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SCHOOL PLEA BY LONELY BLIND BOY

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Published Date: 17 April 2003
A BLIND Wakefield boy has pleaded with council chiefs to get him back to school after a 10-month absence left him without friends or education.
James Johnson, diagnosed as an albino who cannot see in sunlight, has not attended classes since June last year because he is unable to get to school.
After a meeting with education chiefs last Friday, Mrs Johnson claims they are denying responsibility for her son and threatening to take her to court on a truancy charge if James does not attend classes at Sandal Endowed School.
His mother Megan is also blind and cannot take him without help. She is seeking legal action against Wakefield Council.
James said: "I don't have any friends. I'm losing my education. I might get put back a year and I won't fit in because I have missed so much.
"It might affect me getting a job. I might end up sitting in a shop all day and I wanted to be a computer games designer. It affects my mum too because she can't do her blind mobility training and other stuff because I'm at home.
"It's very annoying and I'm very cross about it. It's not fair. This is going to upset my future.
"I just want to get back to school and I hope that I will fit in. I feel like the odd one out."
Mrs Johnson, of Pugney's Road, Portobello, said: "The situation is just preposterous.
"He's really suffering and I don't know what else I can do. He's gone past the point of frustration. He's had enough."
She added: "It's taken all this time for them to play around with ideas and ask for reports on this, that and the other. It is valuable time out of my son's education."
The youngster, who has been diagnosed with ocular albinism and retina pigmentosa, suffers severe eye pain and headaches in bright lights.
Surgeons have recommended he should not go outside without a fully-sighted adult and should undergo full white cane training.
Mrs Johnson added: "I've done everything they have asked me to. I've got medical reports and social services assessments to back up his condition.
"Taking legal action is a last resort for me but I don't know what else to do. They even suggested I pay for his transport out of my £15-week disability benefit – that wouldn't even cover half the costs. In a way I'll be glad if they take me to court because it would all get out in the open and someone else could have a look at the situation for us."
After nearly a year Wakefield Council has finally found James a female escort on a temporary basis to take him to and from school.
His mum said: "It's very good of the woman to help out but it's not a practical solution. What if James is poorly and has to come home early? What if she is ill? What if she is on holiday?
"The council needs to pay for permanent and reliable transport to get James to school every day but they don't seem to want to spend any budget on him."
Wakefield Council's director of education John McLeod said: "We have approved someone who is willing to work with James as an escort to get him to school. Mrs Johnson should have received the confirmation letter this morning.
"Now that the escort has been identified there should be no reason to prevent James from resuming his education. We won't be taking anyone to court while school attendance is maintained."

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