Making my impairment invisible "Lesson to others "

Born with a clubfoot deformity I am among persons living with disability and face same challenges like all persons with disabilities. Once you are born with a functional limitation (impairment) and interactive limitation (disability), you are classified in my country and community as a second class human who is sick, weak,vulnerable, needy and needs help all the time.  This starts from the families and spread to the wider community.  My experience made me to have a low self-confidence and having thoughts of withdrawal all time. 

As time evolved, my family supported me to gain access to opportunities and became empowered.  Through my growing up and interactions, I gain exposure very fast because I quickly overcame all negativity and stigma building myself to become a fast learner, and seeking leadership skills to transform perception of families and communities towards persons with disabilities.  

I became a vision  bearer and role model to empower women my girls with disabilities in Cameroon. In order to become a good role model and leader, I continue to build my skills, network and put to practice knowledge gained by replicating skills to bring a shift of perception for persons with disabilities and community members. 

I make my disability invisible by building my confidence, having a good self-esteem,  continue to build my skills in public speaking, advocating for respect of disability rights, gender equality and promoting inclusion in communities. Persons disabilities face the challenge of being judged by their disability and not their potentials.  But we always preach "person first" before the disability. I ensure to be very confident and eloquent and make my audience to see my potentials and not my disability. 

I always train and empower other women and girls with disabilities on ways to put themselves first and not their disability in the presence of the world.  Letting them to make informed decisions and have autonomy over themselves. 

I want governments and the entire international stakeholders to promote inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities at all levels.  Give opportunities for freedom of expression, equal access to information and communication,  education and employment opportunities.  Let accessibility  be made practical by building sustainable partnerships with organisations of persons with disabilities to give them the means to be at the front line of their own interventions. Needs should be assessed and prioritised to promote gender and disability inclusive development.

Persons with disabilities should be flexible and open for partnerships and collaboration so as to be drivers of change.

#Icontinuetobebraveandcourageous

#Iampoweredforchange

#Womenwithdisabilitieshavepotentials

#Werisebyliftingothers