TONI WHARTON did not let a disability or cruel children stop her from reaching academic success.
The bubbly 18-year-old recently passed six Caribbean Secondary Education Certification subjects and is one step further on the road to either becoming an accountant or working with the physically disabled.
Toni is hearing-impaired and, despite some tough times at school, has no intention of slowing down now. She spoke to the DAILY NATION at home in Gall Hill, Christ Church yesterday with help from her mother Marcelle Wharton and sister Melissa.
“At first, my classmates made fun of me but eventually they realized I was just like them. I used the way people looked down on the deaf to encourage me and inspire me to want to help others with disabilities,” she said.
It was hard going for Toni at the Graydon Sealy Secondary School as the classes became progressively more difficult but she said it was thanks to her teachers there and the never-ending support of her family that she got through.
Her mother is Toni’s biggest supporter. She said she made many sacrifices and faced several frustrations after realizing her daughter had one day lost her hearing.
“It was two days before her first birthday when she started to get a high fever and there was mucus coming from her eyes and I had to keep rushing her to the doctor. She finally went deaf at two and when she realized she couldn’t hear herself, she stopped talking,” she said.
Wharton said she began to work with her daughter to get her to speak despite her inability to hear and eventually this paid off.
“It was frustrating but as her mother I knew I had to be there for her and I worked with her to get her accustomed to words by getting her to read newspapers. As a single parent, it was not easy but I kept the faith and prayed every day,” she said.
Wharton said she always knew Toni was special and had potential, adding that she was very proud. However, she said she wanted to see more done for people with disabilities.
“I would like to see things put in place for all children with disabilities, not just Toni. It is a tough challenge, and if the parents aren’t strong, the children won’t make it. Toni has the ability to go far and whatever choices she makes, I will be there for her,” she said.
Melissa is 27 years old and has two children, Ramario Best, seven, and Alissa Wharton-Best, three. None of them have any disabilities but they do not treat Toni differently.
Melissa said she remembered defending her little sister from cruel children but said she was a very determined person and did not let it get her down.
“She never gives up; once she puts her mind to something, she will try until she succeeds,” she said.
Toni said her next step was to attend upper fifth form at the Graydon Sealy School before heading to the Barbados Community College to further her studies. She said she was hoping to one day attend a university overseas.
She wanted to thank all her teachers at Headstart nursery, the Irving Wilson School, St Paul’s Primary, Bay Primary and Graydon Sealy Secondary School where she noted special help was put in place by her teachers, as well as her family.