5 year old’s story of blindness is a cause for hope
While differently-abled persons are no longer being treated as second class citizens, a number of Belizean families are still afraid to let their loved ones join mainstream society. Tonight News Five’s Janelle Chanona introduces us to a brave little boy who just might change their minds.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
Like many five year olds, Juan Noel Reina is a curious child. But for most of his life, Reina has had to experience the world through his fingers.
Indira Cayetano, Infant One Teacher, St. Joseph’s Primary
“Now you need to work with the other two cards. They are right there in front of you, feel it and put the correct amount of sticks.”
At four months old, congenital glaucoma left the little boy completely blind … but today with the support of the Belize Council for the Visually Impaired, his family and St. Joseph’s Primary School, Juan Noel attends regular classes like everyone else.
Indira Cayetano
“Very good, you’re finished too.”
Juan Noel Reina, Student, St. Joseph’s Primary
”Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!”
For Elena Reina, travelling to and from Ladyville every day is a small price to pay for a sense of normalcy for her son.
Elena Reina, Juan Noel’s Mother
“I feel good about it because right yah dah St. Joseph, well you have the kids them, the parents them, the principal, the teacher everybody care for him and I think that give him courage to go on you know. I feel happy that he deh yah; all the support from everybody make me feel good.”
Juan Noel Reina
“It’s smart to be at school and I love to go to St. Joseph’s School and meet my friends.”
And by the looks of it, Juan Noel has adjusted well to his learning environment.
Janelle Chanona
“You like typing on the Braille?”
Juan Noel Reina
“Yap.”
Janelle Chanona
“What do you say when you type on the Braille?”
Juan Noel Reina
“’A‘”
Janelle Chanona
“And what word starts with ‘A’?”
Juan Noel Reina
“Apple.”
Janelle Chanona
“That’s right! You’re a smart boy.”
Indira Cayetano
“The story is about a little girl who cannot see. How do we call people who cannot see? We say that they are…”
Class
”Blind.”
Indira Cayetano
“Very good. Muy Bien.”
Class
”Gracias.”
Indira Cayetano
“We say they are blind.”
Teaching a special needs child has changed Infant One Teacher Indira Cayetano’s life. With the assistance of the Special Education Unit and the B.C.V.I., Cayetano is learning Braille and has incorporated a number of elements to the room to make Juan Noel feel like part of the class.
Indira Cayetano
“I use a lot of concrete objects. Like if I’m telling a story about a crocodile, I’ll bring a toy crocodile. If I’m talking about farm animals, I try to bring as much concrete objects and describe things to him. Sometimes I centre the story around him and have him answer questions.”
“Because he cannot see like how we see, feeling them gives him a better idea, feeling them also helps him know what it is you know.”
“Learning Braille, at first I thought it would have been difficult but now when I want something Braille I can do it because Ms. Ella has taught me a lot. I feel like I’m learning another language.”
Janelle Chanona
“What would you like to tell your other teachers?”
Indira Cayetano
“Each child is very special. Please do not discriminate. Because a child doesn’t see doesn’t make him any less than a child, any less than the other child that can see.”
There are currently fifty-eight children who are either totally blind or have low vision attending classes in regular schools countrywide. Their attendance is part of a rehabilitation programme coordinated by the B.C.V.I.
Liza Zelaya, Regional Field Officer, B.C.V.I.
“I would like to tell the public that if they have a child who is totally blind, low vision, don’t keep their child at home, send their child to school, let your child integrate into normal school and he can learn just like the other children.”
Janelle Chanona
“And as he gets older, how will the program change with him?”
Liza Zelaya
“As he gets older, different Braille will be introduced. Right now he’s learning grade one Braille, as he gets older he’ll learn contracted Braille, abacus, nemacode, as he goes into a higher class, more advanced work he is getting.”
Janelle Chanona
“And he’s doing the same material the other kids are getting?”
Liza Zelaya
“Exactly, all the subjects that the kids are getting, he’s doing the same thing, nothing different, just because he’s doing his in Braille rather than writing it on a pen and a paper.”
Today B.C.V.I. joined its worldwide partners to celebrate World Blind Day under the theme, Childhood & Blindness. While doctors continue the search to find a cure for glaucoma and other diseases that cause vision loss, officials say the story of Juan Noel Reina should inspire hope…and encourage the acceptance of people with different needs.
[Children singing heads, shoulders, knees and toes]
Reporting for News Five, I am Janelle Chanona.
For more information about the B.C.V.I.’s programmes, you can visit them at number one Gabourel Lane or call 227-7776.
