LIMPOPO – Living with a disability doesn’t mean that one cannot reach for the sky if he or she is determined, and prove to the nation that one can make it despite living with a challenge.
Dr Lutendo Rhinah Singo has been deaf, bilaterally, since she was very young, but her disability has not prevented her from furthering her studies and writing.
She was born and raised in Venda at Mukumbani village outside Thohoyandou.
“When I was around seven years old, I became deaf and I have lived with the disability to date.”
She used to depend on hearing aids even though they only produced minimal sounds.
“As I grew up these hearing aids could no longer detect sounds as my hearing deteriorated further, and I started relying on lip reading when communicating with people. It was not easy growing up with this disability, but I managed to complete matric against all odds and went on to obtain an Honours, a Master’s and eventually a doctorate.”
She said in 2020, she published her first book, entitled Disability Doesn’t Mean Inability: My Story of Hope and Encouragement.
“The book was brought about by my personal experiences as I grew up with a severe to profound hearing impairment. The book encourages people with disabilities to love and accept themselves irrespective of their disabilities. It also seeks to educate people to embrace those living with disabilities of various kinds and acknowledge that a disability is not a disease and can therefore not be used as an excuse which hinders anyone from achieving their goals. In general, the book tried to show that we cannot be defined according to our disabilities; rather, it encourages us to be what we want to be as long as our disabilities enable us to realise our full potential,” she further said.
When she graduated with a PhD in 2019, she wrote a second book, entitled A Perseverance Journey: Breaking Barriers with a Disability, which was published in September this year.
“The book encourages, guides, inspires and sympathises with graduates who are willing to undertake a PhD journey, as well as graduates who have already started this journey but finding it hard to keep up with the progress. Some of us may find ourselves confused because the PhD journey ahead may seem difficult. Therefore, this book seeks to show that no matter what situation you are in, whether you have disabilities or just taking on the long journey of reaching your goals, perseverance will lead you to your achievements. I never thought that a person of such a poor background like myself, including having a hearing disability, can amount to anything, let alone obtain a PhD degree. I developed a passion for writing in order to share with you my journey.”
