Countrywide there are 58 blind persons enrolled in regular schools, starting from pre-school all the way up to the University of Belize. That is why to mark World Blind Day, the Belize Council for Visually Impaired invited the media to meet a blind student who is coping and learning just like any other student. Today we met Juan Reina – a child born with glaucoma but destined for success.
Keith Swift Reporting,
Juan Reina does what just about any 5 year old does in school. He does his school work, plays in class, can find his way around the classroom, and he even recites grace before lunch. But what’s special about Juan is that he is blind and he has been that way since he was 4 months old.
Elena Reina, Mother
“When he was small, he was diagnosed with glaucoma and he got totally blind.”
But because Juan can’t see that doesn’t mean he can’t learn. He is in the infant one class at St. Joseph’s Primary School where he sits and learns alongside other regular students. His mother is Elena Reina.
Elena Reina,
“Juan is only blind, he doesn’t have any disability and I want him to come to the school and be with normal kids. Not because he is blind means he doesn’t have a right to an education. By having him with normal kids he gets around.”
Teacher: Tell Keith what you have here. Feel that and tell him what you here.
Juan: Monkey.
Teacher: It’s a monkey and monkey begins with what sound?
Juan: Mooo.
Juan’s teacher is Indira Cayetano who has retrofitted her classroom for his special needs. There is the Lord’s Prayer in Braille, his 123s are raised characters on the blackboard, and Juan has a Braille machine took his work on. For Cayetano, teaching Juan was a challenge.
Indira Cayetano,
“It’s a first experience but its good because I am challenged. I have to find ways to modify my activities, I have to find time to be with him but I get a lot of help from the Special Education Unit and they teach me Braille so I get an opportunity to learn Braille and my children learn from him too. He deserves to learn just like all the other sighted kids, not because he is a blind child he should be treated differently.”
Keith Swift,
And he’s doing good in school?
Indira Cayetano,
“He’s doing excellent.”
Teacher: Recite the poem for Keith, the poem that you won a prize for here in class.
Juan: Belize my country, beautiful; and free right next to the Caribbean Sea.
Juan is a model student for the Belize Council for the Visually Impaired. BCVI’s Regional Field Officer Lisa Zelaya says it’s important for students like Juan to be integrated into the regular school system.
Lisa Zelaya, Regional Field Officer - BCVI
“He needs to be in a regular school. He doesn’t have any other disability, just his vision. With BCVI and Special Ed we work closely together. We modify his books for him, in Braille so he can be in a regular school rather than a special school.
The theme for today is childhood and blindness. It’s telling other people or other parents if they have a child who is totally blind or low vision. Don’t keep your child at home, send your child to school. There are other children with disabilities, send them to school rather than them being at home.”
Keith Swift,
What is does the future holds for Juan?
Lisa Zelaya,
“He can go all the way to a high school, sixth form throughout and he’ll be able to get a job.”
And indeed looking at Juan, even though he can’t see – we can already see that the sky will be the limit for him.
Juan Reina’s teacher Indira Cayetano receives assistance and guidance from the BCVI and the Special Education Unit.
