Marlee’s Journey: Taking on Life with a Smile

Meet Marlee

Marlee is a happy, curious and energetic girl whose positivity is unwavering. Her inspiring story began the moment she was born when she was diagnosed with Septo-optic dysplasia, a complex condition that leads to complete blindness.

Vision Australia have been supporting Marlee and her family since her diagnosis. Not only did they work to aid Marlee’s early development, but also helped Sarah navigate this huge life change. 

“As a blind person, you don’t see the world around you. You’re learning everything by someone explaining it to you. Vision Australia gave me the support to do that. They taught me the language I needed to give my daughter to help her thrive. They taught me how to parent again. The Life Ready Hub and Vision Australia have been that lesson for me,” Sarah explains.

As Christmas approaches, Marlee and her family look forward to continuing their beloved Christmas Eve tradition of watching Carols by Candlelight. However, this year will be extra special, as they’ll get to experience the magic up close in person!

Sarah has a message for all of Vision Australia and Carols by Candlelight’s supporters: “Every donation to Carols by Candlelight will help to change lives. It’s giving these children the opportunity to live normal lives and to have access to everything that anyone else has access to

How Vision Australia supports Marlee

Vision Australia provides children who are blind or have low vision with essential support from birth and throughout their schooling. This builds a foundation of sensory, motor, and social skills that prepare children for future learning and independence.

For Marlee, this support includes:

Occupational and physical therapy

Offering specialised support to help children develop motor skills and navigate their environment with confidence.

Psychological support

Providing guidance through the emotional journey of raising a child with vision loss, helping families process major life changes and adapt together.

Community connection

Connecting families with a supportive community to share experiences, advice and encouragement.

Life Ready Hub

Supplying resources and tools needed to support a child’s unique development every step of the way.
 

Marlee loves to sing and connect with everyone she meets. Vision Australia’s early support has helped her explore her world with confidence and joy.