For Debbie Lenehan, giving back to Vision Australia and the blind and low vision community is nothing new.
Debbie began to lose her vision in 1996 and was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa and Bull's Eye Maculopathy. After her diagnosis, Debbie came to Vision Australia seeking support and became a client.
Since then she has made use of a number of specialist support services, including occupational therapy, orientation and mobility support, adaptive technology advice and taking part in the Quality Living program.
“All of the services I’ve been part of have been helpful. The staff have been fantastic,” Debbie says.
More recently, Debbie has also provided Vision Australia with support after she decided to become a volunteer and now she’s taking another step to support the blind and low vision community.
Debbie is a different approach to support others in the blind and low vision community, through the Westfield Local Heroes Program.
Debbie is one of six finalists from Westfield Carindale as part of the program and is attempting to win a $10,000 grant to go towards the development of future Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs, but she needs your help.
Click here and vote for Debbie. Every vote counts and it could be yours that makes a huge difference in the lives of people who are blind or have low vision (for those using JAWS and other screen-reading software, you need to select Debbie's name to vote for he and not the graphic).
Voting closes on 1 July, so don’t wait and make sure you share with all your friends!
“Vision Australia has been such a great support to me during my journey with vision loss, and I wanted to help others in the same situation,” Debbie says.
Since the mid-2000s, Debbie has volunteered in a number of ways. She’s been part of the Friends of Vision Australia Coorparoo fundraising team and cares for Hini, the Ambassador Dog for Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs. She’s also been a part of the Individual Peer Support Program to assist other people who are blind or have low vision on their journey with vision loss.
“Being able to talk to somebody who had been through the same things I was experiencing was such a big thing for me and I just wanted to provide that same support to somebody else that might need it,” she says.