Independence And Companionship

Guide and Service Dogs changing lives

- Desiree Brockbank

I live in Kimberley and work at the Sol Plaatje Municipality as a switchboard operator. I have retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and have been visually impaired since birth. Growing up in Zimbabwe, I attended a mainstream school until grade four. My parents were advised to send me to Worcester so I could be taught Braille. It was important to them that I be treated the same as a sighted child. I rode a bicycle, climbed trees in our backyard and can vividly remember always being appointed as the seeker when playing hide and seek!

Best decision

Before completing schooling, I did a mobility course and realised how adaptable the human body is. Worcester is a very ‘blind friendly’ town and the children who are visually impaired walk to and from school unaided. Having a white cane, however, made navigating around much easier.