Harry: Accessing activities in a supportive environment

Meet the amazing Harry, who accesses a range of supportive activities through our Children, Young People & Families service. Read on as his mum, Anne Marie, talks about Harry, and why him and his family love Henshaws.

Introducing Harry

Allow me to introduce my fire-cracking, fun-loving, sassy son Harry!

It doesn’t take a genius to work out that Harry has Down Syndrome; those distinct facial features are a dead giveaway. What his face doesn’t tell you is that Harry lives with a whole host of other complex disabilities, including sensory processing disorder, anxiety and visual challenges, which all have an effect on his day-to-day life.

Harry is 13 years old and has nystagmus and bi-lateral vision loss. His condition affects his ability to scan and sequence materials, and his visual recognition and visual acuity (sharpness of detail) is also greatly reduced.

To combat these difficulties, a range of provisions are in place for him at school, including boldly lined paper, use of black biro (not pencil), enlarged reading books etc, but all these modifications are provided in a familiar, controlled environment.

So, when it came to searching for extra-curricular activities for him around age 6, I initially found it extremely difficult to identify groups who were not only happy to have someone like Harry in their group, but who were also well equipped to support his needs.

That was until I was introduced to Henshaws.

Harry and Henshaws

Since August 2017, Harry has accessed a wide range of challenging, fun, inclusive, and supportive activities, which he may have never had the chance of participating in without the support of the Henshaws CYP team: horse-riding, bowling, kayaking, forest school, skiing, cycling, family picnics and what I would consider to be the ‘piece de resistance’, the I Can Do It (ICDI) 4-day residential course. 

Harry’s anxiety can prove problematic, especially when being introduced to new people or in larger group settings, but because the CYP Team genuinely understand his quirks and needs, and always provide a safe, nurturing environment, he feels completely at home.

He has made some wonderful friends along the way, as have I, and their sessions have increased his confidence exponentially.

He always gives 100% effort when taking part, especially during the Christmas Carol Concert – where his singing and signing skills have become legendary!

If you have a child or young person living with sight loss and are looking for a range of fun, extra-curricular activities for them to be involved in, my advice is ‘Don’t Delay’ and pick up the phone right now! You’ll be given ample opportunity to discuss your personal circumstances with a member of the team prior to attending any sessions, which will put your mind at rest that this group is exactly what you’ve been searching for!