Katherine Mas/Contributing Writer
Photo by Katherine Mas
Waking up in the morning, picking out clothes, choosing a seat in class, buying chips from a vending machine or walking with friends to classes are simple tasks that require little thought for the average college student.
For Rayvn Richards, they aren’t that simple.
Walking in the dark is definitely a challenge for current senior and sociology major, Richards, who is blind.
Richards was born a healthy boy with his sight in tact until the day he was shot at the age of 17. His other senses were partially impaired. His taste diminished and his hearing is not enhanced as other people and myths assume.
This disability hasn’t stopped him from pursuing his dreams. He is currently taking classes this spring with help from the Disability Resource Center, Public Safety, and friendly classmates such as Santiague Deprez, who met him this semester and accompanied Richards after just finishing a class one late afternoon to catch his special transportation.
He described his experience as a student as “okay,” considering his impairment. He uses a long walking stick to help him feel around the area where he walks and assistance from friend
s and classmates are essential to get around campus.
When in class, Richards uses a voice recorder to document lectures. At home he scans his papers using JAWS, a Microsoft Windows program that reads information on your screen using synthesized speech. It makes it easier to use programs, edit documents, and read Web pages. It can also provide braille output in addition to, or instead of, speech. These tools make studying easier for students who have lost their vision and have limited resources.
For Richards, it is difficult to use braille since he has thick fingers and when brushing over each symbol alone or combined with others can mean a wide variety of things. Braille is a system of reading and writing designed for use by blind which consists of tangible dots and points to represent letters and characters.
Although some might consider these obstacles, Richards shows no signs of backing away from reaching his goals.
In regards to other students who share the same impairment or disability, Richards said, “You can complain and moan about your problems but it won’t change the fact that you have them. Instead work hard and believe in yourself.”
Richards is just one of the many brave students that strive to better themselves. According to statistics obtained through the Little Rock Foundation, 93,600 U.S. students are visually impaired or blind.
According to Gabriela Alvarez, Coordinator of the Disability Resource Center, as of 2010-2011 school year, there were 47 students attending FIU with visual impairment. The help that the Disability Resource Center provides depends upon the student and the level of impairment. For students with low vision, a Closed Caption Television is used to enlarge hard copy documents or textbooks. This aids the student in accessing any of their necessary tools for reading.
For blind students, the center works with publishing companies to provide them with audio or digital versions with audio. If the student can read braille, they have the technology available.
“Students who are blind have an impressive ability to approach each situation with optimism and determination,” said Joanna Lindsey, Disability Specialist, “Everyday I am inspired and challenged to assistance through their academic journey.”
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