As you build your knowledge about what it means to be blind or partially sighted, keep in mind that there are a diverse range of experiences, and each person will perceive their surroundings and society differently. By adopting the social model of disability and questioning our attitudes we help to create opportunities and empower blind and partially sighted young people (160). Risk factors for developing poor mental health Blind and partially sighted people are three times more likely to experience depression than fully sighted people and being young increases this likelihood further (166). More than four in ten people attending low vision clinics are suffering from symptoms of clinical depression and more than 40 per cent of blind and partially sighted people feel moderately or completely cut off from the people and things around them (167). Parents and professionals have expressed concern about the mental health of blind and partially sighted young people (163,164). There is evidence that by 11 years old, many are less likely than sighted children to feel that they are able to do things as well as other people. This negatively influences their sense of self. In a study tracking around 80 blind and partially sighted young people over an eight-year period, it was found that those who didn’t have access to the wider additional curriculum at school were less likely to transition into further education, employment, and a successfully independent adulthood (164). Severe, early-onset vision impairment can be considered a neurodevelopmental condition due to its impact on multiple developmental processes. This points to a need for a specialised approach to the education of children with vision impairment, as set out in the Curriculum Framework for children and young people with Vision Impairment (CFVI). This describes the specialist support that should be available to children and young people with vision impairment to ensure they can achieve their potential in education and prepare for adulthood. Area 9 of the CFVI
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