When I was eight months old, I developed a fever and
the doctor gave me two wrong injections. Within a few days, my legs started to
twist up and my family was told that I’ve developed Polio. This was over 3
decades ago but it was all due to the doctor’s negligence. Today, I have polio
in both my legs and make my way around using a wheelchair.
I started doing my Matric in engineering from St.
Patrick’s School and did an additional three year diploma for computers and
technical skills. The job offers I got were not good enough considering my
educational background, but my disability was the reason why. I was desperate
to earn a stable income so I got a rickshaw with my friend. I drove it around
for a year, but it only made my life more difficult. When I started driving it,
I could not sleep for a week because my back and hands were always hurting.
People would either hurl insults at me, or offer me money as if I was a beggar.
What I thought would be my independent source of income became an obstacle in
my way to success.
One day, I saw a poster of NOWPDP offering jobs to
disabled people. I reached out to them and they offered me a six month computer
operator course, and a six month internship. Now I am proud to say that I work
at Abu Dawood as a Sales Executive and have finally achieved the level of
success in my professional life.
