Partially blind law student keen to make her mark

TAJERA HAUGHTON, 26, has successfully completed her undergraduate studies at The University of the West Indies (UWI), owing to her unwavering attitude towards her academics and an abundance of love and support from family and friends.

Haughton, who is partially blind, recently graduated from the institution with upper second-class honours in her Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree programme.

She is now enrolled at the Norman Manley Law School (NMLS) and has high hopes for the future.

Haughton told The Gleaner that people such as Dr Floyd Morris, Jamaica’s first blind senator who continues to pave the way for people living with disabilities, were proof enough that she was not limited by her circumstances, but that the opportunities to obtain success were within reach.

A native of the St Ann community of Aboukir, Haughton said that her academic journey was not without its challenges and emotional stresses after she lost her eyesight at age 13.

It was a regular school morning for young Haughton, who arrived bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for her lessons at Knox College in Clarendon.

She recalled that, upon arrival, her friends noticed that both her eyes were extremely red and were bulging from the sockets, with swollen veins.

School administrators believed she had conjunctivitis (pink eye) and she was ordered to return home.

“From that day, [things] just went downhill, so fast,” she recalled.

Her initial visits to opticians, believing that she needed vision-correction devices such as eyeglasses, were made in vain as her eyes were deteriorating at a fast pace and were beyond the point at which glasses could work.

DIAGNOSIS

It wasn’t until two years later, on her 16th birthday, when her prayers to God for her sight to be restored were not answered, that Haughton went to see an ophthalmologist in Ocho Rios, St Ann.

There, she was given the initial diagnosis of uveitis.

“But he didn’t know how to treat it,” she said of the doctor.

As such, she sought a second opinion and was diagnosed with panuveitis, because she was experiencing symptoms in both eyes.

Panuveitis is inflammation of all layers of the uvea, the middle layer of the eye.

The condition can also affect the lens, retina, optic nerve, and vitreous humour, causing reduced vision or blindness.

Other symptoms may include eye redness, pain, blurring, light sensitivity and seeing floaters. While panuveitis is known to sometimes go away quickly, it has the possibility of returning and becoming a chronic condition.

Haughton explained that she spent a lot of time in the hospital and was given medication such as steroid tablets, which are used to treat the condition.

“I don’t remember how long after, but I could [eventually begin to] read extremely big font sizes ... [and] I could see just a little bit,” she said.

Although she is now off the tablets, Haughton is required to consistently apply eye drops for the rest of her life.

She is also afflicted by cataracts and glaucoma, which are both eye diseases.

“I have to give the credit to my mom (Shawnnet Wray), because I know I could not manage and, you know, a lot of parents wouldn’t be able to manage a child with a disability such as that, [but] she plays the [supportive] role so well,” said the budding attorney.

Haughton remains forever grateful for the accommodating transition to university which she experienced, as she gradually had to learn how to navigate her new reality.

Initially, this was hard for her, as sometimes her symptoms would worsen, causing total blindness.

“When I don’t have a flare-up, I’m able to see exactly in front of me. So, say, for instance, I put my hand directly in front of my eyes, I’m able to see ... but, when I’m having a flare-up, I’m not able to see anything,” she explained.

Her faith wavered for a time, and she stopped attending church every Sunday, as she was overcome with feelings of sadness about her diagnosis.

“I had stopped praying and didn’t want to go to church because I was like, ‘Why me God? Why outta everybody you choose me’... . So, I was so upset with God,” she said.

But, with the realisation that things may not change, Haughton said that she is now in acceptance of her condition.

“I have hopes of being able to see one day, but I just accept it now [because] I’m not gonna let that get me down, because I still have to get up and do what I have to … and, if I should dwell [on it], I know I’ll fall into depression,” she added.

She said how much she admired Sharmalee Cardoza at the Office of Special Students Services (OSSS), who would be working every day at her desk with her computer, despite being blind.

“She is blind, and she gets up every day and delivers. So, I know that I’ll be able to be in a similar position,” Haughton said.

GREAT TIME AT UWI

Aside from her emotional challenges, Haughton stated that she had a great experience at UWI because of OSSS, and her friends who would always lend a hand.

Haughton, who is a visual learner, stressed how important it was for her, not only to listen to lectures but to be able to follow through by reading the course material and writing the notes, for the information to be retained.

“So, that was the more challenging part because, by the time I’d finish reading, my eyes would be bulging out and it would be so painful,” she said.

Haughton would receive her lecture notes on yellow paper and in a larger font, for ease of reading.

“I didn’t think that they’d be offering so much assistance because that’s what I heard, about how, ‘oh, they won’t treat you any different because you’re blind’. But, trust me, the teachers and the staff and everyone are just so welcoming and they assist me with everything,” she said.

“Up to now that I’m at Norman Manley, my friends assist me with everything and then at UWI, you have the OSSS ... . So, it wasn’t that challenging, it’s just that, y’know, I still have to read [lecture notes],” she explained.

She continued that, being at NMLS, even people who she never met have been helpful and that the staff printed her manuals in font size 40 and bound them free of cost.

“Trust me, I am blessed to have them around me,” she said.

Haughton said she is not daunted by whether she will be able to effectively practice law because of her condition, as she is passionate and is raring to go and establish a name in the profession.

asha.wilks@gleanerjm.com