That's not true.
I do hear it and I do understand.
Mum and Dad want me to believe in myself, and to have high expectations for myself. They want me to remain determined and brave. They want to help protect me from negative attitudes and low expectations.
Some people say I can't see. That's not true.
Mum and Dad don't like it when people say I can't see.
I can. Some days, I can see a lot. Some days, I don't see as much. Some moments are great vision moments, and sometimes I struggle to understand what I'm seeing. I don't always make eye contact, but then, not many people ask me to look at them.
A lot of people might not recognise my great seeing moments... They might miss my look of concentration and the focus I have.
Mum has been doing vision therapy with me since I was very tiny. She started before I even came home from the hospital as a baby.
My last report from Vision Australia wasn't very good. Those reports are hard to hear. After all the therapy time and effort, there wasn't really much of an improvement in what they determined I can see.
Apparently. Based on that one moment's assessment.
(It's like a NAPLAN result, isn't it? But, I have to carry that result around with me, until the next assessment.)
At the moment, I am part of a new trial. Mum asked for me to go in it. It's for people who can't use their hands so well... like me.
It's for kids under five... I started just before my birthday!
I get to play on an ipad!
I get to play games and have fun, just like the Noisy Sisters!
We are trialling eye gaze equipment; to see whether it is something I can use.
The first day wasn't looking all that promising, but I was allowed to enter the trial!
One my second review, a week later, the lady running the trial was so impressed with me!
There's a chance the machine we are using might not be 100% accurate, but already, I have made lots of improvements using the machine.
And, it's fun! It makes funny noises!
To help me learn to look in the right places, there are cause and effect games.
The first one I am doing is an egg game. If I look at the egg, it starts to crack. If I look at it really well, it cracks faster! And, when it has cracked all the way, a chicken can be seen!
There are fun noises and the colours are bright and help me focus.
I'm finally using an ipad! And, I'm working it with me eyes, not my hands!
My family have all had a go! They look a bit funny; concentrating so hard! They have tried some of the harder games. If I keep working, I might get good at them, too! It's nice to have my sisters and my cousins all having fun with my therapy.
And, check this out:
This is proof that I can see!
The lady running the trial was very happy with me.
Mum told her I don't like to 'perform' for people, so they started to talk about something else, and I did a great job using the technology.
The lady said my unwillingness to 'perform' showed how intelligent I am.
That's the first time a CP professional has said I am clever. We liked hearing that! It's something we've always said. I always work harder for people who believe in me.
How amazing is technology!?
If I keep doing well, the lady might help Mum and Dad find some funding, so I can get my own system. If I keep doing well, I could use it to tell people what I want to do, what I want to eat and where I want to go.
I could use it at school, to answer questions, too!
Imagine!
Learning to See Vision Tests Lights!
My Vision Impairment My CVI UPdate
A Lightbox To Teach Me To See
What a Dollar means to Dexter
About the Sisters
Dexter's 2013
Dexter's First Month
Dexter's Vision
Dexter's Cerebral Palsy
Dexter's Cancer
Who is Dexter?
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