Help for visually-impaired boys

A new mobile work station for visually-impaired Port Chalmers Kindergarten children  Cade Westoby...
A new mobile work station for visually-impaired Port Chalmers Kindergarten children Cade Westoby and Calum Glasgow will help with their learning. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
A giraffe is an animal with four legs and a very long neck. But to Cade Westoby and Calum Glasgow, it can often look like nothing more than a yellow blur in a picture book.

The Port Chalmers Kindergarten 3-year-olds have significant visual impairments, and the simple identification of animals or participation in activities can be challenging.

Cade was born with a congenital cataract in his left eye and underwent corrective surgery at the age of 7 months.

Nevertheless, he has little sight in his left eye, and needs to manoeuvre to obtain a good line of sight for activities.

Calum is significantly short-sighted in his right eye.

His mother, Diane Glasgow, said the condition meant Calum had severe double vision.

"Before he started wearing glasses, he could see two of me."

However, an $800 grant from the Mazda Foundation means the boys will soon have access to a mobile computer work station, specifically designed for their stature.

Kindergarten head teacher Julie Peters said the work station would serve as a visual teaching aid, and while all children at the kindergarten would benefit from the equipment, it would specifically support Cade and Calum.

"It is important for us to support the individual needs of our children and ensure inclusive education.

"The work station will help two of our young pupils with software designed to increase eye co-ordination and eye tracking," she said.

"Children learn so much by what they see at this age. So having resources to help children see is very important for their early development."

The new equipment was due to arrive by the end of this month, she said.

john.lewis@odt.co.nz

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