By SANDRA SINGH Thursday, December 6 2007

THERE IS a difference between a blind person and a person who is blind, according to Fleur Belgrove, a visually impaired employee of the Welfare Rehabilitation Department at the Trinidad and Tobago Blind Welfare Association in San Fernando.

“When someone sees a blind person they see the blindness first, but when they see a person who is blind they see someone with the skills, talent and qualities who happens to be blind,” she noted.

Belgrove was chosen by the Maple Leaf International School to illustrate this particular character trait as part of the school’s character education programme. A committee at the school selected 14 character traits for schoolwide study and discussion.

During a highly interactive discussion with the students recently, Belgrove said in spite of the challenges, in her pursuit of success she “perked up, straightened up and gave it a shot.”

Belgrove, 36, of Princes Town, is an only child of her parents who was born visually impaired.

However, she was determined to succeed and strong support from friends, family and teachers encouraged her to persevere.

Belgrove attended the School for the Blind in Santa Cruz but was eventually integrated into the “normal system” at Bishop Anstey Junior School.

“I am a print user so I wrote the Common Entrance by myself,” said Belgrove, who described her experience at primary school as “beautiful”.

“Teachers were in tune with my needs and they taught so well that by high school I was already quite self sufficient,” she said.

However, Bishop Anstey High School where she was enrolled following the Common Entrance posed new challenges for her.

“At Bishop Anstey I met new challenges — new teachers and the volume of work was greater,” said Belgrove who said her English teacher was supportive and set the pace allowing other teachers to follow.

“By Second Form, I was again quite self sufficient and people saw this self sufficiency and thus I was not seen as being a burden to anyone” said Belgrove. She said her self sufficiency led to her success.

‘The key to success for the visually impaired or the blind is early integration which would lead to self sufficiency.” said Belgrove.

“When integrated early the child learns the difference between the sighted world and his world and the sighted world learns the difference between his world and the visually impaired world,” she said.

She added that this early integration allows for self sufficiency and a “harmonious relationship” so the visually impaired person understands the world better.

“Every student is different but as much as is humanly possible, one should strive for self sufficiency. We have to remember though that we can never be totally self sufficient and indeed everyone in some form of fashion cannot be completely self sufficient,” she said.

Belgrove said at secondary school she studied History and English Literature. However, due to the rapid deterioration of her eyesight, she was unable to complete her examinations.

She told Newsday that for the next 14 years she worked as a handicraft maker at the Blind Welfare Association.

However, driven by her need to persevere and her desire for success, Belgrove continued her studies and achieved success, attaining a combination of distinctions and Grades Ones and Twos in English Language, English Literature, Human and Social Biology, Principles of Business, Biology, Social Studies and Physics.

Apart from working at the Blind Welfare Association, which specialises in rehabilitation and meeting the needs of blind persons, Belgrove also gives motivational talks at schools and churches.

“I give lectures, educating the public and sensitising them on the general needs of the blind and visually impaired,” said Belgrove.

TT is currently observing Disability Awareness Week and Belgrove said she welcomed the lobbying for laws to level the playing field for disabled persons. She also called for the attitudes of people to change.

“Even if we educate, people’s attitudes need to change and if people are more receptive of what is being taught, we will have it easier,” she said.

She added that people should start seeing “the differently abled as contributors” further adding that the greatness of a society is shown through how it treats its weakest citizens.”