Sunita’s story

Sunita is a Habilitation Specialist at Guide Dogs, meaning she works with children and young people from birth to 25 years old to help them develop their independence skills. That can be from the early stages of learning to walk and getting around, to using a white cane, in order to catch their school bus. Habilitation Specialists will also help children and young people learn independent living skills like getting dressed, shopping, cooking, and looking after a home.

"I love my job working as a Habilitiation Specialist at Guide Dogs. Every child is different, every day is different. Habilitation involves working with children and their families in so many different settings such as their home or nursery where I have supported toddlers with their first steps or working in schools to teach routes, long cane skills and providing advice to staff. With older children my work takes me into the wider community supporting with public transport, shopping skills and cooking. One of my older students wants to learn skills around hair care including curling and straightening her hair. My aim is to give children the confidence and the skills to do all the things their sighted peers are doing, because no child with a vision impairment should feel any different to their peers.

I know first-hand how important it is to learn these vital skills because I have a vision impairment myself.

It wasn’t picked up until I started school, and I told my teacher I couldn’t see the blackboard. I was eventually diagnosed with a genetic condition called Leber’s amaurosis and nystagmus. My mum and dad weren’t given much information about what this would mean. But my parents always supported me. I have such a loving family who always encouraged me and believed in me, and in turn that gave me belief in myself.

I went to a mainstream school and finished my GCSEs and A-Levels. My mum always told me her dream was to see me one day in a cap and gown, graduating from university. So that inspired me to get my degree in social studies and live the university experience, travelling independently to Sheffield on the train for lectures. 

From a young age I always felt I wanted to help people, so in 2006 I went back to university and completed my higher-level diploma in rehabilitation work specialising in supporting people with a vision impairment.

I’ve been working for Guide Dogs since 2011, and I absolutely love being a part of my student’s journey. I get to see them grow up and meet them at various stages in their life, supporting them with the goals they have. Some of my students still contact me now saying they have got a new job, they’re getting married, one is training to go to the Paralympics!”

"My vision impairment is only one part of me, it doesn’t define me, and I don’t let it. I’m married with two beautiful children. I used to run my own little curry business, and I still love cooking for friends and family. I run my own home and love planning things for us to do as a family like visiting new places or holidays.

I do often feel that I have something to prove, or barriers to break down because in the past I have experienced negativity because of my vision impairment. When I was younger, children would make fun of my vision impairment, people would ask ‘how I could be a mum and look after my children?’ Even now today there are times when people will talk to my sighted husband or friends rather than me.

There are times when people make assumptions about someone with a disability – what they think you can do and can’t do. So, I do feel like I am breaking down barriers and I hope that will make things easier for the children I work with and the next generation. There are so many people with a vision impairment who are achieving amazing things and are highly successful in their personal and professional life. No one should be defined by their disability and with the right support, every young person can achieve all their wish to achieve".