Celebrating Ruby
Celebrating Ruby
Every International Women’s Day, organisations around the world pause to recognise the impact women make in their workplaces and communities. At Ability Works, that recognition isn’t limited to a single moment in the calendar – it’s woven into the way we work every day. Our organisation is strengthened by women with disability, women from culturally diverse backgrounds, women stepping into new careers, women leading teams, and women championing inclusion in ways that create meaningful change.
Together, they form a collective story of resilience, curiosity, lived experience, and a shared belief that workplaces should be places where everyone belongs. Within that broader story are the voices of individual women whose journeys reflect the heart of Ability Works.
This is one of those stories.
Advocating for accessibility, representation and the power of confidence
Ruby’s journey to Ability Works began with a barrier far too common: stigma around disability in mainstream employment. But what she found here changed everything.
“I love the Ability Works community… it’s like one big family.”
With support, confidence‑building and task breakdowns that honoured her learning style, Ruby grew into a Team Leader and a passionate advocate for accessibility in mainstream employment.
She speaks passionately about representation – from neurodiverse women on social media to actors with disability finally being cast in roles that reflect their reality.
Ruby also champions awareness days that matter to her, including International Day of People with Disability, Global Accessibility Awareness Day, and the lesser‑known International Day of the Corpus Callosum.
Her vision of an inclusive workplace is grounded in sensory accessibility:
“Ear protection, lighting that isn’t harsh, quiet rooms, adjustable lighting, access training…”
Ruby is rightfully proud of her leadership role and her transition into open employment at Banyule City Council, made possible by the confidence she built at Ability Works.
Her advice is pure empowerment:
“Keep advocating for yourself – you can do or be anything. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”