Guide Dogs charity - with the right support, children and young people with sight loss can achieve anything

Ashton and Failsworth MP Angela Rayner met (virtually) with children with sight loss and their families to hear about their experiences of education and specialist support at a virtual event hosted by the Guide Dogs charity.

New research from Guide Dogs has found a decrease in happiness, independence and confidence in children with sight loss over the last 12 years.

It also found that more than two thirds of parents felt that there was not enough support to help parents and guardians at the point of their child’s sight loss diagnosis.

A child who can see will typically learn through watching and imitating, but a child with a vision impairment instead needs to learn strategies to gain everyday skills such as walking, dressing and navigating.

Guide Dogs knows that with the right support, children and young people with sight loss can achieve anything.

After hearing from Nell and other young people with sight loss and their parents about the difficulties they have faced in accessing the right support, Ms Rayner pledged to support Guide Dogs’ work on ensuring all children have the support they need to live an independent and active life.

Ms Rayner, Labour’s Deputy Leader, said: “It was incredible to virtually meet with these inspirational children and their families to hear about their experiences and to find out what can be done to make their lives better.

"I was proud to pledge support to Guide Dogs and all the fantastic work the charity does for so many people.

“My son Charlie was born 17 weeks prematurely and beat all the odds to survive.

"He is registered blind and we got our buddy dog, Luna, to give him support and more confidence.

"Luna has been a brilliant addition to the family and it’s been great to see the bond grow between her and Charlie.

"She is a hero in our family.”

Blanche Shackleton, Head of Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns at Guide Dogs, added: “Guide Dogs is best known for our work providing life changing dog partnerships, but we also work with children and young people with sight loss to support their development and education.

"We know more needs to be done to better support children and young people with sight loss.

"This is why next year we will set up a commission made up of young people, parents, professionals and experts to explore the best support for children and young people with sight loss.”

---

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.