Guide Dog Week 2009

Loneliness, isolation, unable to make friends and fearful of the future….

Some 18,000 young people under 17, who are blind or partially-sighted face this plight in the UK, Guide Dogs has revealed. Full details of the research findings are shown in: ‘Functionality and the needs of blind and partially sighted children and young people’:

Crucial to these youngsters are mobility, independence and life skills. Without them they can’t get around safely on their own and can’t do simple everyday tasks like getting dressed or going shopping.

Guide Dogs is calling for national guidelines and standards to be put in place to ensure blind and partially-sighted children receive the support they need to be able to live their lives and actively participate in society. And as a charity, we are committed to providing mobility services and support specifically to them.

This year’s Guide Dog Week has the theme ‘children and young people’ and between 05 – 11 October we’ll be showing how we can make a real difference to the lives of youngsters with sight loss.

Guide dogs for under-16s

Over the last few years, the charity has undertaken a carefully managed pilot scheme training under-16s with guide dogs. This has proved to be very successful, with the youngsters involved showing increased confidence and mobility and also doing much better at school.

Find out more about the four under-16 guide dog owners and their life-transforming canine companions:

Andrea Cooper and Cara - Previously guided to school by her twin brother, Andrea now has a new independent life at Warwick University, all thanks to guide dog Cara.

Sidney Tambin and Jamie - A partnership that’s taken in the centre court at Wimbledon, where Sidney tossed the coin before the 2007 Men’s Singles Final.

Brad Ranson and Lance - Aged just 13, he became the youngest guide dog owner in the UK.

Kirsty Meinhardt and Websta - A guide dog that is best mates with Kirsty and with her teachers too!

Vision Support Services

Guide Dogs also provides confidence-building rehabilitation services to children and young people, as well as adults. This includes long cane mobility training and the development of communication and daily living skills.

Find out how the lives of three visually-impaired young people have been transformed by the charity’s rehabilitation services:

Harriet Tait - Blindness is no longer a barrier as Harriet conquers her shyness.

Lucy Hobson - Learning to use mobility aids to increase her freedom and keep up with her friends.

Rachel Elliott - With the right mobility support she’s now sailing on the high seas!

Link to more info on vision support services for young people

Teaching materials

Through the links below, teachers and sighted children can learn about sight loss, and how they can play their part in assisting visually-impaired youngsters. The educational content is based around the National Curriculum.

Link to Teachers Page

Link to How to be a Sighted Guide

Resources for parents

For information and advice on a wide range of parenting issues visit:

www.BBC.co.uk/parenting

www.parentscentre.gov.uk

www.netmums.com

For more information about this year’s Guide Dog Week email chris.dyson@guidedogs.org.uk or call 0118 983 8281.