Rachel Elliott

It is natural for parents to have a protective instinct towards their children’s safety, often restricting where daughters and sons can go.

Rachel, a 13-year-old from Newcastle upon Tyne is registered as sight impaired and suffers from epilepsy. As a result she finds her freedom of movement has been curtailed more than most.

Understandably, her mum has been reluctant to let her step too far outside the front gate on her own. But the downside of looking after Rachel’s safety and well-being is that she has fewer opportunities for socialising and developing her confidence.

Guide Dogs’ mobility instructor Noel Graham – funded by Newcastle Children’s Services – has worked closely with mother and daughter to open up social opportunities for Rachel.

As a first step, Noel helped Rachel to master the route to the cinema in Newcastle’s Metro Centre, one of the largest shopping malls in Europe.

He explains: “Over a period of months, Rachel travelled the route with me over and over again, until she knew every kerb, step, turn and door; she’s now confident of making the trip alone and importantly, her mum is reassured.”

Getting to the cinema unaided is one thing, but Rachel’s confidence has now grown to such an extent, she’s been sailing in the North Sea.

“There was an opportunity to join a team of blind and partially sighted children on a five-day sailing adventure,” explains Rachel. “I jumped at the chance; having found my freedom getting about locally, I wanted to prove that sight loss wasn’t a barrier to any of my dreams.”

Rachel was a natural, and enjoyed the experience so much that she volunteered for a second sailing trip a few weeks later.

Noel says: “It’s like letting the genie out of the lamp. Once Rachel tasted freedom, she wanted more of it.  This is a great success story, showing that with appropriate mobility support and encouragement, blind and partially sighted people can achieve the same as their sighted counterparts.

“Rachel is more confident, she’s doing well at school, and her mum is delighted with her progress.  Give blind youngsters the opportunity to develop, and as Rachel’s is proving, they’ll grab it and succeed.”