~ Trinh Ha

Mission Possible 

World Services for the Blind Client Trinh Ha Inspired by blind CEO, Now Inspires Others.  

May 26, 2021 

Overcoming the obstacles of blindness is formidable, but achievable , as has been proven countless times by the clients and staff at WSB. Our clients rise to meet the challenge of not only blindness, but their visual impairment often comes with a secondary challenge. Sometimes it’s a developmental disability, sometimes a health related issue, sometimes a social challenge. In Trinh’s case it was not only blindness, but also not knowing the language. Literally.  

Trinh’s family moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas from Vietnam in 2012 when she was just 15 years old. Born blind, Trinh did not speak a word of English. Attending regular high school, Trinh says all of the teachers were at first stumped, saying, “How are we going to teach two blind girls who don’t speak English?” 

“I guess the first two years were the hardest because (you know) imagine going to class and not knowing what people are talking about, why they are laughing, and things like that . . ,” says Ha.  

Trinh credits those teachers with being nice and accommodating, even though she later learned that all of her teachers were overwhelmed. Although one had some experience with Low-Vision students, none had worked with blind students or had experience in Braille.  

Trinh says that they immediately found ways to work through the learning process, recalling, “I remember my first day. We were in the office and she would just have Google Apps translate what it meant for us.”  Thus, begins one more story of how technology changes lives for the blind and visually impaired, opening doors for communication. The same year, her teacher learned about the jumpstart program at Arkansas School for the Blind (a collaborative partner for WSB). From there, Trinh was encouraged to join the college prep program for youth at WSB.  

At this point, Trinh had spent three weeks at ASB where she applied for and was accepted into the 5- week College Prep program at WSB. During this time, Sharon Giovinazzo had just stepped into the role as CEO. Both Trinh and Sharon had taken a risk, Trinh had never been away from her parents for that long, and Sharon had taken on her first role as a CEO in a residential rehabilitation facility. The two met in the courtyard at the WSB campus. 

 Trinh asked Sharon, “What program are you here for?”   

Sharon answered, “I’m here for all programs.” 

 Trinh said, “That’s not possible.”  

When Sharon disclosed that she was the new CEO, also a blind woman, it inspired Trinh who thought, Maybe I can be a CEO someday.  

Trinh took her first college class at WSB, gaining her first view of what the college experience could look like for her and the resources available.  She graduated from high school in 2016, and went on to the University of Central Arkansas in Conway earning a B.S. in Nutrition and also minoring in English as a Second Language, teaching online learners. This summer, Trinh will be serving as a Youth Counselor in Iowa.  

Trinh credits World Services for the Blind for helping her with both the social and day-today function aspects. For years, she spent most of her time with her sister who was also blind saying, “ I didn’t get to experience much. I got to WSB, and I saw other people like me. I got to be (I guess) more comfortable.”   

Trinh didn’t even think she’d go to college. Between her junior and senior year of high school, she felt too frightened, afraid to care for herself and live alone.  At WSB, she learned what resources were available. She learned everything from JAWS to formatting documents for college. She also learned that she could live in a dorm comfortably, and even how to cook for herself and do laundry. “It was cool, it was like college was going to be. I knew then I could do it. It gave me confidence. I could commit to the college experience.” 

It is the goal of WSB to help each client learn the skills to move forward and live their best life, I can think of no better example than Trinh. When I asked her advice to the next learner coming to WSB she says, “it’s normal to be fearful but it’s important to take steps. Just be willing to try new things, and reach out to others around you. You can pretty much achieve anything you set your mind to with support and trying new opportunities.” Trinh’s lesson to the sighted and visually impaired: Mission Possible.