Six year old Morgan Tyrell, 16 year old Bradley Carriage, and 60 year old Phillip Tilley are all at very different stages of life, yet all share the same affliction, while Morgan is blind, Phillip and Bradley are severely vision impaired, although none of them have let that slow them down, taking life head on.

Kindergarten star Morgan has been using her cane since she was 18 months old “so I don’t bump into things”, and after starting school at St Nics this year is relishing her new found freedom, and new found friends.

Grandmother Anne Sartori said that the always outgoing Morgan has had no problem fitting in.

“It is great to see her with lots of good friends, although she couldn’t do it, or even be at school without the amazing support that she gets,” she said. 

William Cowper student Bradley also relies on great support staff, although is facing different challenges to Morgan as he looks to life after school and an active social life.

Bradley has only been using his cane for two years after being diagnosed with Rod-Cone dystrophy, meaning that his vision is gradually going, leaving him with no depth perception, night vision or facial recognition, as well as several blind spots.

Bradley has come to terms with the fact that his condition has ruled him out of many professions, including his boyhood dream of being a policeman, although he has set different goals and is not letting his vision impairment get in the road of his teenage years.

“The cane tells me lots of things that I never would have picked up before – It is also really important as a sign to let other people know that I am vision impaired,” he said.

In true teenage fashion, Bradley said that his biggest challenge is navigating between friends houses or venues at night.

“I can do a lot more stuff by myself with the cane, I go down the street nearly every afternoon,” he said.

“Because I have a lot of friends at school facial recognition can become a problem, although the biggest challenge is going out at night. I have to either be somewhere familiar so I can get around and get home, or always be with friends.”

Mr Tilley has been using a cane for more than ten years, and despite recently “graduating” to Nelson the Guide Dog slash “chick magnet”, still counts the cane as one of his best tools for mobility.

“You need that identity so the public are aware, and then they can be quite helpful,” Mr Tilley said.

“I believe I am doing quite well and am hopeful about what the NDIS and digital technology can continue to bring into the future.”