Lily-Grace had her cane banned from school as a health and safety measure. Photo / Facebook.com Lily-Grace
Lily-Grace had her cane banned from school as a health and safety measure. Photo / Facebook.com Lily-Grace
A blind 7-year-old British girl has been told she cannot use her white cane at school because it poses a health and safety risk to teachers and pupils.
After undergoing a risk assessment, Lily-Grace Hooper was told that her vital mobility aid could trip up passers-by.
Instead staff have advised her to get around with the help of an adult and "walk carefully" using handrails.
Lily-Grace's mother Kristy said: "I am absolutely livid. What about the health and safety of my girl?" Meanwhile, charities have lambasted the decision as "absolute nonsense".
Lily-Grace went blind in her right eye and lost her 3D vision when she suffered a stroke at four days old. It means she can only detect light and colour in her left eye.
Earlier this year a charity for blind children gave her a fibreglass walking cane after she resorted to using cardboard tubes to guide herself at home to become more independent.
Lily-Grace, who is a keen ballet dancer, started using the cane at school in April and it soon became "an extension of her arm".
Now Hambrook Primary School near Bristol and the Sensory Support Service, which does risk assessments for schools, have told her she should use a shorter aid.
But her parents said it would not be suitable because the long and light stick has been designed to suit her specific needs.
Mrs Hooper, 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 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.
"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 like the school, they are a good school, but this really is very poor advice. It's just ridiculous."
Lily-Grace had her cane banned from school as a health and safety measure. Photo / Facebook.com Lily-Grace
Sarah Murray, founder of Common Sense, which gave Lily-Grace her cane, said: "I just cannot fathom what the school is thinking."
And charity Blind Children UK said it was imperative that visually impaired children learned independence from a young age.
A spokesman added: "If they are taught how to use it by a trained specialist, then, in general, there shouldn't be an issue with using one safely around school."
School head Jo Dent said: "We have to consider all our pupils ... 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."
