Carino serves with pride despite blindness

Victor Carino works at the Belvoir Skilcraft Self-Service Supply Center. He is completely blind in one eye and has no depth perception in the other.

By: Julia LeDoux | Inside NoVA
Published: November 11, 2009

Victor Carino is driven by supporting the nation’s soldiers.
Unlike most of his fellow civilian employees on Fort Belvoir, Carino completes his tasks everyday without getting a good look at those he serves.
He was born completely blind in one eye and has blurred vision and no depth perception in the other.
Carino is a sales associate at the Belvoir Skilcraft Self-Service Supply Center and is extremely proud of his job and the help he gives to federal government and military personnel.
“Our office and janitorial products not only help people like me who are visually impaired, but they help support our military,” Carino said. “That makes me happy.”
Originally from the Philippines, Carino lived in Guam for most of his youth and moved to Virginia for the career opportunities it offered.
Before coming to Belvoir a little over a year ago, Carino worked in a supermarket for four years until he discovered the AbilityOne Program, which pointed him to his current career.
AbilityOne is a federal initiative to help people who are blind or have other severe disabilities find employment by working for nonprofit agencies that sell products and services to the U.S. government.
With a national network of 600 agencies, it claims to be the largest source of employment for people who are blind or have other severe disabilities in the U.S.
“I really wanted a job where I could see my full potential,” Carino said. “When I was working at the super market, I was working with a lot of able-bodied citizens who could do things faster; so, I wasn’t able to do everything I wanted, and now I can.
With this job I get a sense of self worth, because I can use my skills and abilities and I am able to rearrange merchandise and design product displays,” Carino said. “I was never challenged to do anything like that before, so it’s nice.”
Carino said he has learned never to underestimate an individual with a physical disability.
“There are things we are able to do, despite our limitations and disabilities,” Carino said. “We are better than some other people think.”
During his spare time, Carino is an avid lover of music and enjoys singing karaoke when he can. He enjoys playing the guitar as well.

Carino serves with pride despite blindness

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