Looking to the future
Helping children, young people and their families decide ‘what next?’
Helping children, young people and their families decide ‘what next?’
Many of these issues are raised and discussed in Zoe’s story. Zoe's Story As her mother, Aileen, observes, music has shaped Zoe’s life. It is something that, from an early age, she has been able to do well. It has helped to shape her identity, both in her view and in the minds of her sighted peers. Through music, she has been able to express herself, and share her creativity with others. When she was only 14, for example, she won the Britten Young Songwriter Competition with her atmospheric Orford Lighthouse, which was recorded live at the Aldeburgh Festival. Subsequently, three of her choral works won national competitions. Beyond this, music has offered Zoe a route into higher education at a prestigious university. The Amber Trust has been pleased to be able to support her at various points in her musical journey, initially contributing towards the cost of a harp, supporting her at the Junior Birmingham Conservatoire and providing funding to enable her to attend the Handel & Hendrix House Composition Summer School in London in partnership with the RNIB. In the UK, under the Equality Act 2010, all public bodies (including universities) have a duty to eliminate discrimination and advance equality of opportunity. They must make reasonable adjustments to remove or minimise disadvantages experienced by disabled people. In Zoe’s case, this has meant supporting her to access materials in digital form or in braille; allowing her extra time in examinations; and permitting her to use amanuenses and other forms of assistance. In addition, Zoe is entitled to a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) from the government, which she can use to purchase specialist equipment and to pay for personal assistants, among other things.