Welcome back to Willow’s world- The support is there if you know where to look for it!

What a whirlwind the first six months to a year of Willows life has been, following on from all the appointments we started to attend and care meetings we had, it was time to connect with charities that can support us as a whole family throughout this journey, we was first put in touch with Kent Association for the Blind for mobility support, local QVIT early years intervention and guide dogs. Kent Association for the Blind have been amazing from the start with the support they have given us as a family, whilst we are waiting for Willow to get up on her feet, everyone in the house, Grandparents, Auntie, Nephew and Godparents have been doing cane training to get into the same mindset Willow will be in and sighted guide training so we are best placed to support Willow when we are out and about. 

We then started our own research and turned first to Guide dogs, on speaking with the family support officer at Guide Dogs we were introduced to ‘My Time to Play sessions’ that run monthly close to us. We attended our first session and met with other families with children under 5 that have vision impairments, these sessions help us adults connect, helps the child’s confidence grow with sensory play, messy play, arts and crafts, story time, music and independence skills i:e pouring drinks, cutting fruit, and using adapted cutlery. Willow has grown in confidence in our sessions and we have made some fantastic friends. 

Whilst at one of our first sessions another parent mentioned the VICTA Charity and the fun they had, had and the things they had got involved with. I went home and found the VICTA website and immediately joined the parent forum, as Willow is still young, we have only been involved with the Sunflower race but I have joined some of the parent support zooms in the evening and I can’t wait for Willow to be older and we can get involved more with family days, sports events etc.

My mum found the MACs charity who support children with Microphthalmia (small eye), Anophthalmia (no eye) and Coloboma (gap in the structure of the eye), the same condition as Willow and we joined the family membership with them to get more support.  We have also got involved with zoom chats, panto days out and we are heading away for a weekend meet up this year. 

We have also got involved with the RSBC charity but this has been more for me and dad as we join support evenings and coffee chats and what’s app group chats. 

There are more charities than you realise and it all comes from talking to people in the same boat, doing your research and getting involved! 

Vikki