For Justin and his mother Sue, life holds so much potential. The Western Australian teen is a go-getter and together the pair is a powerful duo. They share the vision that life should be tussled with. With perseverance, boundaries eventually give way. Every day has the opportunity to be rewarding.
Justin lives with less than 10% vision, and has an intellectual disability. His mother Sue, has always been by his side. Along with Justin, she has faced her own set of unique challenges. Being a sole parent was very hard at times. She remembers the struggles of socialising when Justin was young. Before he was three, he found the world a very frightening place. Unfamiliar noises like new voices, cash registers or vacuum cleaners distressed him. Spending time with friends, playing at the park or for Sue, managing to work was tough. Often Sue would drive around looking for a playground with no children; somewhere that Justin could feel safe and comfortable. This became very socially isolating. Sue recalls how once a mother at a playground turned to her and said “I’ve never seen a blind baby before”. This was devastating, and she was lost for words. Not long after, Sue was linked up with VisAbility. This was a lifeline during Justin’s childhood.
With no family in Western Australia, VisAbility therapists were often the only people that Sue spoke to all week. She feels grateful for VisAbility and the support it offered her as a single mother. She recalls attending a VisHelp picnic, when Justin was 18 months. Another mother noticed Sue struggling to join in the group as Justin was very distressed. She took Justin for a walk so Sue could mingle with the other parents. This mother empathised with Sue, having been through a similar situation with her own vision impaired daughter. Sue was assured things would get better. That act of kindness and encouragement still means a lot to her today.
For Justin, VisAbility’s services were enormously beneficial. VisAbility’s Occupational Therapists and physiotherapists improved Justin’s social skills, independence and self-confidence. Over the years, he has attended Saturday club, school holiday programs and several camps. Sue recounts how great this was for Justin. At VisAbility he could feel comfortable and his white cane was not an object of curiosity. It was a place where things were adapted for him, rather than him trying to fit into the sighted world. He could be positively challenged at VisAbility, and engage with role models who inspired him.
VisAbility also helped Justin achieve his independence. After lots of hard work, Justin now navigates public transport all by himself. Working with VisAbility’s mobility officer, Sue was sure Justin could do it. She trusted their guidance and over the years, this had given the duo the confidence to try new things. VisAbility were her safety net when times were tough, they extended Justin’s abilities and were never judgemental if things didn’t work out.
Justin finds the social interaction rewarding. He likes that he can provide a useful service.The future holds the exciting opportunity of expansion. For both Sue and Justin, this is a wonderful example of how life can be as rewarding as you make it.
Together they have overcome their own challenges and continue to strive for Justin’s independence. Sue is reminded of how far she has come as a parent. When asked what would she say to others in similar situations? “Do not be afraid to ask for help, no one can do it all on their own. Please talk to other parents, it helps to know you’re not the only one. Finally, put things in perspective. If you don’t look after yourself, how can you expect to look after anyone else?”