Maribel Steel

Maribel Steel has a keen ear for the spoken word, and is passionate about creativity and effective communication. She wears many different hats as an award-winning speaker, memoirist and author, lyricist and recording artist and mother.  She thrives on empowering her community by using her voice through storytelling and sharing songs from the heart.

Maribel is based in Melbourne, and being visually-impaired, she often gives presentations to schools and organisations with her guide dog to promote accessibility and diversity.

In 2010 she was project co-ordinator of ‘Precious music – Precious Water’, a world premiere concert held at Melbourne Town Hall withThe Victorian Women’s Trust. In 2015, she designed a community event called Vision-quest Melbourne, endorsed by Arts Access Victoria. In 2017, she was awarded an ‘Inspire’ Award For her contributions to Community Service, and a High Commendation in the WriteAbility Fellowships.

Maribel has gained an international reputation for being an engaging and entertaining presenter, keynote speaker, radio and podcast guest; appearing on ABC Radio National, Sydney TV, Vision Australia Radio, UK and Canadian podcasts.

As a writer, editor and advocate of audio books, Maribel is an Australia Reads Ambassador. She also contributes articles as a peer advisor for VisionAware (USA). Her most recent book, ‘Blindness for Beginners: a renewed vision of the possible’ was launched in collaboration with Writers’ Victoria in 2019.

She has sat on the judging panel for Vision Australia’s Dickenson’s Literary Awards and for the Accessible Books Consortium (UK) for the International Excellence Awards in Accessible Publishing.

Download Maribel’s handy worksheet here

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