Starting university after a year of pandemic lockdowns is hard enough. For 18-year-old Hajar Bahram, she has managed to juggle the transition with the added difficulty of low vision.
It’s been stressful in every single aspect,” she said.
Hajar has a rare genetic illness called rod cone dystrophy, which means she las less than 45 per cent of her vision left.
She’s been able to start her studies with the help of Vision Australia’s 2021 Further Education Bursary which has funded her assistive technology needs.
Enrolled in Western Sydney University, she is embarking on a Bachelor of Science to become a psychologist.
She hopes she can improve on skills she thinks she naturally possesses.
My friends tell me they feel comfortable speaking to me compared to other people because they know that I won’t say anything and I won’t judge them with what they’re going through.”
The bursary helps lift the barriers that could otherwise prevent people who are blind or have low vision from succeeding in tertiary education and following their chosen career paths.
Through the bursary, Hajar has recieved a Surface Pro 7 laptop with type cover and sleeve, ZoomText Magnifier & Reader with SMA, Office 365 licence, iPad Mini, Prodigi Connect 12 distance camera kit, Manfrotto Pixi Tripod, 5000mAh Power Bank, Microsoft sculpt Mouse and a Smart Travel Lamp.
The technology has proven very useful as the university embraces a hybrid on campus and virtual teaching model.
I use the technology daily,” she said.
The camera and tripod set up has proven very useful for online meetings and tutorials. And the magnifier helps with reading text books and course notes.