About this Short Film
Plating Blind (2021) by Morgan Healy (Australia) A compact, thoughtful short included in the Focus on Ability festival, Plating Blind invites viewers to consider the everyday realities and strengths of people with sensory disability. The film touches on themes of blindness and deafness, employment and young adulthood, and its tags reference meningitis and the culinary world. It offers a personal, human moment rather than broad statements, asking us to notice ability, adaptation and the ways workplaces and groups respond to difference. Presented as part of our festival programme, the film contributes to conversations about access, work and community in new and sometimes unexpected ways.
Film Details
Film Transcript
At the time it was devastating because he'd already lost his hearing. Admittedly he could use hearing aids which did help his hearing, but there was nothing whatsoever that could help his sight.
I quite often like to make more tea and coffee for myself, my mother Carol and my father Roger. We have never said to him, "No, you can't do that because you're blind" or "because you can't." We've encouraged him to try and do that — have a go. "Mom, Dad, your cup is ready."
I very rarely cook. Nate enjoys cooking and so it's not that often I have to cook, which I don't like.
I was lucky enough to get work in the hospital as a catering assistant, but I couldn't read the menu, so I had to transfer to cleaning. Then during the cleaning I was lucky enough to get a disability apprenticeship as a chef back in the kitchen. That gave me a never-give-up feeling, which I never gave up on — on becoming a chef.
I hope to become a little bit bigger in the future, like to become something else. I'd really love to become a teacher, to teach people regardless of their ability.
Just in a straight line, keeping the tip of the knife on the chopping board, lift up the heel and just carefully slice through the other way. Today we did jumbo bacon and egg rolls, gourmet chicken burgers and we also did a fish burger. I think the fellas went really well. They weren't scared to do anything in the kitchen. They followed food safety techniques really well, and once you've done that with the other set of tongs, can I please get you to turn the chicken?
At the end of the day the students seem really appreciative for what I've taught them in the day, and there's nothing stuck in there. I won't say it's been easy because it hasn't been easy. I mean, it makes part of our everyday life and we appreciate everything he does for us and with us.
I like to get out and help my father with gardening, my mum with any of the other work around the place. I try to do as much as I possibly can, but regardless of the time we'll be fishing.
I really love to help people and know that I've helped them some way. We all have different things that we struggle with, and I'd say people with disabilities haven't necessarily got a disability — they've just got a few difficulties.
Filmmaker
Morgan Healy is the filmmaker behind this entry. See every Focus on Ability entry from Morgan Healy.
What a beautiful insight into Nate and his familys life. What a wonderfully resilient kind and inspiring young man. Thanks for wanting to share your passion with others Nate in this wonderful world and thanks Morgan for capturing this now I feel like a bacon and egg roll Have a great day x
Thank you Morgan for embracing Nate's life challenges and commitment to ability .your passion and commitment to your film is from your heart you are a real person and a person that has made the focus on ability aspiring and easier for people to embrace. Forever Friends and family .hope we can get together after lockdown