combined with real-world case studies and interactive discussions, makes her an inspiring leader in the fight for a fairer, more equitable society.