Fathia

36 years old, Self-employed, Orerokpe, Nigeria

I am a graduate by the grace of God. I know how it is trying to scale through school with this condition. Having friends is not easy because nobody wants to make friends with a physically challenged person. They see you as a world apart to them, but I thank God, the grace of God was there to see me through, so I am an educated person.

Disability affects me in many ways. In the workplace they will say “no, no, no, no, we are not talking about a challenged person; we need an able-bodied person”.

I have gone to several places with certificates, to tell them that I want to work. They will say “Madam, with your grammar, with your writing, we know you can, but please, we don’t need a challenged person…sorry.” When I return back home, I start crying and say “God, why me?”