Ciaran Vassie is a determined young man. With assistance from the Royal Blind School’s residential care workers, Ciaran channelled his determination into learning karate in 2019.
Ciaran is Registered Blind and has Autism Spectrum Disorder. Because of his autism disorder, Ciaran finds it very difficult to join in with group activities. He likes a highly structured timetable and finds it extremely difficult to cope with changes or new places.
However, in May 2019, Ciaran started going to Dalry Karate Group on a weekly basis.
Care workers from Sight Scotland’s residential accommodation service helped him to adjust to the unfamiliar environment and the new people. He continued attending every week on a Tuesday.
In October 2019, the karate group named Ciaran the Student of the Month, out of 120 students, because of his determination and focus on training.
Collete Walker, Ciaran’s mother, says his progress is remarkable.
“I never thought Ciaran would be able to go to any of these activities,” Collete says.
“Ciaran didn’t work in a group before. To get him to sit in a group for 2 minutes is a huge achievement.”
Collete says Sight Scotland’s residential care workers, who know Ciaran well, made the difference.
“It’s all to do with the right support. Ciaran needs people he can trust and can understand him. If he doesn’t feel comfortable with you, he won’t participate. Ciaran really does rely on people he trusts.”
Ciaran earned his Yellow Belt in December 2019, after months of practice. Andy Elliott, head coach at Dalry Karate Group, says Ciaran gets on well with the other karate students.
“When they introduce themselves to him, they shake his hand and put his hand on their head so he knows their height.
“Kids will say, 'Hi Ciaran, remember me, with the long curly hair'. They are getting involved and they want to be involved with teaching him.
“We have a couple of kids working with him. They hold a padded focus mitt, and are talking to him, calling out the location of the targets to hit: ‘kick the target at waist height…..now, punch the target at head height’. It’s pushing the boundaries as much as we can with Ciaran. But his progress is impressive.
“We’re looking to continue this year and teach him some new techniques, like the kata movements.”
“Kids will say, “Hi Ciaran, remember me, with the long curly hair”. They are getting involved and they want to be involved with teaching him."