FSU Student Overcomes Disability's Obstacles

Picture walking up a flight of stairs not able to look down and see thesteps or walking around a campus unable to identify what building to which you are assigned. Try to envision the sensitivity of your finger tips and identifying numbers and letters by small dots arranged so systematically you can identify words and mathematical equations.  Try to imagine the feeling of having to listen to the echoes of the hallways, just to know how much farther you have to go to make it to your room or specific destination. Now finally picture having your eyes closed forever, not being able to see, and being diagnosed with the
disability of being blind. Echoes of footsteps, enhanced senses, and Braille are a few things FSU student Michael Spriggs deals with day by day. Spriggs conquers major obstacles in dealing with his disability, college course load, and having to take care of his Seeing Eye dog, Jaz.

A 2008 graduate from Charles Herbert Flowers High School in Prince George's County, Spriggs has had to make a major transition from high school to college. Before dealing with the transition to a college freshman experience, Spriggs  faced a far more difficult transition.  Born in 1989, Spriggs was born with cataracts. Cataract, a clouding in the lens of the eye, is more common in the elderly. Symptoms of cataract include blurry vision, colors that seem faded, double vision, the inability to see well at night or in dark places, and glare. Living with cataracts at such a young age was quite a hurdle for Spriggs. "I had to deal with frequent prescriptions for my eyes at a very young age. I have always had to deal with vision problems," Spriggs explained.
 

A few years later, Spriggs's cataract soon became glaucoma. Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can ultimately result in loss of sight. According to the National Eye Institute, "Glaucoma occurs when the normal fluid pressure inside the eye slowly rises." Spriggs stated that he confronted his vision problems the only way he knew how, because he
was so young.

Although Spriggs was faced with sight problems, he did not let these issues hold him back. Spriggs was a very athletic and active child. He played a number of sports, but swimming was something he did with passion. At the age of thirteen, a swimmer in middle school, he was in a swimming accident and his eye was knocked out of the socket. "I started
losing my vision at such a young age, but having my eye knocked out speeded up the process," he said about the event. "I was pretty much in denial after the accident," he explained about losing his sight. After that loss, it took strength and motivation for Spriggs to adjust. "It was hard, but you do what you have to do," he remarked.

Spriggs continued to swim and play sports in high school, but also resorted to wrestling. His senior year he appeared on ESPN and was considered a state qualified wrestler. That was a major achievement for him and was "a good way to leave high school and begin college," according to Spriggs. Before entering college, he took a year from school to learn Braille.
Spriggs stated, "Braille took a long time to learn and it was a little hard, but I had to do it. We don't always do what we want, but we do what we have to."

Summer of 2008, before entering college, Spriggs went to Seeing Eye Inc. in New Jersey. He wanted to use a seeing eye dog, instead of the cane he had used years before. "I used a cane until July 2008," he stated. "I had to decide if I could handle the responsibility of having a dog, especially since I was on my way to college to be on my own." At Seeing Eye Inc., trainers give the prospective owner a number of tests and then pair him or her with a dog. "If you pass the tests, you get the dog two
days later," Spriggs said.  Jaz, a three year old male German shepherd, accompanies Spriggs everywhere he goes, fulfilling the responsibilities of a Seeing Eye dog. Not only does Jaz obey Spriggs in English, he also understands French,
and listens very well. Jaz and Spriggs have been together since August of 2008.

In his journey to choosing the right college, FSU was his top pick. "The tuition is really affordable here," he stated. Spriggs is a major in French with a minor in music with a concentration in piano and voice. Spriggs writes music in his spare time, and his inspirations are musical artists Stevie Wonder, Jamie Foxx, Brian McKnight, and Boyz II Men. Spriggs hopes to teach after graduation, in both music and French.  About first learning the campus, Spriggs said, "The first few weeks of school I had people help me; I asked a lot of questions. I also used reference points, beginning with my dorm." He had to learn the campus
and the buildings for each of his classes. "Eventually I didn't need reference points anymore," he stated. Not only did asking people help him, but Jaz guided him through the campus and the buildings. When asked if he had any problems with locating specific buildings, Spriggs responded quite cleverly and said, "When you first come to college, every freshman does. It took me a while, but I learned how to get around."

When class work is an issue, Spriggs is on top of his work. If he ever has an issue with a class, FSU's Disability Support Services will provide him with someone to take his notes and any other assignments needed. Adjusting to college course work is quite an obstacle, as is the adjustment of a social life. It is no mystery that Spriggs is faced with the disability of being blind, but he is quite accepted among his peers. When asked about social networking, he joked, "I'm pretty accepted, but Jaz is more accepted. My identity is the extension of my dog. I can't go anywhere without him." Spriggs really enjoys college and feels as if he is getting the true college experience. He does not participate in any extracurricular activities on campus, but "I plan on it eventually," he stated.

As far as Spriggs's wrestling career, he still wrestles in state-wide open tournaments, and still swims occasionally.
Spriggs can be a true inspiration to other students with disabilities. He does not let his disability stop him from pursuing his goals. When on campus Spriggs can be seen with Jaz, socializing with friends, and enjoying his college life. When asked to reflect on his life and the hurdles he has overcome, Spriggs smiled and stated, "Everybody's path is different; soon, you have to find your own."