Miss-Delectable
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
- Messages
- 17,160
- Reaction score
- 7
Deaf and Blind Institute CEO retires
It was 1978 when John Berryman was hired to install the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children's first computer.
Thirty-three years later, the institute has hundreds of computers and Mr Berryman is signing off after 26 years as the organisation's chief executive officer.
"It's been a very big part of my life and a very rewarding part of my life but I do recognise it's time to let younger, more vigorous, more up-to-date people take the reigns," Mr Berryman told AAP.
Since he was hired as an IT manager three decades ago, Mr Berryman has watched the organisation grow with developments in technology and society's growing understanding of managing disabilities.
He said those working in the industry now were better trained and better prepared than in the past, and experts today recognise the need for early intervention and early diagnosis of vision and hearing impairments.
There have also been significant technological developments such as the Cochlear implant, he said.
"All these technological changes have made it so much more likely that a deaf child and a blind child will go as far in education as they want to ... that's been a phenomenal change," he said.
The 62-year-old said his legacy would be having hired the staff that have achieved so much at the institute.
His last day will be March 31, after which he will return to university to complete his graduate diploma in teaching the English language.
Mr Berryman hopes to then teach overseas but not before he takes a break.
"I've been working 41 years straight, I want a bit of a rest," he said.
It was 1978 when John Berryman was hired to install the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children's first computer.
Thirty-three years later, the institute has hundreds of computers and Mr Berryman is signing off after 26 years as the organisation's chief executive officer.
"It's been a very big part of my life and a very rewarding part of my life but I do recognise it's time to let younger, more vigorous, more up-to-date people take the reigns," Mr Berryman told AAP.
Since he was hired as an IT manager three decades ago, Mr Berryman has watched the organisation grow with developments in technology and society's growing understanding of managing disabilities.
He said those working in the industry now were better trained and better prepared than in the past, and experts today recognise the need for early intervention and early diagnosis of vision and hearing impairments.
There have also been significant technological developments such as the Cochlear implant, he said.
"All these technological changes have made it so much more likely that a deaf child and a blind child will go as far in education as they want to ... that's been a phenomenal change," he said.
The 62-year-old said his legacy would be having hired the staff that have achieved so much at the institute.
His last day will be March 31, after which he will return to university to complete his graduate diploma in teaching the English language.
Mr Berryman hopes to then teach overseas but not before he takes a break.
"I've been working 41 years straight, I want a bit of a rest," he said.