COVENTRY man Ezekiah Alphonse is determined that his blindness will not be a barrier to studying for a degree that he hopes will lead to a career helping others realise their ambitions.
The 37-year-old’s dream has come a step nearer thanks to WPH Charitable Trust which has given the Earlsdon resident £2,850 to buy a laptop and software which reads out text.
Ezekiah, popularly known as just Alphonse, was diagnosed with glaucoma at the age of 13 and his sight gradually deteriorated throughout his teens and twenties.
He is hoping to study an access course in social sciences with a view to taking a degree at Coventry University.
Last year he successfully passed his maths GCSE after just 12 months and in September he started another GCSE in English.
The grant from the WPH Charitable Trust has paid for a lap-top computer equipped with Job Access With Speech specialist software (JAWS) as well as a ReadEasy Evolve screen reading device.
Alphonse, who is also learning to read Braille, said: “One of the options I am considering at university is psychology.
“I would like to work with young people who face social challenges in today’s society. I would love to be able to help them steer their lives back on track.
“The grant I received from the WPH Charitable Trust has been amazing. It has really helped me with my studies. The ReadEasy electronic reader takes a photo of my handouts or pages from a book and reads the text out to me.
“As well as the laptop WPH also paid for the JAWS software which reads everything on my screen – whether supplied text or something I have written myself.
“It makes everything so much easier for me – there is no way I would be able to do this work without these assistive devices. I would like to thank WPH as it has made a huge difference to my life.”
TheTrust provides funding for individuals, and groups and organisations which work to prevent, relieve and cure sickness in Coventry and Warwickshire. The Trust provides grants for medical research, buildings, equipment and other forms of medical care for residents of the region. All applications are made via the Trust’s website and are assessed on a quarterly basis.
For further details on the Trust, or to make an online application, log on to www.warwickshirehealthcharity.org.uk
