Visually-Impaired Student Graduates from University of Santo Tomas

janimonow

June 9

A 28-year-old visually impaired student, Jerome Santiago, was among the 500 graduates from the College of Commerce and Business Administration at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) this year.

Overcoming Challenges

Jerome was diagnosed with Congenital Glaucoma at just one year old and lost his eyesight completely by the age of nine, despite undergoing multiple operations. His condition made keeping up with other students particularly challenging, especially when dealing with visual materials like graphs.

"'Yung greatest difficulty with dealing with visual materials sa mga lessons like graphs, so I always ask assistance from my professors and classmates," Jerome, who majored in financial management, explained.

Support Systems and Technologies

Jerome utilized Braille and advanced technology to aid his studies. Associate Professor Elizabeth Vivien Magbata, one of his instructors, praised his dedication, describing him as a "diligent" student who consistently put effort into understanding the lessons.

"Ang nakakatuwa, talagang masikap. Talagang inaalam ang mga lessons bagamat may mga adjustment kaming ginawa," she said.

Facing Discrimination

Jerome also faced discrimination due to his disability, which he and his family found to be a significant challenge. He noted that some people tend to look down on individuals with disabilities, but he emphasized that everyone has worth and abilities, regardless of their physical challenges.

"Meron talagang tao na para bang tingin nila 'yung mas mataas self nila kaysa mga taong may disability in general. Kasi kahit may disability ang tao meron pa rin ma'am siyang worth, meron pa rin naman siyang abilities," he said.

His mother, Helen, chose to ignore these negative judgments and continued to support her son. "Nasasaktan din ako, meron din kasing mga tao na 'di makaintindi ng kalagayan nila pero hayaan mo lang sila basta go on," she said.

Inspirational Achievement

For Jerome, graduating is a testament to the potential for success among physically challenged individuals. He encouraged others to trust in their abilities and believe in themselves, despite the challenges they may face.

"Trust your abilities and believe in yourself and sa mga panahon nandoon inaccesibillity and challenge as visually impaired student," he said.