BORN to two deaf parents who have limited formal education, Toni Lee has earned an honours degree from The University of the West Indies, a milestone her family celebrates as a triumph of determination.

Though both her parents are deaf, they worked tirelessly to ensure Toni Lee received a good education, with her mother earning a living as a seamstress, and her father as a mechanic.

“I work hard sewing late nights and selling, and same with my husband. He worked hard to fix transmission in different parishes. We successfully paid her tuition at UWI without loan,” said Toni’s mother, Lorraine Lee.

Now 22, Toni has defied the odds, graduating with an honours degree in medical physics and a minor in computer science. An only child and the first in her family to reach this level of education, she credits her achievement to the unwavering support and determination of her parents, Lorraine and Bryan Lee, whose highest level of formal education was grade nine.

“Within the deaf community during their time, the highest level of education was usually grade nine. But one thing they were sure about was that I was going to do more than they did,” Toni told the
Jamaica Observer.

“Even though they didn’t understand everything, like CSEC [Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate], or what it means to have a degree, they pushed me to pursue anything I wanted academically. They were ten toes down behind me.”

Toni’s journey was not without challenges. After failing an entire semester, she was forced to spend an additional year completing her degree — an experience she described as mentally taxing.

“I had to do an extra year at UWI because, after COVID-19, when we sat exams in the tent, it was a culture shock for me. I developed a lot of anxiety and ended up failing the entire semester,” she explained.

“I was doing well up to the exams, but I had to redo those courses. I was very hard on myself, but my parents kept reminding me that this was a new space and that it didn’t define what would happen next,” said Toni

When she received confirmation that she had passed all her courses her parents were overjoyed.

“The second I got the e-mail saying I qualified for graduation, they were so happy. They video-called all their friends,” remembered Toni.

For Toni, the milestone represents more than academic success; it symbolises perseverance for her entire family.

“We doubted ourselves at times. They doubted their ability to support me financially for five years, and I doubted whether I would even finish in five years,” she shared. “So this milestone means so much to us as a family, because we just did it.”

Toni explained that her mother lost her hearing due to meningitis, while her father became deaf following an incident that ruptured his eardrums. However, growing up with deaf parents never made her feel disadvantaged.

“My parents are the most prideful people on this earth. I never felt like I was missing out on anything,” she said.

“I knew they loved me. They didn’t have to verbally say it. They worked hard, had fun, included me, and I included them. I’ve never been ashamed. I actually find it useful to have another language under my belt.”

Before learning to speak verbally, Lee communicated through body language, facial expressions, and sign language.

“I learned sign language before I learned to speak verbally. I went to a deaf preschool up to age six,” she said. “It made me more attentive to communication without spoken words, understanding people based on reactions, behaviour, and body language.”

Toni is adamant that disability should never be viewed as a limitation, but rather as an opportunity for growth.

“It’s not a limitation. People with disabilities can teach you things. You adapt earlier, gain empathy earlier, and experience life lessons much sooner than others,” she said.

Toni also called for greater inclusivity for members of the deaf community, particularly at public events.

“I had to fight to get an interpreter at graduation. It shouldn’t be optional. You never know who’s in the crowd. Inclusion matters, just knowing that someone thought about you. I advocate for interpreters everywhere, all the time,” declared Toni.

A proud Toni Lee, having earned an honours degree from The University of the West Indies.