We won’t let her lose her books
Reporter A TEACHER is helping to raise money to buy a life-changing machine for a pupil who is losing her sight.
Jasmine Steele, 18, a student at Percy Hedley School in Killingworth, has Kabuki syndrome, which causes development delay.
The 18-year-old, of Burnopfield, County Durham, has always had severe sight impairment.
However this has deteriorated even further over the past three years and she has total retinal detachment in one eye.
As a result, Jasmine, who loves books, is now unable to read. Her mum Glynis, 53, said: “Jasmine loves reading and was quite a fluent reader. But now she can only see one metre in front of her from one eye.
“She has to hold the book right up to her nose and is very slow, as it is so difficult for her to read.”
But the youngster is hoping to get a special machine – a Connect 12 electronic magnifier, produced by Humanware – which will allow her to read once again.
A teacher at her school, Christian Hebron, has already helped to raise nearly £1,000 by doing a coast-tocoast cycle ride and walking Hadrian’s Wall.
And the Smile For Life children’s charity is trying to raise the remaining £3,000 through sponsorship and donations.
Jasmine has already had a chance to try out the device and her parents say it will make a big difference.
Glynis added: “The magnifier is portable, and has a detachable camera which can be used if she is trying to read something on a wall or far away.
“When she tried the equipment, she was reading again just like she used to. It’s going to be amazing for her and will allow her to do her school work and read just as she did before.”
Mr Hebron, 48, of Tynemouth, who was Jasmine’s class teacher for a year, said: “Jasmine is very bright and has lots of interests. She loves to dance and sing, and loves to read. But her deteriorating eye sight was holding her back a little bit.”
Paula Gascoigne, chief executive of Smile For Life, said the charity was planning to raise the money needed in a variety of ways, including fundraising activities.
She added: “Jasmine is a lovely young girl, very outgoing and passionate about music, singing and dancing. And reading was a hobby she was able to enjoy until her sight started to deteriorate.
“This machine helps her to read and we hope we will be able to get it for her. It’s a really good piece of equipment that is going to change her life.”