Rashna, a struggler

I am Rashana Sharmin Camey. I am 25 years old woman with Cerebral Palsy. At first my parents could not understand my problem. When I started walking they found that I could not walk properly. I fell down frequently when trying to walk. I could not play and express feelings like other children. So, they took me to doctors but the medications did not work on me. When my parents came to know about my condition and my physical disabilities they became more supportive. I am very lucky to have my parents who never thought of my disabilities rather they encouraged me in every sector of my life. The world was not as supportive as my parents and my fight started with the so called normal world. In the eyes of the world I was an abnormal child who was not appropriate for any normal situation, status, knowledge or anything else. I became frustrated in every phase of my life from education to meeting people or even playing.
Soon I realized that world will never provide me the rights I deserve. So, I decided to attain my rights as a human being. I was very fond of reading and I had completed my S.S.C and H.S.C from Comilla Board. Then I got myself admitted in the Pharmacy Department of the University of Development Alternatives (UODA). Now I am a postgraduate student in Pharmacy but my journey of achieving it, was not an easy one. My teachers were not supportive nor my classmates either. Though my performance in classroom activities, projects and exams was good I did not receive any appreciation rather people always underestimated me for my disabilities. The educational organizations in which I studied lacked accessible situations, environment, communication process and skilled teachers for disabled persons. My classmates and teachers asked me what I am going to do in future as they thought me unable to face challenges in career building. After completing my studies when I started to seek a job, I was always rejected for my disabilities though I had all qualifications required for those jobs. When I started my first job, I did not receive the honor and facilities that I deserved as an employee so I could not continue that work. People pitied me but they did not want a disabled person in their workplace. I was not a subject for pity and I proved myself several times that I can do all those things that an able bodied person can do. I was very depressed and upset regarding my future. A person with disabilities has to face many obstacles and difficulties to establish his or her place in society. I think the lack of awareness is the main reasons behind this type of discrimination. I came to CRP in December 2014 and stayed till April 2015 as a patient. Now I am working as a Project Assistant of Access to Health and Education for All Children and Youth with Disabilities (AHEAD) at CRP. I am very grateful to CRP as it paved my way for success.

I have been selected for the the 18th Duskin Leadership Training Program in Japan, a program for persons with disabilities in Asia and the Pacific, arranged by Duskin Ainowa Foundation. After completing the training, I will work to change the negative attitudes of people towards disability and create possibilities for the disabled persons especially for women who are deprived of their rights in their communities like me.