Without the ability to talk fluently and with limited movement due to motor neurone disease (MND), Paul Kelly has led a successful Tasmanian local government election campaign using eye-gaze technology for his dad, newly-elected Hobart city councillor John Kelly.
The technology tracks eye movement to direct a mouse on a computer screen and can select items by the user blinking or holding their gaze for a short period.
Mr Kelly averaged four hours of work a day over three months using the technology to manage online aspects of the campaign, overall strategy, and execution.
The 30-year-old said he was chuffed his dad was elected to council after attracting the highest-ever vote for an off-council candidate and surprised at how he could contribute to the campaign given his disability.
Early signs of MND
Mr Kelly was first diagnosed with MND seven years ago but had shrugged off the first obvious symptom before that.
"I used to play soccer and I began experiencing a delayed reflex in my left foot which would cause me to trip up mid-game," Mr Kelly said.
"I thought it was just a temporary quirk that would fix up in a week or two."
It persisted and became worse on a trip overseas, prompting Mr Kelly to have the issue checked upon his return to Australia.
"The idea that I might have MND was far from my mind," he said.
"Doctors told me that it was possible but extremely unlikely.
"I showed up for my appointment and [my neurologist] announced it — 'motor neurone disease?'
"I asked, 'The one that Stephen Hawking's got?'"
The election campaign
Mr Kelly became an accidental local government election campaign manager, providing support on almost all aspects of his dad's campaign until he was "managing the thing".
A communications degree and journalism experience had Mr Kelly well-placed to take the lead and build upon his dad's connection to the community.
John Kelly is known for his work as a small business owner and was Hobart Citizen of the Year in 2016.
"Our strategy was to not come across as your typical 'vote 1' political advertising," Mr Kelly said.
"To get John to speak in a more authentic and localised manner."
Building a social media presence "starting from zero" to 260,000 content views within three months is something Mr Kelly is proud of.
"Not a bad effort," he said.
Mr Kelly thinks a lot of people were surprised by how close they came to his dad winning mayor.
"For him to be on council with the second highest vote makes him well placed to have a positive impact on Hobart," Mr Kelly said.
An empowering experience
Using eye-gaze technology to manage an election campaign has been an enormously empowering experience for Mr Kelly, who said the technology was mind-blowing in what it could achieve.
"Basically, it involves a laser that is able to track the movements of my retina," Mr Kelly said.
"I am able to use a computer as proficiently as most people."
Since diagnosis, he has lost the ability to walk, use his arms and is losing his ability to speak but says there are many silver linings in the process of living with MND.
"The opportunity to go down the rabbit hole of health and healing. The opportunity to re-evaluate my life and life in general," Mr Kelly said.
"The development of many relationships that otherwise never would have been and the development of many traits.
"I have generally had the sense that even though it is not what I wanted that there is something to be salvaged from it. That it can be purposeful.
"In many ways, I am stronger and more at peace now than I have ever been."
Mr Kelly continues to provide support to Councillor John Kelly.
