Visual impairment won’t stop White Bear woman from achieving higher education
- NC Raine | March 21, 2018
Excuses seem to have no place in Kelly Standingready's composition.
As a recent graduate in Political Science from the University of Saskatchewan, Standingready faced daily obstacles to accomplish that which most people take for granted. Standingready is visually impaired; legally blind in her right eye and limited vision in her left. As a baby, Standingready was born with cataracts in both eyes. Surgeries to remove the cataracts when she was 2-months-old and again when she was a year-old caused additional problems. Though she has gone through life visually impaired, she has never backed down from life's many challenges.
“I think that people who have a disability often use that as motivation to get a good education,” said Standingready. “I was told no one will look after you but yourself. So, I've always pushed myself.”
The pursuit of a degree presented a fair set of challenges for Standingready. When reading, her eyes move rapidly and lose focus, causing letters on the page to jump around. It's frustrating, she says. What may take the average person a short time to read could take her hours.
“Sometimes, I would call home to my mom or dad and cry because I was so tired. I want to sleep, but the work had to be done. And I did it. A lot of tears and sweat went into this degree,” she says.
Disability services at the University of Saskatchewan allowed Standingready to have a note-taker, and permitted additional time during exams.
“Those disability services at the University really helped. I'm grateful that they're there for people with disabilities who want to pursue an education.”
Motivation to pursue a degree came not only from a desire to better her life but those around her. Standingready hopes to pursue a law degree in the future, with the intent to be of service to those in her home community of White Bear First Nation.
“I want to go back to my community and help them retain the land we have,” she says. “The recent cases with Tina Fontaine, and [Colten Boushie] trial show a lot of injustices toward First Nation people. I've always felt strongly for fighting for our rights and land.”
As Standingready hopes to return to campus next fall for her next chapter of educational career, she says she'll continue to tackle her challenges free of excuses.
“I would tell anyone with a disability, you can do anything as long as you put your mind to it. I want it so bad, so I just made up my mind to do it.”