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Urgent Call for Better Support for Visually Impaired Children
19 Feb
Summary
- Visually impaired children often lack crucial mobility and specialist teacher support.
- Molly Mason's education was significantly hampered by a lack of timely support.
- Charities urge government reforms to address funding and workforce shortages.
A family's struggle with their daughter's disrupted education due to sight loss has sparked a call for improved support systems. Molly Mason, diagnosed at age five with Bosch-Boonstra-Schaaf optic atrophy syndrome, experienced developmental delays as her vision declined. Her parents report that a lack of modified learning resources and timely assistance from teaching assistants hindered her progress in mainstream schools.
Joanne Mason expressed deep concern over the system's failure to provide adequate support, stating that adjustments often depend on capacity rather than legal entitlement. Molly, now 20, faces uncertainty about her future, including resitting GCSEs for a third time, as delays have impacted her confidence and academic progression. The family believes she missed essential 'habilitation' training during crucial developmental stages.
Research by Guide Dogs reveals systemic issues, with 69% of visually impaired children never receiving mobility support and 45% lacking specialist teacher aid. The charity is urging the Department for Education's SEND reforms to address workforce shortages and funding gaps, ensuring equitable access to specialist support nationwide.
A Department for Education spokesperson acknowledged the need for change, promising reforms to create a more consistent and timely support system for families. Barnsley Council stated its commitment to enhancing educational provisions for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
