Blind school girl prevented from using her mobility tool

A seven-year-old blind girl Lilly Grace Hooper had been banned from using her walking stick   (also known as mobility tool to detect object in the path of the user) at Hambrook Primary, school in Bristol, over health and safety fears. After a risk assessment which said the Lilly grace should have 100 per cent adult support at all times instead as the cane she would be using was a high risk to teachers and other students.

Her mother Kirsty said “ she was absolutely as the school is discriminating against my girl on grounds of health and safety and having a helper following her around would isolate her form the other pupils and hopes common sense will prevail.

Jo Dent head teacher of Hambrook Primary School said: “The school’s mobility officer raised health and safety issues around the new cane following a recent risk assessment. “ The pupil has not been banned from bringing in their cane, we have simply asked them not to use it around school as a temporary measure, until we have the chance to meet with the parent and discuss the situation.”