In my experience, and it is first hand as my wheelchair user daughter went to main stream schools, and I took her primary school to court and won, (no money involved I might add, only a change in the school practices and procedures) the only danger to anyone at school is caused by the ignorance of the staff and the only people to suffer are the disabled kids.

Very true!

Coverage in the Bristol Post included a response from the school that they hadn't banned the stick, just requested her not to bring it in (not sure what the difference really is in this context?) and that they would prefer her to use a shorter stick that would be less of a trip hazard, to which the girl's mother said she didn't want her to change from the stick she had become familiar with.

Less of a trip hazard...what use is a short stick...will she have to use it bending down, or kneeling?
The whole point is to give warning of approaching hazards....
Somehow, I feel that school is a whole mess of equalities breaches.
Like another where the "available reliever" has to be administered TO the child with breathing difficulties BY an attendant....creepy...

At #8 & #9:

Look at the pictures and maybe you might think differently.

I know nothing about prescribing white sticks but it would seem to me that she has a stick for meant for an adult.

I am with walker on this . The stick is bigger than her! They want her to blend in as any other child but that might be a struggle when other children have to be 4ft away at all times. I see the long stick being fine at home or in the streets but at school in narrow hall ways etc ?

There is a wider issue here and that is children with special needs in mainstream schools.

Nobody is istatemented now, there is a new system for individual health care plans to cater for SEN children in mainstream schools.

When I was young there were "special schools" and a "blind school" not far from where I lived.

Those schools were so good at looking after their pupils that I doubt if any issues lime this existed.

Mainstream schools, even when designated disabled friendly, are usually not prepared for all disabled pupils.

My daughter attended mainstream primary, and High schools and we experienced so many problems you would not believe. They were very discrimatory and I eventually sued the Primary school and the Judge decided in our favour. I did not ask for money just the school to change their policies.

My daughter now attends a "hospital school" where other kids with issues attend and we do not have problems because the school is designd for disabled kids and the staff are all trained and aware.

OK there were some small issues but the school did all they could to support our daughter, they had fire door restraint installed so she can get around the whole school by herself, she has made friends with pupils with issues and lots in common and more importantly very small class sizes, 6 in a class.

Walker makes a good point at #10. The flurry of similar media reports which appeared on or just after 17th Nov might well arise in part from confusion and inadequate communication about whether the girl is being asked to use a 'short' stick or a 'shorter' stick in school or, more drastically, not to use any stick at all and instead be accompanied all the time by an adult when in school.

After seeing the media reports I deliberately waited a week with the intention of seeing if any updates became available on the internet, e.g. comments by RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) before initiating this thread. The apparent absence of updates to date doesn't necessarily mean that nothing is actually happening about the matter; It's quite possible that considerable discussions have taken place, perhaps involving OSH professionals, with the aim of identifying and providing sensible, reasonably practicable arrangements for the girl.

With all due respect (and after working in such areas for many years) I have found in my personal experience that very few [if any] mobility officers, QCC, Ofsted people, teachers or similar are competent in the real art of risk assessment or adequate management hence we have such poor situations in our schools & the press use one area alone e.g. H&Safety to have a 'go' at no matter what the truth is

I am not having a go at individuals especially so as many are well meaning people its the system that needs to be overhauled but unfortunately things are not going to change in my lifetime

Very common.
Instead of arranging access/toilet requirements, do not employ anyone needing same.
Quite sad, and wrong, but a large element in society have that attitude.
Who would have thought that disabled people would be labelled scroungers by most of the "free" press a few years ago?

I have seen many blind people out using long sticks, the reason being that they move it in an arc in front of themselves to check if anything is in the way and where there might be a kerb. So if you explain the need for the stick, really a wand, to the children at her school I am sure they would understand and not get in her way.

As mentioned in a separate thread (Blind Girl Who Was Banned From Using Cane At School ‘Forced Out After Bullying Campaign’) courtesy of boblewis on 22 Dec, it seems that postings on so-called 'social' media sadly led to a decision by the girl's mother to transfer her to another school. The latest media reports from around 20-22nd Dec include http://www.independent.c...estershire-a6781936.html and http://www.westerndailyp...400747-detail/story.html

A major problem with discussing this matter is that our information about it consists almost wholly of what has been published by newspapers. These are commercial organisations which tend to be more interested in producing eye-catching sensationalist stories to attract and engage readers rather than trying to establish and report facts. Also, how did the matter get into the public domain in the first place?!!

Anyhow, I hope that the girl will be able to settle reasonably quickly into her new school (another local primary school) after she starts there. This includes getting to learn its building layout and making new friends. Also, presumably the prospective new school will have been well aware of the circumstances which led to the transfer. Therefore, it's tempting to wonder what conditions, if any, the new school has suggested or might suggest about her walking cane. In due course we might learn from media reports if the girl is able to use her cane at the new school and without causing any significant problems.

No doubt there are numerous blind or visually impaired pupils at other mainstream schools in the UK. If any forum readers happen to know of such pupils (e.g. through work with schools or as parents of fellow pupils) who use similar canes, please can you comment as to whether or not such canes are known to cause any safety problems for staff and other pupils? For obvious reasons, if you do respond, please indicate the approximate age of the pupil and the type of school they attend (e.g. primary or secondary) but DO AVOID including any information by which the pupil and school could be identified.