Five years ago, he was also diagnosed with ocular albinism. Having very little sight has meant that Charlie has faced many barriers growing up, but there’s one thing that has been a constant struggle, and that’s reading.
Charlie needs words to be in size 72 font in order to read them (more than five times bigger than the font that you’re reading now), which has meant that he’s had to work even harder to keep up with his peers.
But he hasn’t let his sight hold him back. With the help of RNIB Bookshare - which allows him to download text books and revision guides straight onto his laptop and make the text as big as he needs to - Charlie finished his GCSEs this summer and is about to start his A-levels.
RNIB Bookshare has made a huge difference to me. Being able to revise independently has been amazing. It would have been almost impossible to do my exams without it.
Charlie is aiming high for the future. He wants to study law at university and become a barrister. And there are many more young people with sight loss who have goals and aspirations, just like Charlie.
Your kind donation could help to fund vital services, just like RNIB Bookshare, that provide support, information and advice to enable young people to thrive.
RNIB Bookshare is an online resource that provides UK curriculum materials in a range of accessible formats that can be adapted to suit the personal reading needs of learners. Our collection of over 300,000 education books help give blind and partially sighted students the same educational opportunities as their peers.
Find out moreBy making a donation, you could help fund our vital services. In doing so, you’ll be helping young people like Charlie to achieve their goals and live the lives they want.
Together we can make a huge difference.
£5 could allow RNIB to work with publishers to make an accessible textbook available through Bookshare.
£10 could help run a Shape and Share event to support young people and families affected by sight loss.
£15 could help provide support and advice to a parent of a young person with sight loss who is contacting RNIB for the first time.
Over 40,000 children and young people aged 0-25 are living with sight loss in the UK. We’re here to support them and their families, no matter what stage of their sight loss journey.