Honoring a Special Student
Introducting a young man from Canada whose name is Ollie ~
Ollie is a cancer and stem cell transplant survivor and a huge childhood cancer and vision loss advocate at only 12! He is in grade 7 and in his first year of middle school where he goes everyday with a smile, a desire to learn, and to show his teachers and classmates how capable and confident he is in navigating school with vision loss.
Ollie is driven to use his voice to help others as he has been helped so much throughout his journey.
Because of Ollie's positive influence on the people around him, kids and adults are often inspired by his resilience and determination, and he gives hope to families whose children are experiencing new vision loss.
These photos of Ollie really highlight what a special kid he is... a real renaissance man!
Each year, in honor of International Persons with Disabilities Day (Dec. 3), FEELDOM selects one student with a disability who is an outstanding advocate and a positive presence in their community.
To that student, we donate a bag of choice to support their independence and education, and to recognize their efforts to overcome the struggles of living with a disability. They also receive a certificate of recognition.
We are so proud to present Ollie with FEELDOM's Student of the Year Award, 2024!
Ollie and mom offered us a pro-level unboxing (and of course, a happy dance!). Here he is reading the award certificate. INSTAGRAM Full Video: @cnib_ollies_hope
Thanks to his new backpack and cane pouch, it's much easier for him to stay organized and find his things at school. He loves the numbered and brailled pockets that make it easy for him to know exactly where his things are without having to get frustrated or ask for help from a person with sight. The cane pouch that came with the bag is also super useful when he goes out without his full backpack and just needs a place to hold his cane when he sits down for something to eat.
While mom @pickeringdawn clearly helps to manage Ollie's opportunities and helps with social media postings, Ollie is an active and determined advocate, always offering to help where he can and never saying no to an opportunity to raise awareness, educate, and/or help others.
Ollie navigates his activity-filled world with help from his buddy dog, Hope, his white cane, and now his brand-new FEELDOM Performance Block S-Series Medium Low Vision Tactile Backpack!
In martial arts classes he breathes in the light and blows out the darkness, showing his Senseis and fellow powerful martial artists that kids with vision loss can also teach the world.
Ollie hopes to continue to be asked to speak publicly about his experiences and to get to do cool new things to continue proving that with a little accommodation, people with vision loss can do it all and have a full and great life.
Ollie and Dawn want to say, "Thank you so much to the kind people at FEELDOM for reaching out to us in the past to ask for advice from Ollie about possible future products, and for the recognition that even a youth living with disability can change the world through advocacy."
We're so proud of you, Ollie!
_______
If you know someone who you think would make a great "Student of the Year" in 2025, please contact us at ifeeldom@feeldom.life.com