Summary
Eye Condition: Oculocutaneous Albinism, Nystagmus, Photophobia
Faced with a mainstream education system unable to accommodate his needs, Brandon and his family endured a two-year battle for funding to attend the Royal National College for the Blind (RNC). This report details how RNC’s tailored academic and personal support, advanced assistive technology, and holistic environment empowered Brandon, leading him to a successful and fulfilling career path despite setbacks. His journey highlights the vital role specialist FE colleges play in transforming lives where mainstream provisions fall short.
From support to struggle
Brandon had a positive experience in mainstream school, largely due to a dedicated Visual Impairment (V.I.) unit. However, once he transitioned to a Further Education (FE) college, the support disappeared. Despite a formal Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP) in place, lessons were inaccessible, materials were often presented in a standard font size, and the many substitute teachers — who hadn’t read his EHCP — left Brandon unable to engage in lessons. In English classes, he frequently sat through lessons unable to read materials and eventually began skipping them out of frustration. While some Health and Social Care teachers were supportive, others misunderstood his needs — assuming that enlarging worksheets to A3 was a sufficient adjustment. The lack of a consistent, informed approach across the curriculum made his studies deeply challenging. Transportation to college was also a barrier. Inconsistent buses and packed trains led to frequent lateness. Rather than accommodating this, staff insisted Brandon “get an earlier train”, even if that meant waiting alone in a potentially unsafe town centre for over an hour. These layers of inaccessibility and misunderstanding eroded Brandon’s confidence.
Attempts to access RNC
Brandon originally applied for post-16 education at RNC in Year 10 but was denied. His local council argued that local provision could meet his needs — but these promises were never delivered. Over the next two years, Brandon and his family fought for a specialist placement, documenting failures in mainstream provision and commissioning private assessments from a speech and language therapist and educational psychologist, which both supported Brandon’s case. The family faced significant resistance – funding refusals, ignored evidence, and officials who downplayed Brandon’s lived experience. Local authorities insisted that others with V.I. succeeded at mainstream colleges, dismissing Brandon’s struggle as an exception, rather than a symptom of unmet need. Despite an internal appeal being rejected, with support from RNC’s Registrar and a legal firm experienced in SEND law, Brandon’s case finally succeeded. In December 2017, after a two-year fight, his local council backed down days before a scheduled tribunal — awarding funding for a January 2018 start at RNC.
The turning point
Joining RNC mid-academic year, Brandon was finally in an environment tailored to his needs. The in-year start turned out to be a blessing as it gave Brandon time to develop his skills in Braille, Assistive and Digital Technology, and Independent Living Skills, before beginning his academic studies the following September. At RNC, Brandon studied:
- A Level Sociology
- A Level Psychology
- A Level Health & Social Care
- Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)
- Braille
- Assistive and Digital Technology
- Independent Living Skills
- Sports Academy (Goalball)
- Learning & Leisure (Cycling, Drama, Gym)
RNC’s nursing and counselling team supported Brandon’s wellbeing, organised his medical appointments and helped him to manage his eczema flares. He also used the counselling service briefly when he first joined to help with getting used to living away from home.
RNC provided something Brandon hadn’t had for years – inclusion, consistency, and empowerment.
Growth beyond the classroom
At RNC, Brandon thrived both academically and personally. He made lasting friendships and relished being among peers with similar lived experiences. He became a:
- Student Representative for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion – helping to introduce inclusive meal options and launching RNC’s first Pride event, which continues to this day.
- Student Governor – advocating for broader curriculum choice.
He undertook work placements – roles in RNC’s Registry and Marketing departments and had two external work placements with the charity Services for Independent Living (SIL).
Brandon also participated in an international trip to Berlin, marking his first cultural experience abroad.
Life After RNC
In 2020, Brandon began a degree in Education, SEN, Children & Families at university. Although initial visits suggested a supportive environment, Covid-19 disruptions led to unmet promises. Miscommunications placed him in a foundation year with untrained staff and inaccessible resources. Despite his efforts, Brandon was continually let down. He fell behind and eventually withdrew. Undeterred, Brandon went back home and sought employment. He landed a role at clothing retailer Next, where the team was very welcoming and all reasonable adjustments were made for his eye condition. Training was also accessible, and he was given a mentor. He transferred to the York store when he returned to university, but the same accessibility issues led him to withdraw again. Brandon concluded that Higher Education wasn’t for him and decided to transfer to the Next store in Hereford and join his partner who lived there. After six months he was promoted to Person in Charge and then progressed onto Sales Co-ordinator. Brandon said:
This was quite a demanding role – I liked being more customer-focused and it took a lot of that away from me.
Eventually, Brandon accepted a role as a Residential Support Officer at RNC, supporting students through the same challenges he’d once faced. While fulfilling, he found that he missed the customer service work he had enjoyed so much at Next. Brandon reluctantly moved on, although he still occasionally enjoys a shift behind the College bar. Brandon now works at Hereford Train Station’s ticket office, returning to the customer-facing work he loves. His journey has been far from linear and has been marked by exclusion, advocacy, growth, and resilience — but the transformation he experienced at RNC remains central.
My parents are proud — which is all I want them to be — and they saw the fight to get me to RNC as worth every penny.
Conclusion
Brandon’s story reflects the broader struggle many V.I. students face in navigating a system not built for their needs. While mainstream education promised inclusion, it delivered inconsistency. RNC offered more than academics — it gave Brandon the tools, confidence, and independence to reclaim his future.