Parents describe dreaming of family life during pregnancy and then being told their newborn son had been born blind, which they called earth-shattering.
Having never met a blind person, they found hope through a blind playgroup where they met families facing the same situation or a few months ahead.
Vision Australia staff explain their role is to reassure families after diagnosis and build their knowledge so they can use strategies in daily routines rather than rely on one-hour sessions.
Eddie reads environments through sound and smell, such as knowing the beach from seagulls and salt air, and has asked for a bike ride and a skateboard.
The family urges people to teach children acceptance of those with disabilities, and thanks donors whose support funds early-years help for families like theirs.
Brief overview
With early support from Vision Australia, a family learns their blind son Eddie can thrive.
Meeting other families gave the parents hopeThe blind playgroup connected them with families a couple of months ahead of them.
Support aims to build family capacityStaff say the goal is for families to implement strategies within daily routines.
Blind children still reach ordinary milestonesThey will still learn to walk, make friends, get a job and have families.
Questions this recording answers
7 questions, each answered where it is said
How did the parents react when told their baby was born blind?
After nine months of dreaming about family trips and raising a child, they were pulled into a room and told he had been born blind. They could not put it into words and described it as earth-shattering, immediately thinking about the challenges the whole family would face.
What helped the parents cope after the diagnosis?
They had never met a blind or vision impaired person and were at a loss. Joining a blind playgroup let them meet other families going through the same situations, some a couple of months ahead of them, and that gave them hope.
What does Vision Australia do for families of blind children?
Staff are often the first professionals families talk to about the diagnosis, and their role is to reassure them it will be okay. Beyond the one-hour session, they build knowledge and understanding so families and people around the child can apply strategies in daily routines.
How does Eddie understand the world without sight?
Eddie tells environments and changes in them from sound. He knows they are at the beach before he is placed on the sand because he recognises the shriek of the seagulls and the smell of salt in the air. He also feels his father's bike wheel and asks to ride.
What can other people do to help children with disabilities?
The family says a great thing people can do is educate their children to accept other children who are a little different or have disabilities or learning challenges, creating a world that treats everyone equally and gives everyone the same opportunities.
Can a blind child still have an ordinary life?
The parent says blind children will still learn to eat and walk, want to make friends, meet someone, marry, have children and get a job. There will still be challenges along the way, but families should lean on the people around them.
What do donations to Vision Australia pay for?
A Vision Australia professional says donations let the organisation provide support in the early years, when children's brains are at their capacity for learning, building families' skills, knowledge and understanding so children are set up to thrive, be independent and conquer the world.
Key Quote
“It was just kind of earth-shattering.”
— Eddie's parent
Key Quote
“There's so many more things to life than vision if you've got the right support.”
— Eddie's parent
Key Quote
“He'll tell me we're at the beach before I've even put him on the sand”