In almost every aspect, first-year undeclared student Therese
McCabe is just like any other freshman dealing with class
schedules, sharing a bathroom in the dorms, and moving away from
home.
The only thing that makes McCabe different from other students
is that she lacks the ability to see ““ she is blind.
McCabe was born without sight, and the cause is unknown.
But while McCabe herself is used to being blind, others seem to
feel as if they should treat her differently.
“Probably the most difficult thing is dealing with
people’s attitude,” McCabe said.
People feel she can’t do things on her own because
she’s blind, she said.
“It’s not a tragedy,” McCabe said,
“it’s a minor inconvenience.”
“I don’t really make a big deal out of (being
blind),” she added. “I don’t see myself as being
essentially different than anyone else.”
But being blind does present a few obstacles.
McCabe had to arrive at UCLA three weeks before her scheduled
move-in day to familiarize herself with the campus.
She does not require a guide dog, but does have a walking stick
which she uses to navigate through student traffic and when going
off campus.
Fulfilling academic responsibilities sometimes is a challenge as
well.
“It’s not that it’s necessarily harder,
it’s just (about) getting books in a format that I can
read,” McCabe said. “Teachers aren’t required to
provide me with Braille books.”
Instead, the Office of Students with Disabilities assists McCabe
and other blind students by scanning materials into a machine that
translates printed words into Braille.
McCabe prefers to do the majority of this herself, but will make
use of their services from time to time.
“I had one of the people in there help me learn my way
around when I was here in the summer,” McCabe said.
McCabe was born in Ireland where she lived for a few years until
moving to California. She enjoys playing the violin, singing with
the UCLA Chorale, and swimming.
McCabe does not look at her blindness as a disability but rather
as a part of her of life. She even attended the same high
school as her friends who were not disabled.
“I think if you go to a high school for a blind person,
you’re not really familiar with the ways of the outside
world,” McCabe said. “High schools for the blind are
(also) generally below standard.”
Nor does being blind limit McCabe’s ability to travel,
something she enjoys because of the opportunity to explore the
world.
“I think you can definitely experience different cultures
without seeing the physical landscape,” she said.
The prospect of surgery to correct her vision has sometimes
crossed McCabe’s mind.
“It’s not enough of a disability that I would just
do (surgery) without thinking about it,” she said.
A life of not being able to see the world through her own eyes
has not hindered McCabe from realizing her goals. She is enjoying
her first quarter here at UCLA, joining clubs, and hanging out with
friends.
After graduating, McCabe hopes to pursue a career in law or
journalism.