Hi, What is a risk assessment, and how is it conducted? Curious... Thanks. On 11/19/15, avinash shahi <[email protected]> wrote: > This is utterly insensitive. What would a blind do without her/his > stick? Cane is her lifeline. Do we have similar experiences in India > too? > http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/12000482/Blind-girl-seven-banned-from-using-white-stick-at-school-as-it-is-health-and-safety-risk.html > > > A blind girl has been banned from bringing her white walking stick to > school because of "health and safety" reasons. > > > Lily-Grace Hooper, seven, suffered a stroke when she was just four > days old, leaving her with virtually no sight. > > > But her school, Hambrook Primary School in Bristol, has told the > youngster she can no longer use her cane because it could trip up > teachers and other pupils. > > > A risk assessment completed on behalf of the school said the cane > caused high risk to other people and that Lily-Grace should instead > have "100 per cent" adult support at all times. > > > However, her mother is worried her daughter will become too dependent > on having someone show her around - and said having a helper would set > her daughter apart from other pupils. > > > > > > > > "She hasn't 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" > > Kristy Hooper > > > > > > > > > Lily-Grace suffered a stroke days after she was born. As a result, she > lost her 3D vision and became blind in her right eye. She can now only > see lights and colours in her left. > > Shortly before Christmas last year, she started using long wrapping > paper rolls to help her get around the house. > > She asked her mother for a stick and was given a long fibre-glass > walking cane by Common Sense Cane, a charity for blind children > earlier this year. > > Lily-Grace started using the cane in school in April. Her mother, > Kristy Hooper, said it had become "an extension of her daughter's arm" > and that it was vital she was allowed to use it. > > She added: "It is a disability, but I want to celebrate it and make > sure she can become independent. 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 hasn't 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 don't 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." > > > > Ms Hooper said: "I am absolutely livid. What about the health and > safety of my girl? I like the school, they are a good school, but this > really is very poor advice. > > "It's just ridiculous. If you took a walking cane away from a blind > adult, you would say that was discrimination. It's the same here." > > Sarah Murray, founder of Common Sense Canes, said: "I'm very > supportive of Kristy, and what she's facing is absolute nonsense from > the school. A child needs to learn to be independent, and they need to > start from a very young age. > > "I've 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?" > > She added the cane supplied to Lily-Grace was longer than usual to > help her get about and also lighter than normal so it was suitable for > a child. > > Lily-Grace Hooper > Lily-Grace Hooper Photo: David Hedges/SWNS Group > > Blind Children UK, the leading charity for vision-impaired children, > said it was imperative a child learned independence from a young age. > > A spokesman said: "Using a cane teaches a child to keep themselves > safe and can help them to become less reliant on others. Early > intervention is vital to help a child with sight loss move around more > confidently and grow towards greater independence as an adult. > > "While a cane may not be suitable for every child or young person with > sight loss, if they are taught how to use it by a trained habilitation > specialist, then, in general, there shouldn't be an issue with using > one safely around school." > > The risk assessment said Lily-Grace should have full adult support at > all times and that she should use hand rails to navigate the school. > > She also has been asked to "walk carefully over all surfaces" > especially paving stones and wet drain covers - but without the use of > her current cane. > > > > > > > "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" > > head teacher Jo Dent > > Instead, the risk assessment said she should use a shortened cane - > something her parents said is not suitable because she had become used > to her current cane. > > Hambrook Primary School head teacher Jo Dent said: "The school's > 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." > > > -- > Avinash Shahi > Doctoral student at Centre for Law and Governance JNU > > > > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of > mobile phones / Tabs on: > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > > To unsubscribe send a message to > [email protected] > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please > visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the > person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails > sent through this mailing list.. >
-- Warm Regards Bhavya Shah Using NVDA (Non Visual Desktop Access) free and open source screen reader for Microsoft Windows To download a copy of the free screen reader NVDA, please visit http://www.nvaccess.org/ Using Google Talkback on Motorolla G second generation Lollipop 5.0.2 Reach me through the following means: Mobile: +91 7506221750 E-mail id: [email protected] Skype id : bhavya.09 Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
