National Award for Habilitation Specialist working with children with vision impairment
A Habilitation Specialist who teaches skills to children and young people who have a vision impairment has won a national award.
Habilitation Specialist Lynda Palmer was the winner of the Hambro award for innovation at the Guide Dogs charity’s People Awards on 10 November. The ceremony took place at the Guide Dogs Reading Hub and was hosted by actor Charlie Cox.
Habilitation Specialists works with children and young people who are blind or partially sighted, teaching them key mobility, orientation, and life skills to help them interact with and safely navigate the world around them.
“In Lynda’s role as a Habilitation Specialist, she always goes the extra mile to listen to the families she’s working with. She recognises that every child is different and always thinks about what is best for them,” said the Guide Dogs colleague who nominated her.
Lynda was put forward for this award because of her support earlier in the year when Guide Dogs organised masterclasses for children with a vision impairment. The masterclasses were related to the top three jobs children surveyed said they wanted when they grow up – a footballer, YouTuber and vet.
Habilitation Specialists across Guide Dogs were asked to recommend any children who might want to take part. Lynda put forward eight families who she works with in the South West.
Due to her enthusiasm, and knowing exactly what the children were interested in, seven out of the eight families were willing to travel to the other side of the country.
One of the parents, Natalie, sums up the support: “We are very thankful for Lynda putting Laila and Archie forward for the blind football masterclass. This was a very exciting opportunity for them both but especially Laila as she loves to play football and plays for Torquay United.
“We’re so grateful for everything Lynda has done for us and we could not recommend her for this award enough.”
The Hambro award recognises exceptional work but also will help to build on achievements by providing a grant, which Lynda will receive to fund an event in the South West. The grant will be used to scale up, fast track or widen the impact of that individual’s organisational work. The aim is to facilitate innovation and recognise brilliant ideas from anywhere in the organisation.
Lynda will use her grant to organise an event in her local area to give children a money can’t buy opportunity or experience that wouldn’t normally be possible.
Lynda said: “I am so grateful to be given this opportunity to arrange something unique for the children and young people I work with. Plans are underway to organise some events for children and young people with a vision impairment in the South West and we are currently looking into various exciting opportunities.”
