Visually-impaired student finds UP welcoming
Freshman Rylan Suehisa makes his way across campus. Though legally blind, help from OSWD and other students has eased his transition to UP (Kevin Kadooka -- The Beacon)
By Caitlin Yilek, Staff Writer -- yilek12@up.edu
It's nearing 8:10 on a weekday morning. Freshman Rylan Suehisa presses the snooze button on his alarm clock several times before rolling out of bed. He allows himself ten minutes to get ready and another ten to walk to class. Once Suehisa arrives to class he pulls out his computer and opens a Word document to begin taking notes.
This is the typical student routine.
However, Suehisa is not a run-of-the-mill student.
"I was born blind, at least that's what everyone tells me," Suehisa said.
Suehisa is considered legally blind. He is completely blind in his left eye and has little vision in his right eye.
"I can see the big picture, like people walking, when the light is good," Suehisa said. "I can't make out details or read small print."
The Hawaiian native has grown to familiarize himself with places quickly by creating landmarks throughout campus.
"When I walk into BC to go to Sociology I walk past the mail center. After the mail center I pass through the double doors," Suehisa said. "The door to room 112 is usually closed, and I know my classroom is the one after that."
Originally, Suehisa wanted to attend college on the East Coast and major in music. However, after visiting UP, the free meal at The Commons and t-shirt convinced him to come back. According to Suehisa, the University has been very supportive of his disability.
"I feel like UP is big on building personal relationships and making you feel welcome," Suehisa said. "People have gone out of their way to make me feel comfortable."
Though Suehisa has run into few challenges academically, Suehisa says the Office for Students with Disabilities has been very helpful. Suehisa's textbooks are converted to a computer program, which allows his computer to read him the material.
"I had all of my textbooks on my computer except French," Suehisa said, "I had limited participation in French class because we would take turns reading out of the book."
The Office for Students with Disabilities has since converted Suehisa's French textbook to his computer.
Suehisa has learned to be vocal about his limitations.
"A lot of my life has to do with asking questions," Suehisa said, "whether it be asking for help or walking into The Commons and asking what's for lunch."
In his free time Suehisa enjoys taking naps, playing the drums and Facebooking.
"I think I'm like the rest of the teenage population," Suehisa said.
