NO OBSTACLE TOO BIG: There are about 300 students with Special Needs in RP but John is the first who is completely visually impaired. When he first entered RP, it took him about a week to be familiar with the school’s surroundings. With the help of his walking cane and braille on the lift buttons, John is able to navigate his way swiftly to the classroom. (PHOTO: FILMENT HO)

A NEW DAY BEGINS: John usually arrives at RP an hour earlier before class starts so that he can be ready for lessons. A private hire driver drops him off near E4 and he is often the first to reach the classroom. (PHOTO: FILMENT HO)

A TOP STUDENT: Like his peers in the Financing The Social Enterprise class, John participates actively in the class discussion and presents during the third learning phase. John has topped three modules in his course thus far. (PHOTO: FILMENT HO)

CHASING HIS DREAMS: Undeterred by his disability, John plans to continue his education and enter university after graduating from RP. He aims to enroll in law courses overseas to fulfil his childhood dream of becoming a lawyer and help others in need. (PHOTO: Filment Ho)

WORKING IN TEAMS: During lesson breaks, John stays behind in class to start on the team’s worksheet while his peers pack meals on his behalf. Despite his disability, John is glad there are no disparities between him and his classmates when it comes to the learning experience. (PHOTO: FILMENT HO)

NO DIFFERENT FROM OTHER TEENS: Like any 18-year-old, John enjoys reading lawrelated and mystery books in his free time. He also likes popular anime programmes such as Naruto and Fairy Tail. (PHOTO: FILMENT HO)

A HELPING HAND: Once he reaches the classroom, John starts his computer screen reader programme JAWS which helps him to decipher content by converting text to audio. Teaching methods and materials at RP have been customised to suit John’s needs. For instance, pictures will include captions so he can understand the content. Graphs can be converted to Braille. (PHOTO: FILMENT HO)