A chat with Andy labrosse, a disabled young man |15 December 2020

Andy the athlete

‘My dream to become a dentist was dashed when my school days ended at 15’

35-year-old Andy Labrosse who is living with a physical disability after suffering from polio when he was a baby says his childhood dream to become a pediatric dentist was dashed when his school days ended when he was only 15 years old.

“During those times when a child living with a disability reached the age of 15, there were no other educational choices for them but to leave school to follow vocational training such as in handicraft, carpentry or others at the Vocational Training Centre, find some small jobs or just remain at home for some,” Andy told me.

Only days after Seychelles joined the rest of the world on December 3 to celebrate the International Day for Persons with Disabilities, Andy said he often wishes he was of the present generation where the situation for people living with disabilities has improved greatly and there are more opportunities for them to further their studies and realise their dream.

“Today when you look at our society, we have made great strides as a small country to improve the lives of people living with disabilities; they have the platform to air their voices and concerns, they have the opportunity to go to school to further their studies and realise their dreams like any other persons and they can develop their skills in any field they choose,” Andy noted.

He pointed out that during those days when he was going to school the voices of disabled students were not heard and they had to follow all that was decided for them and there were not many organisations pushing for disabled people to further their studies.

He said he is encouraged by the effort of the government and various organisations and NGOs in society that are continuously encouraging people living with disabilities to have a normal life.

“Having a person with disability in the National Assembly is a very good sign and a great step forward for us and I am very happy but a lot remains to be done to educate our people and to change their attitude towards people living with a disability,” Andy said.

Asked why he did not attempt over the years to continue his education as the situation for disabled persons were improving and eventually apply for the training course of his dreams through the NIHSS, Andy said it is probably because he did not have enough academic background and the encouragement required.

“But even though I was sad I did not cry and continue to lament over the missed opportunity but instead I applied myself to what I was taught at the Vocational Training Centre (VTC) where I learned many things but in particular I was more interested in storekeeping. I took a great interest in how to manage a store and keep all the records,” Andy said.

After he completed his training there, Andy took a storekeeping job at the Le Meridien Barbarons Hotel, now Avani. He went on to spend over a year there before going back to the VTC at North East Point to manage the store there. This year marks 11 years since he has been there.

“I have grown use to the job and I am satisfied,” Andy said, albeit somewhat downcast.

Andy the active young man

Other than having a job, in his spare time Andy also takes part in different activities and he is a keen sports enthusiast who takes part in a variety of sports namely football, bocce, athletics…

“I like keeping myself busy, active and healthy,” Andy said.

He also loves nature and the environment noting that at home he enjoys doing some planting but mostly flowers.

Last year to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities Andy was among a group of people who took part in a tree-planting event at the Anse Royale Ecosystem Based Adaptation (EBA) project site.

With regard to sports Andy has taken part in and represented Seychelles in numerous national and international sporting events namely football in the Special Olympics in North Carolina, USA, in 1999, the XIII Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece between June 25 and July 4 in 2011, as an athlete in the 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014 and he was also on the Seychelles Rio 2016 Paralympics team.

In 2015 Andy was appointed as a member of the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC) where he served for two years.

“It was an interesting opportunity for me to make the voice of the disabled youth heard. But like in everything some youth are active and willingly come forward to take part in activities but others will not,” he observed.

Dreams to have his own family

Andy, a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, describes himself as a very gentle, loving, sentimental and caring person.

“My dream is to find the love of my life and start my own family,” said Andy.

He said his life has not been easy and he has had a few broken hearts as his past girlfriends left him after sometime.

“I believe they listen to their friends who cannot tolerate them with a disabled boyfriend. The remarks people make at times really hurt me because I am a human being and I have feelings. Other than my disabled arm and leg I am perfectly fit in all other areas. I work like anybody else and I earn my own money   and I don’t understand why some people treat me bad and look down on me,” Andy said sadly.

But he is hopeful and happy that the new girlfriend he started dating earlier this year is treating him well.

“I am really hopeful about this relationship and I hope I can in the near future settle down with my girlfriend and have the family I want,” Andy said.

Seychelles NATION congratulates Andy for his courage and determination and wishes him all the best in all his endeavours.

Marie-Anne Lepathy