Blind tot is a “prisoner”

A shattered young mum and her blind toddler are being d e n i e d a v i t a l move to suitable accommodation.

Amy McDonald’s twoyearold son Kai Shedden has a severe visual impairment.

The tot is classified as educationally blind meaning he is taught to utilise his sense of hearing and touch to navigate. He will soon learn to read and write using braille as well as being taught how to use a cane.

The 26- year- old single mum- of- two currently lives with her young boys on the top floor of a two bedroom council flat on Oakwood Avenue, Dalmilling.

Since becoming mobile little Kai has fallen down the stairs of the close TWICE.

Several official letters, which have been shown to the Post, have been sent from Kai’s visual impairment teacher, NHS health visitor and his consultant pleading with the Council to move the family to appropriate accommodation.

But they have yet to be granted the vital move.

Amy told the Post: “They have everything they need to know. They have been told that he needs his own room for his sensory needs, can’t have anyone above him because his hearing is more intense and he needs a secured front and back garden for his development.

“Earlier this year they offered us a ground floor place on Ferguson Street but when I went to view it there were people above us and they were partying.

“We were meant to have a secure front and back garden and it wasn’t even fenced in.

“We refused that property and Kai’s visual impairment teacher wrote another letter explaining that we couldn’t have anyone up above because of his enhanced hearing. But they said that wasn’t a good enough excuse and we were removed from the priority list.

“He’s now fallen down the stairs of the close twice and I’ve already warned the Council – but their ‘ solution’ was to just come out and put a chain on the door.

“We are literally prisoners in our own home.”

At 18 Amy worked at luxury weavers Alex Begg &

Co before studying childcare at Ayr college.

When Kai’s five- year- old brother Leon came along she became a full- time mum and now devotes her life to her boys. Amy says Kai’s development at Cherry Tree Nursery, where he works with his visual impairment teacher and has access to a sensory room, has been really positive. But following advice from the experts she is terrified his mental and social development could be severely affected by the Council’s refusal of a move.

Amy teared up as she added: “It’s really hard. It’s affecting my mental health as well now. I’m on antidepressants because we’re stuck in here. Kai needs his own space. People are getting houses before me while I’m living in a three story flat with a blind son.

“What needs to happen before they do something?”

A South Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “We always try to meet the tenants needs. We offered alternative accommodation which was rejected. We will carry out another review of the current living arrangements in the near future.”