Jacob and Kevin Baldwin at Jacob's graduation, 1979

Jacob worked toward this goal for the rest of his life. He was the first disabled person to graduate from rehabilitation counselling studies.

His experience at the college highlights how difficult it was for someone in a wheelchair just to attend classes — confronted with a set of stairs to get into the lecture theatre, he had to wait for fellow students to lift him and his wheelchair up the stairs.

Jacob could not take notes, so he taped the lectures and his stepfather transcribed them for him.

Counsellor and advocate

After graduating in 1979 Jacob worked as a community welfare counsellor. The New South Wales state government recognised Jacob's skill as an advocate for the disabled and invited him to join the NSW Advisory Council for the Disabled.

He was prominent in the organisation of events for the International Year of the Disabled in 1981 and was a founding member of the advocacy organisation now known as People with Disability Australia. Jacob’s book Why does that Person Look Funny sought to explain disability to young children.

He spoke to many tertiary students about the needs of people with disabilities.