By Kizzy Coleman
Author Jo Franz once said, “Take a limitation and turn it into an opportunity”. Living for the past eleven years of her life, being visually impaired, 41-year-old Odessa Blair, a graduate of the University of Guyana is the embodiment of that quote.
In 2008, at the age of 30, the then-pregnant mother of one was hospitalized with what was believed to be pregnancy complications.
Following several medical tests, Blair was diagnosed with Hypertension. Hypertension is another name for high blood pressure which causes severe complications, increasing the risk of heart diseases, stroke and even death. In Blair’s case, her pressure reached such a high level that it caused swelling in her brain which damaged her optic nerves and over time left her visually impaired.
Forced to adjust to her new reality, giving birth to her second child and at the time like many women in Guyana, facing the wrath of an abusive spouse, Blair figuratively and physically lived in darkness.
The choice was hers, her dire circumstances were either hers to change or hers to endure. But willing to change the unfortunate hand that life had dealt her, Blair shook the dust from her feet and visualized whom she wanted to become.
Accepting her limitations and with assistance from family members, Blair found her light once more.
In 2012, the Guyana Society for the Blind (GSB) introduced its Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) Programme and began offering classes to the visually impaired in five subject areas
Having joined the Society, Blair saw a clear opportunity to make something of herself and quickly signed up for the programme.
“That programme was the gateway to me having my social work skills now…I didn’t stop there, I brushed myself off and went again,” Blair explained.
Passing the subjects she wrote with flying colours enabled her to apply at the University of Guyana to further her studies in the Department of Sociology.
Wishing to emulate persons like her, who through tremendous struggles and hardship persevered, Blair said that never once did she contemplate falling short of achieving graduation day.
As such, in November 2018, Blair smiled as she walked across the stage amidst loud cheers and collected her certificate from Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Ivelaw Griffith graduating with a Degree in Sociology.
With a goal of giving back to those like her, facing similar challenges like her, Blair had a clear-cut purpose. She commenced working as a Social Worker at GSB earlier this year.
“Because of my little abusive situation, I told myself that I would like to become a Social Worker to encourage persons out there that not because you have a disability you have to settle for abuse of any kind, I mean you are not supposed to tie yourself down, telling yourself that there is nothing that you can do, you can just get up and try something new and you will be successful as long as you are consistent” she encouraged.
Social Work has its challenges because they are so many people in need of guidance and assistance, especially in the differently abled community. Despite the daily challenges faced, Blair’s determination does not waver as to her, those that are differently-abled need her.
“To find out certain things that persons with disabilities goes through because in the disabled community, our needs are left behind in the sense that persons in society do not pay us much mind in terms of giving a listening ear but everybody does need someone to talk to and what I do I believe is helping in its own little way” Blair hoped.
The Board of Industrial Training (BIT) recently graduated 108 differently-abled persons from its three months course in skill training.
Blair was one of those who graduated with training in the Advanced JAWS (Job Access With Speech).
This skill which now allows her to utilize features on a computer, she said will no doubt assist with the furthering of her work.
Noting the benefits of the BIT training led by Chairman, Clinton Williams, Blair is calling on parents with differently-abled children to have them enrolled.
“The training, it made an impact because it allows me to be more independent as it relates to browsing the internet …I would like to encourage the persons whom we have not highlighted a yet, they are so many shut-ins in society. Persons with a disability whose parents might feel that there is nothing that they can do I would advise these parents to come out and get help for your children, grandchildren, relatives, friends if you know anybody. We have training that is ongoing for persons with disability so that they can make an impact in society” Blair assured.
It is said that you cannot be what you cannot see but you can be what you can see. Blair saw what she wanted to be and despite being visually impaired, she is now living her dream of giving back to the differently-abled community.
