Welcome to Caroline's "casebook!"
It can be tough growing up and having a sight problem can make things seem even more challenging. Sometimes it helps to know what others have been through and find out what helped them. It's good to know that you are not on your own!
Caroline is a counsellor who works for RNIB and here she talks about some typical emotional issues that blind or partially sighted young people may experience. Names and details have been changed in these stories.
Other young people have also looked at these stories and situations and have shared their own personal experiences and told us what they did to overcome these situations.
You can find out more information on how to get help for yourself in our "Where can you get help and support?" section below.
Stories so far...
Tasmina is 11 and attends her local primary school. She has albinism, and lately she's come home in tears saying some of her classmates call her names. Find out what Caroline and other young people think!
John is 17. His sight was damaged in a fight a few years ago. He's the only one of his mates who doesn't have a girlfriend. He spends a lot of time alone at home and seems depressed. Find out what Caroline and other young people think!
Grace is 14 and has retinitis pigmentosa. She's started to trip over a lot recently and realised that she can only see people who are right in front of her. Some boys have started creeping up on her to make her jump so she's stopped going out as much as she used to. Find out what Caroline and other young people think!
Aadil is 13. He can't always see the whiteboard at school and struggles to keep up. He says the teacher goes too fast. He's started getting angry with other kids who turn up late and make a lot of noise but then gets told off for shouting at them. The kids are calling him a geek but his behaviour in class is jeopardising his behaviour record. Find out what Caroline and other young people think!
Where can you get help and support?
The RNIB Emotional Support Team
If you have an issue like these - or anything connected to your sight loss that makes you worried, unhappy, stressed, or unsure what to do - you can get in touch with the RNIB's emotional support team.
Several of their counsellors work with young people and you can refer yourself or be referred to them for a one-off talk, or for a series of sessions with the same counsellor to talk a problem through.
If you are aged between 11-18, download our young people's leaflet for further information below:
Getting in touch
To make an appointment to speak to one of our counsellors, you (or someone you ask to do it for you) can ring the emotional support team on 020 7391 2186 or you can email, at any time, and they will get back to you. The email address is ess@rnib.org.uk. A counsellor will then call you and arrange a convenient time to talk.
The Emotional Support Service (ESS) also works with adults with sight loss, and the family, carers and friends of people (of any age) with sight loss. There is more information on the Emotional Support Service pages.
Other help!
Just because you've got sight loss doesn't mean that's the only thing you are dealing with! Listed below are some other helpful websites. These sites are for all young people, with or without sight loss.
You can use them to find out about any issue that is bothering you or that you want more information on.
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Childline is for any child or young person who has something that is stressing them.
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Get Connected has a great database of other organisations that can help young people and will put you through to the relevant service if you phone them.
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The Site is for 16-25 year olds and covers all sorts of subjects that might affect you.
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Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is a site specifically for boys and young men to discuss issues in their way.
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Kidscape is there to help with any issue of bullying and has some good tips for young people in their advice section.