The MP for Buckingham constituency has pledged their support to children and young people with a vision impairment through Guide Dogs’ “All Things Equal” campaign.
At a Parliamentary event hosted by the charity Guide Dogs, Greg Smith met children, young people and their families to talk about the challenges they face in the education system.
Recent research conducted for Guide Dogs found that 69% of teachers lack confidence that they have the right skills to support disabled children, including those with a vision impairment, to reach their full potential.
This is reflected in outcomes for children with sight loss, who are significantly behind their peers in terms of academic attainment.
Guide Dogs’ “All Things Equal” campaign is calling for greater recognition of vision impairment throughout the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) system. The critical role of specialist professionals needs to be prioritised, and more support should be given at an earlier stage to help prevent young people with sight loss from falling behind.
Supporting the campaign, Greg Smith MP said: "It was a pleasure to attend the Guide Dogs' event and learn more about the challenges young people with vision impairment face in schools, as well as meeting Jacob the Guide Dog. It is clear we need to do more to ensure all children with visual impairment have everything they need to succeed growing up. I was very happy to raise the issues I heard about with Education Minister Will Quince later that day and will continue to do all I can."
Blanche Shackleton, Head of Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns at Guide Dogs said: “Children and young people with vision impairment tell us they want to grow up enjoying the same opportunities as their classmates. But all too often, they are being let down by the education system that fails to give them the support they need.
“We know that the lack of support in childhood can have a far-reaching impact. Just one in four working age adults with a vision impairment are in employment.
“That is why we are calling on the Government to make all things equal for children and young people with vision impairment, so that they have access to the support they need.”
