Guardian ( Trinidad and Tobago )
27 May 2023 ( Page 18 )
Interview with Sephra Hastick
In light of the T&T Blind Welfare Association’s
(TTBWA) campaign for awareness, inclusion and
sensitivity, an interview was conducted with Sephra
Hastick, a visually impaired person. Using her
initials, Ms Hastick described herself as sensitive and
hardworking.
“Blind people are first and foremost people, which
means our blindness is not our entire personality. We
have dreams, hobbies and needs, very similar to
those who are sighted. Therefore, don’t be afraid to
approach a blind person and talk about topics other
than their blindness.”
These are her sentiments.
As the youngest of her siblings and the only daughter
of her parents, Ms Hastick felt marginalised from her
brothers due to the age and gender gap. To get by,
she sought refuge in books and developed a love for
literature and writing. She eventually gained an
interest in political science, which she was exposed
to during her time at Bishop Anstey High School
East.
In terms of her schooling, at the primary level, she
attended Guaico Presbyterian School; she then
attended Bishop Anstey High School East and was
further enrolled
at the University of the West Indies’ St Augustine
Campus.
Ms Hastick explained that her biggest challenge
faced at the TTBWA is “resistance to positive
transformation.” She believes that blind/visually
impaired persons should be encouraged to build a life
outside of being a recipient of a disability grant.
She also believes that blind/visually impaired
individuals who have jumped from the safety net of
public assistance and have decided to pursue an
education or delve into the realm of
entrepreneurship should be showcased.
Currently living with her older brother, Ms Hastick
explains how she gets around: “I sometimes use
public transport, a family member’s vehicle or
private taxi apps. I don’t have someone with me
most of the time, so I rely on my mobility skills, my
remaining vision and people in public to help me
out.” She also added that her most treasured
possession is her phone, as it makes her life easier as
a visually impaired person.
She was then probed about her dreams and ideal
achievements: “Some of my goals include to do more
volunteer work, to become involved in active politics
and to become more independent as a visually
impaired person. My ideal achievement would be to
one day bring the perspective of the differentlyabled community to Parliament, whether it be as a
Member of Parliament or senator.”
When asked about her hobbies, she enthusiastically
revealed that she enjoys reading, watching
television, socialising and makeup. It should also be
noted that music and social media are her main
forms of entertainment. While she enjoys a wide
variety of music, pop is her preferred genre ,with
some of her favourite artists being Ariana Grande and
Taylor Swift.
Travelling to interesting countries and meeting blind
influencers such as Molly Burke are at the top of her
bucket list.
She also stated that she participates in any activity
that challenges her because it helps her to grow as an
individual. This is evident, as she named graduating
from UWI with a first-class honours degree as her
greatest achievement thus far.
She expressed the view that obtaining the degree was
challenging due to her visual impairment but it was
also rewarding.
She further elucidated, “I am very proud of all my
awards, one that holds a special place in my heart
remains the small wooden trophy I received in
acknowledgement of my essay writing skills at SEA.”
Ms Hastick also lamented on the biggest
misconceptions about blind/visually impaired
people.
“One of the biggest misconceptions about us is that
we are inspirational for just existing. Sighted persons
are praised for achievements and talents, whereas we
are praised for simply getting out of bed. While I
understand it may give others motivation to see a
blind person navigate their life in a world built for
the sighted, we are much more than objects of
inspiration for those who are having a bad day.”
Her main mode of communication is social media, as
she uses the platform to spread awareness about
blindness among other things. While Ms Hastick is
faced with a number of challenges daily, having a
positive outlook and having the courage to take on
tasks despite her blindness are some of the ways in
which she deals with it. She encourages the youth to
discover who they are without external pressure and
to not be deterred by the fear of failure.
This column is supplied in conjunction with the T&T
Blind Welfare Association Headquarters: 118 Duke
Street, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad Email:
ttbwa1914@gmail.com Phone: (868) 624-4675
WhatsApp: (868) 395-3086 Facebook: Trinidad and
Tobago Blind Welfare Association 1914
PICTURE COURTESY TTBWA-
Sephra Hastick