With your help, children with low or no vision like Scarlette can achieve their goals.
Scarlette loves to read, invent magical stories and worlds, to cook, and to play on the trampoline with her little brother, Odin.
But Scarlette is not your typical pre-teen. Diagnosed with optic nerve hypoplasia at just three months old, Scarlette has always had to navigate the world with the help of adaptive daily living skills and other aids – getting her first white cane at just three years old.
“If I don’t have my white cane, then I feel like I’m missing an arm!”
Although Scarlette’s mum, Anna, took the news of Scarlette’s blindness well, she also felt very overwhelmed about the path ahead. She was a young mum, only 24 years old, and she needed support.
When she was connected with Blind Low Vision NZ, Anna and Scarlette met with Blind Low Vision NZ Independent Living Skills Specialists. They taught Scarlette essential early development skills, and helped to support the whole family.
They were amazing, just absolutely amazing. They were part of our team,” Anna said.
Scarlette is now 12, and she just wants to make friends, enjoy learning at school, work on her creative projects and explore the world she lives in. But she has faced challenges along the way. Scarlette’s mum, Anna, shared that some people don’t always register that Scarlette can’t see, even when she has her white cane. They might stare, or not make allowances for her when she’s out in the world.
But with the support she’s had from her family and from the team at Blind Low Vision NZ, she’s grown into a confident person who doesn’t let blindness stop her.
“Being blind is being free. I’m not meaning free from sight. I’m meaning free from being normal.”
Every child in our country should have the chance to be the best they can be. With a gift today, you’ll help Kiwis get the early skills and confidence they need to dream big. We couldn’t do it without you.
Your gift helps us to give children like Scarlette the training, skills and confidence to live life to the fullest. Thank you.
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