Visually impaired NewVIc alumni Irshad recently graduated with a first-class honours BSc Cyber Security and Networks degree from University of East London.

Visually impaired NewVIc alumni Irshad recently graduated with a first-class honours BSc Cyber Security and Networks degree from University of East London.

Irshad completed his GCSEs at Kingsford School before joining NewVIc to study a Level 3 Extended Diploma IT Practitioners course and he achieved exceptional grades before progressing to university.

His limited vision presented him with many challenges throughout his education. He started at NewVIc in September 2018 and wanted to do an IT course. At the time, it was felt that the course would not suit him due to his visual impairment. However, due to Irshad’s love of IT, his perseverance and the learning support he received whilst at NewVIc, he did not let his disability hold him back.

Irshad is registered as severely sight impaired. He is unable to see objects at a distance and has trouble reading and participating in class as fully as any able student. He is able to count fingers at a distance of 50cm and can see at six metres what a fully sighted person can see at 151 metres.

According to the World Blind Union, “more than 90% of all published material is not accessible to the blind or partially sighted” and print was not a practical medium for Irshad. NewVIc helped Irshad to overcome this barrier by providing an iPad with a voiceover facility. Amazingly, he created websites on his iPad whilst he was doing his course! He was also given sighted guide training and was quickly moving around the college independently.

Rosemary O’Sullivan, Vision Impaired Lead at NewVIc started her role at the same time as Irshad joined the college. She put in place the right technology and support so Irshad could fully access the curriculum. In addition, other learning support practitioners were trained on how best to support Irshad during his lessons, alongside Rosemary and help Irshad to gain his confidence to succeed.

Irshad said:

“I am extremely grateful for the exceptional support I received from NewVIc during my time there, as it played a crucial role in my successful completion of the BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma. The assistance provided by Rosemary O'Sullivan and the Inclusive Learning Support Team was truly outstanding. They went above and beyond to ensure that all my coursework was adapted into a format that was accessible to me, converting it into a readable work document.

Additionally, they promptly addressed any challenges I faced, such as inaccessible software, by finding alternative approaches and effectively communicating with my teachers. I firmly believe that without the unwavering support I received, I would not have been able to successfully complete my extended diploma and be where I am today.”

NewVIc Vision Impaired Lead, Rosemary O’Sullivan, added:

“Whilst working with Vision Impaired (VI) learners over the past 20 years (5 years spent at NewVIc), I know how hard young people have to work to achieve any part of their studies.

There are barriers in the curriculum, which I try my best to break down for my visually impaired learners and gain great pride and happiness when I see what they have achieved over the years.

I endeavour to support all of our visually impaired students to achieve to the best of their ability and realise their potential, regardless of their disability. I am here to help all of NewVIc’s amazing visually impaired students to achieve their dreams. I am so proud of Irshad and all that he has achieved so far. Well done Irshad.”

For more information about NewVIc’s Inclusive Learning Support, please visit here.