Britain robs blind children of their childhood

Guide Dogs has revealed the UK’s neglect of blind and partially-sighted children and young people – which leaves them lonely, isolated, unable to make friends and fearful of the future.

Some 18,000 youngsters under 17 are missing out on crucial mobility, independence and life skills. Without them they can’t get around safely on their own or carry out simple daily tasks like getting dressed after PE, cooking a meal or going shopping.

Guide Dogs research shows Government failure to provide national guidelines and standards leads to patchy provision in the UK by local councils with 30 per cent – around 6000 youngsters – not receiving any mobility training and 9000 no support in those daily living skills.

Furthermore, eight out of ten parents say they have not received the support and information they need to be equipped to help their children with these skills.

Those youngsters who do receive training often find it inadequate, piecemeal or not even offered until they reach secondary school, leaving them lonely, isolated and over-dependent on their families. The research shows:

• Two thirds have most of their social life within their families

• A third are bullied over sight loss at school

• Forty per cent make most of their friends online as they lack the confidence and social skills to make friends with classmates

• One in ten never goes out with friends

Guide Dogs Chief Executive, Bridget Warr, said: “It’s a failure by society and the state at both national and local level. This lack of support means we are raising a generation of young people who may not be able to make a valuable contribution to society.

“The picture that emerges from our research is shocking. Children are being conditioned to expect to under achieve for the rest of their lives. When, in fact sight loss is no barrier to actively contributing to society when the right support is in place.

“These young people end up isolated, excluded and unable to imagine anything but a bleak future for themselves. Two out of three have most of their social life within their own family. Imagine that if you are a teenager.

“And even where mobility and independent living skills are taught, it’s haphazard and far too often delivered years too late.

“One 12-year-old told the researchers: ‘I would have (liked to) have learnt to walk with a cane sooner, making me more independent. I was still holding mum’s hand at eleven.’

“Every day, as a society, we continue to fail these youngsters. Without these skills children can’t fit in with their classmates, don’t develop friendships at school and a third are bullied. Two in five say most of their friends are ones they met online or on the internet. That is not right.”

The researchers found that visually impaired youngsters are significantly more socially excluded than those with cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis and epilepsy.

But the research also showed that where the right help and support is available in the right places at the right time, the outlook is very different.

Guide Dogs Operations Director, Stephen Kirk, said: “Mobility and daily life skills training are a critical part of the services we provide children and young people.

“For the youngsters we help the experience is literally life-changing. Our instructors open up a new world for their clients.

“We believe every blind and partially-sighted child should have access to these life-transforming services.”

Guide Dogs is calling for blind and partially-sighted children to receive the support they need to be able to live their lives and actively participate in society.

Harriet Tait, 14, loves nothing more than her weekly shopping trip to the local post office in Great Corby, Cumbria.

For most youngsters, not much of a challenge at all, but for Harriet, with severely limited vision, this is a great achievement. A couple of years ago she couldn’t even walk between classrooms without guidance from a teaching assistant.

Born with the eye condition chorio-retinal atrophy, a scarring of the retina, Harriet used to lack confidence and found it difficult to judge when it was safe to cross the road. Using a long cane helped her avoid static obstacles, but finding her bearings and judging crossing opportunities between moving traffic was a non-starter.

She explains: “The mobility support I’ve had from Guide Dogs in recent years has transformed my independence. I’ve learnt to get around on my own, practising finding safe places to cross roads and repeating my regular walking routes so that every hazard, crossing-point, step and doorway becomes familiar.”

Conquering shyness is often a challenge for blind and partially-sighted youngsters, however, in Harriet’s case, interaction with teachers, other children and shop assistants is working wonders.

“I love being independent,” says Harriet. “It’s great fun not having to rely on other people, learning new things and making more friends. Blindness is no longer the barrier it used to be.”

For many blind and partially-sighted people the ultimate in mobility aids is the guide dog. An initial pilot matching four teenagers with a guide dog has also proved highly successful.

Fifteen-year-old Sidney Tambin entered the record books as one of the UK’s youngest guide dog owners in August 2006.

Three years later, his freedom and independence have been transformed out of all recognition, thanks to Jamie, his four-legged companion.

Sidney, from Durham, has an artificial left eye, and the vision in his right is limited due to glaucoma. This means he can only differentiate between light and dark, recognising shapes, but unable to appreciate the detail of what he sees.

Jamie accompanies him to college in Hereford, and has even taken him onto centre court at Wimbledon… and that wasn’t a wrong turn!

Sidney was given the honour of tossing the coin before the Men’s Singles Final in 2007; it went without saying that Jamie would accompany him onto the famous lawn of SW19!

Now in his final year at college studying business and computing he was the first guide dog owner to receive the bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award. Once again, Jamie accompanied him, this time off-roading. Sidney had to camp in the Forest of Dean, and complete a seven mile hike; Jamie navigating around trees, rocks and other obstacles to ensure they successfully completed the course.

Sidney says: “Jamie is my ‘ace’. From Wimbledon to college and the wilds of the Forest of Dean, he provides me with freedom and independence, which I couldn’t have dreamed of a few years ago. It’s all about team work, a special bond which has opened up new opportunities. Now I think all my dreams will come true.”

Guide Dogs has now committed to opening the guide dog service to all regardless of age and expects to launch a nationwide service to young people in the New Year.