Determination and Disability
When I was just two years old, a doctor gave me an expired polio vaccine. After three months, I was diagnosed with polio, a disease that affects the bones and movement, and I lost my ability to walk for the rest of my life.
The Supportive Mother: A Backbone for Education
My mother took care of me and four other family members. My father left us when my mother was six months pregnant with my brother. After a while, my mother re-married, and soon my stepfather started abusing me. When my mother found out, she divorced him. She focused on my education and on that of my brother. My school life was wonderful. My disability didn’t make a difference to my teachers and friends; they treated me just like everyone else. But since the school toilets were not accessible, I only ate small portions of food and drank less water, holding my pee for almost 8 hours until I returned home.
Educational Hurdles and Aspirations
While my school fee was 5000 per year, my transportation costs were 15000 per year. Despite this, my mom never stopped supporting my education. My younger brother was also very supportive and took care of me. He even sacrificed his studies for my dreams. He would carry me up and downstairs, help me travel through bus and train stations, and even assist me in accessing washrooms. Pursuing science in college was not an option for me as my mother was worried about me spilling chemicals and hurting myself during practical sessions. Hence, I pursued commerce.
A Step into Journalism: From Challenges to Triumph
In 2008, I had the opportunity to meet Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, the former President of India, and discussed issues related to the accessibility of disabled people. This event attracted significant media coverage. It was my first taste of the limelight, and I enjoyed it immensely. Hence, I aspired to be a journalist and took some courses in journalism. I began connecting with media professionals and eventually, I managed to secure a job as a content writer.
Struggles with Employment: The Pity Factor
But my mom didn’t agree, saying I should get a government job just like other educated disabled people. I was being paid Rs.7000 per month, out of which I had to spend Rs. 4000 every month on traveling in an auto-rickshaw. I am unable to support my family with 3000. So, I decided to move near to my office in a sharing accommodation to live independently without family support.
A year later, I got a job at a Telugu news channel. I wanted to prove myself and worked ten hours a day sitting in my wheelchair, while going out for reporting. However, I earned very little, and a big portion went again to traveling in an auto-rickshaw as public transport was inaccessible. Despite my efforts in leading a team of 8, my salary didn’t increase, and I didn’t get the recognition I deserved. I realized that they hired me just out of pity. Feeling disheartened, I left the job.
Miss Wheelchair India: Triumphs and Obstacles
In the same year, I participated in Miss Wheelchair India, the country’s first beauty pageant for disabled individuals. I received the most votes, yet they didn’t select me for the finals as they couldn’t cover my flight expenses, and I missed out on a significant opportunity. Around the same time, I fell in love. When I told my mom, she wasn’t happy. She felt they were already taking care of me and questioned my decision to marry. For seven years, both families opposed my marriage plans. The main reason being my disability. After long waiting for the acceptance of both families but it won’t happen so we decided to marry. In 2021 I married Narendar.
The Beginning-Determination and Disability
In 2014, I founded my company, Weave Medias. I started organizing events to support people with disabilities, providing opportunities in different sectors like cricket leagues and beauty pageants. My aim was to increase opportunities for disabled individuals in the advertising and modeling industries. I succeeded in this aspect, but financially, I incurred significant losses. Investors and clients often hesitate to trust a disabled person.
Even employees took my leadership lightly, and if I questioned them, they would resign. Lack of awareness, opportunities, and inaccessible conditions worsen the lives of disabled individuals. This inspired me to start an incubation center, Different Entrepreneurs Hub or DE-HUB, aiming to help disabled individuals become entrepreneurs and business owners so they can take charge of their own decisions and actions.
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