SOCIETY generally perceives a disability as an external impairment, but this is not always the case, said two I Can! Durban North Academy students as they recently spoke to the Northglen News about their personal struggles with their learning disabilities.
As the world celebrated International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Wednesday, 3 December, Kershin Naicker and Nicole Moodley also expressed their desire to shed some light on the misconceptions of disabilities.
“People are constantly putting me down and saying, “You can’t do that.Sometimes it is hard to cope and I get to a point where I get very depressed,” said Naicker.
Not only does the 24-year-old have a learning disability, but he also suffers from seizures. “I wish people would treat me as a normal person. I don’t want any special treatment. All I want is to be respected as a person,” he said.
Moodley (21) echoed her peer’s sentiments, saying, “As soon as people find out about your disability they treat you differently. They either shun you, become awkward or uncomfortable, or try too hard to accommodate you. I believe everyone should be treated as equals,” she said.
Claudia Leite, academy supervisor, said parents are often part of the problem.
“It is not only strangers that treat children with disabilities differently. More often than not, the parents are the ones who prevent their child with a disability from doing things, because they think their child won’t be able to do it. However, with a bit of extra help and guidance, any child can do whatever they set their minds to,” she said.
When asked what their aspirations were, Moodley said she hopes to break into the beauty industry while Naicker said his only wish was to make his parents proud.
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