I have not always used a wheelchair, I used to walk on my own for the longest time.😳🤣🤣

But my wheelchair is my legs for now and I am grateful for even having a wheelchair. 🙏😢

It is not something I take for granted.🙏

Through all this, my single BIGGEST pain remains the lack of accessibility in my physical environment.💔😭

Plus I have this an unnatural fear of being lifted while seated in my wheelchair because it can become apart midair and also because I have glass bones, it it would be a serious case of Humpty Dumpty!( Princess Sharmirah Kimbugwe come explain who this humpty thing is🤣🤣🤣) 😱😳😅

I am therefore very passionate about accessibility and I feel that it is something that limits most PWDs not to achieve even the very basics.

Think ; education, health services, employment and Justice!!

A person without disabilities will never truly understand our pain, fear, worry, frustration, isolation because of inaccessibility.

You will ask what the big deal is if they can just carry the wheelchair, or guide a blind person but before I answer that, how often do you get carried as an adult? 🤔( not referring to men carrying their wives)🙄

Why shouldn’t I and others like me be able to achieve and do the same things like you ,a person without a disability ?

Can you honestly say , I can access ALL things equally as you do and with my dignity and privacy in check?!

Accessibility means more than just ramps, it means being able to get onto a bus or taxi with my wheelchair.

• It means having accessible classrooms and toilets.

• It means availing all public information in Braille.

• It means availing screen readers (google it) in schools and workplaces.

• It means having sign language interpreters at all government hospitals and at the police station.

• It means exercising my right to go to the polling station and cast my vote in privacy.

• It means I don’t have to give my driver my ATM pin to withdraw money for me.

• It means height adjustable hospital beds.

• It means being able to go for a trip even within Uganda. Don’t 🙄! 🤣🤣🤣

• It means being able to run my own errands, it means being independent.

I am issuing you a challenge; whether you are a teacher, a doctor, a lawyer , a police officer, a stay at home mom or dad, a CEO, an Imam or pastor , whatever your day job is, 🤷🏼‍♀️ Llive HALF a day in a wheelchair (no standing, no walking) just pretend to be PARALYZED from the waist down or go about your day BLINDFOLDED.

Try it and then we can DISCUSS, accessibility!

BONUS: you can borrow my wheelchair for the experiment.😉

#inclusion #accessibility #disabilityawareness