[Nfbc-info] Can you believe this?

[Lisa Irving]

OMG! Does Canada have anything that resembles the American disabilities act? Is Paul Gabby is still active in the NFB? I hope someone can help the little girl get her came back and travel independently

From,
Lisa Irving

Sent from my iPhone

> On Nov 20, 2015, at 12:39 PM, Michael Hingson via Nfbc-info <nfbc-info at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Blind girl banned from using cane at school for health and safety reasons
> 
> Yahoo Canada News -- Wed, 18 Nov, 2015
> 
> A mother of a blind seven-year-old girl has said she is absolutely livid
> after her daughter was banned from using her walking cane at school - in
> case she TRIPS up teachers and pupils.
> Lily-Grace Hooper suffered a stroke when she was just four days old, leaving
> her virtually blind and only able to see light in one eye.
> However, she received an essentially lifeline earlier this year when a
> charity donated her a fibre-glass walking cane - after she started using
> cardboard tubes to guide herself at home.
> But she has been banned from using the device at her primary school - after
> a risk assessment was carried out - and said it posed a high risk to others
> around her.
> Instead, Lily-Grace has been told she should instead have full adult support
> at all times - and has to walk carefully.
> The decision by Hambrook Primary School and the Sensory Support Service -
> which does assessments for schools - has infuriated mum Kristy.
> Kristy, 38, said: When the school told me she can no longer bring her cane
> into school, I just thought this must be health and safety gone mad.
> She hasnt had any problems with any of the other students, and none of the
> parents have complained about it - in fact, they have all been very
> supportive.
> I dont understand where the school is coming from.
> 
> Lily-Grace has taken to the cane very quickly, and she needs it as she
> travels to school, walks to the playground, or just being in school.
> 
> I am absolutely livid. What about the health and safety of my girl? I like
> school, they are a good school, but this really is very poor advice.
> 
> Its just ridiculous. If you took a walking cane away from a blind adult, you
> would say that was discrimination. Its the same here.
> 
> Kristy is worried that her daughter will become dependent on having someone
> show her around, while a helper would also set her daughter apart from the
> rest of her class.
> 
> She added: It is a disability, but I want to celebrate it and make sure she
> can become independent.
> 
> Sarah Murray, founder of Common Sense Canes, who donated a stick to
> Lily-Grace, described her treatment as absolute nonsense.
> 
> Ive heard about this health and safety reasons, and I just cannot fathom
> what the school is thinking. Why are they taking a cane away from a little
> girl?
> 
> School head Jo Dent has since said they would discuss the situation with
> Kristy.
> 
> She said: The schools mobility officer raised health and safety issues
> around the new cane following a recent risk assessment.
> 
> We have to consider all of our pupils, so it is important that we have an
> opportunity to discuss the situation before we make any decisions.
> 
> We are very keen to resolve this issue as soon as possible and have been
> actively seeking to engage with the parent to bring this to an agreeable
> conclusion.
> 
> The pupil has not been banned from bringing in their cane, we have simply
> asked them to not use it around school as a temporary measure until we have
> the chance to meet with the parent and discuss the situation.
> 
> It was initially hoped that we would have this resolved within a day or two.
> 
> https://ca.news.yahoo.com/blind-girl-banned-using-cane-161536749.html 
> 
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