This is my 1-year-old granddaughter, Amelia. When she was 11 weeks old, we found out she was blind. It is necessary that Amelia and her family find a new place to live very soon so she can grow and develop to her full potential.
Professionals in the vision impairment team as well as health care professionals have told us that Amelia's current home is unfit for a blind baby. But because the house is privately rented, her parents are not allowed to make the kinds of adaptations that would help her so much.
The house has massive steps made of Yorkshire stone that are impossible to adapt to meet the legal requirements so a blind child could go up and down them safely and learn about the outside. The upstairs banister has gaps that Amelia could fall through; she cannot play upstairs on her own.
Amelia needs to live in a place where the window sills are curved so she cannot be injured by them. The house needs to have laminated floors so it is much less dangerous for her to use her walker.
There are so many little things that need to be done to create a home that is safe for Amelia! But my daughter cannot make a single one of these changes without permission, which takes weeks and weeks to get. Amelia would benefit from a council house or housing association house as it would be possible to have adaptations done for these much more quickly. Ideally, Amelia would have a house where the outside is flat and with a garden.
Health professionals and a local councillor support our requests for a new house for Amelia. But North Yorkshire Homechoice says Amelia's family does not qualify for urgent rehousing due to already having a home. They do not understand that, with each passing day, Amelia's need for a new home is more and more urgent. Once she maps out the house where she currently lives, it will be tremendously difficult for her to adjust to live anywhere else.
If Amelia's parent were given a new home by one of the housing associations in our area it will improve her quality of life, with ramifications for her future, more than words can say.
Tell North Yorkshire Homechoice and Craven District Council to provide Amelia and her family with a new home immediately!
To North Yorkshire Homechoice and Craven District Council,
We are writing to request that a 1-year-old girl, Amelia, be provided with a council house or housing association house.
Amelia was born blind and professionals in the vision impairment team and other health care professionals have told her family that her current home is unfit for her due to her disability.
The home where Amelia currently lives requires many adaptations to make it a safe environment for a young, blind child. These include ramps, different types of floors and windowsills, safety features for staircases and other accommodations.
Amelia's parents are currently unable to make these changes as they are living in a house that is privately rented. This is why it is very urgent to find a new house for Amelia.
We believe that Amelia has a demonstrated need for a new house, to best accommodate her needs due to her blindness and to provide best support her development. Health professionals and a local councillor support our requests for a new house for Amelia and her family. We respectfully urge you to provide Amelia and her family with a new house. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider our petition.
