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VIC CHAMPION

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Libby Lake (she/her)

LIVED EXPERIENCE
Disability and Vision Loss

KEY INFORMATION

Place of Birth: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Current location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Age: 43 years old 
Language/s: English only
LGBTQIA+: No
CALD: Yes - Hungarian & British
NDIS Participant: Yes
Diagnoses: Ocular Albinism, Fibromyalgia, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Surgical Menopause, Central sensitisation, Irritable Bowel Disease, Irritable Larynx Syndrome
Healthcare Access: Primary Health Care, Allied Health, Secondary care, Mental Health

BIO

Libby Lake is a well-travelled humanitarian and accomplished woman who uses her lived experience to support the community, develop training and lead change. Libby is passionate about improving equity and inclusion, and has developed language guides, education and processes for various organisations to better support people with disability. Born with a rare genetic condition - Ocular Albinism -  that causes vision loss, nystagmus, and photophobia, Libby has lived her life with an invisible disability, which often led her to be perceived as 'not disabled enough'. This impact of this perception delayed her access to supports such as the NDIS, and has given her an in-depth understanding of the complexities between disability, identity and disclosure. In her adolescence, Libby was diagnosed with Stage III Melanoma and was the youngest person, and one of the first in Australia, to be treated with immunotherapy.  In addition to her lived experience of vision loss and cancer, Libby has a broad range of experiences in health including mental health, pain management, allied health, neurology, rheumatology, gastroenterology and more. Libby is a talented writer and speaker and is enthusiastic about broadening the scope of her lived experience engagement in research, consulting, product design, focus groups and more.

ACHIEVEMENTS

  • Beat cancer! The youngest person, and one of the first, to be treated with immunotherapy

  • World traveller - 26 countries and counting; snorkelling with turtles in Hawaii, skydiving, zip-lining, parasailing, flown in a hot air balloon and helicopter multiple times

  • Conference speaker on capability assessments within the learning and development sector

  • Written articles for Hireup & People with Disability Australia

  • Mentor with The Smith Family for two years

  • Participant in online forum about disability and accessibility within the learning and development sector

  • Long term volunteer (6 years) for Ready Set (formerly Wear for Success)

  • Raised over $1,000 for Vision Australia during the My2020 Campaign

  • Appeared on the Vision Australia website, NDIS Facebook campaign and Vision Australia radio

LINKS

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