Featured
The Trailblazer Series: The Sports Stars
Last month, we began our Trailblazers series by focusing on some of the most successful celebrities who also happen also to have a disability, chronic condition or learning difficulty.
In 2023, we’ll be continuing the series to highlight the successes of disabled individuals to prove that disability does not equal inability.
This time, meet the sport star trailblazers
Esther Vergeer
Esther Vergeer is one of the most dominant professional disabled sports stars in history. Vergeer competed in wheelchair tennis professionally and won 48 Grand Slam competitions, 23 year-end titles, and 7 Paralympic medals. From 1999 until her retirement in 2013, she ranked as the top wheelchair tennis player in the world. From 2003 until her retirement, Esther had never lost. She has won 470 matches in a row.
Esther was born in the Dutch town of Woerden on July 18, 1981. In March 1990 she became paralysed from the waist down as a result of vascular myelopathy. Once her health stabilised she learned to play wheelchair tennis throughout her recuperation and by 1995 turned pro. Esther is currently known as the most famous disabled athlete in the world.
Muhammad Ali
Who doesn’t know the renowned heavyweight boxing champion, Muhammad Ali? Ali, often known as “the Greatest,” was a famous and celebrated character of the twentieth century, as well as one of the greatest boxers of all time.
However, few people are aware that his initial battle was against dyslexia. He was a wonderful wordsmith, and many of his phrases are used as motivational quotes, yet he struggled to read due to dyslexia.
Trischa Zorn
Zorn Trischa is the most decorated Paralympic athlete ever. Trischa, an American paralympic swimmer, has won 55 medals, including 41 gold, in paralympic competitions. Zorn is the most successful Paralympian of all time, and she owns numerous world records in her disability category.
She was born with aniridia, an uncommon disorder characterized by abnormal iris development. Due to her unique affliction, Trischa has been legally blind since birth. In 2012, she was inducted into the Paralympic Hall of Fame. In addition, the Trischa L. Zorn Award is granted to impaired swimmers in the United States.
Ellie Simmonds
Eleanor Simmonds, OBE is a former Paralympian swimmer from Britain who became the youngest member of the British Paralympian team in 2008 at just 13 years old. The same year, Simmonds won two gold medals for team GB. Ellie then went on to win a further three gold medals at the Olympic games during her career.
Ellie was diagnosed with achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism, as a baby.
Brian Bell
Brian Bell is a wheelchair basketball player from the United States. The talented sportsman has represented his country twice at the Summer Olympic Games and helped his team achieve gold medals both times.
Bell lost one leg at the age of ten following a train accident.
Culture
The African Artists with disabilities changing the Narrative
The African Artists with disabilities changing the Narrative, one step at a time.
Calvin Ratladi
Born in Witbank, Mpumalanga Province on January 29, 1991, Calvin Ratladi is a South African powerhouse. Not only is he a SAFTA-winning artist (2022) for his captivating performance in the historical drama series Shaka iLembe, but he’s also a prolific writer, director, and champion for disability inclusion in the arts.
Ratladi’s artistic journey began in 2010 with the establishment of the Calvin Ratladi Foundation, a testament to his dedication to nurturing artistic expression. He holds a B.Tech degree in Drama from the Tshwane University of Technology and is currently pursuing his Master’s degree at UP.
Adept at captivating audiences on both stage and screen, Ratladi boasts an impressive theatre career dating back to 2013. He breathed life into diverse characters, from Animus & Ensemble in Dis[illusion] to Estragon in Waiting for Godot. From 2017 to 2018, he delivered a powerful performance as Man in Human Pieces II, further solidifying his versatility.
Ratladi’s talents extend far beyond acting. He’s a skilled writer and director, having helmed productions like King Lear (2016), Silent Scars (2017), and The Dead Chant in Death (2018). His 2019 work, Nongqawuse, showcased his ability to both write and direct.
Ratladi’s dedication to social causes is evident. In 2022, he received the Outstanding Person with a Disability award at the SAFTAs. He’s also the recipient of the prestigious Naledi Award and the 2019 Lesedi Spirit of Courage Award, becoming the first Black recipient in the award’s history.
Ratladi’s literary prowess extends beyond scripts. He’s the author of “The Ram And Its Behind” and co-authored “Roots in The Sky” and “MaNgoyi – The Life of Lilian Ngoyi.” Additionally, he serves as the curator of the international theatre project A Gathering in a Better World (GIABW).
Calvin Ratladi is a true renaissance man of the South African arts scene, consistently pushing boundaries and inspiring others with his multi-faceted talent and unwavering commitment to social change.
Victor Sitali
Born and raised in Zambia, Victor Sitali now paints his vibrant vision from his Dubai studio. Deaf since early childhood, Sitali discovered his artistic voice at the age of 27. His motto, “My voice is heard through the work of my hands,” speaks volumes about the power of art in his life.
Mentored by British artist Trevor Waugh, Sitali’s work focuses on capturing the essence of Africa through portraits, landscapes, and the captivating beauty of birds and eyes. He’s a master of multiple mediums, wielding oil paints, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, and charcoal with equal skill.
In 2013, he won “Best Artist” and “Highly Recommended” awards at the first Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival. His talent shone internationally as well, receiving an honorable mention at the International Emerging Artists Award. A highlight of his career came in 2019 with selection for the prestigious 12th Florence Biennale.
Sitali’s artistic journey extends beyond the canvas. From 2011 to 2014, he honed his skills at Mawaheb from Beautiful People. In 2017, he graduated with a degree in Graphic Design from SAE Institute, Dubai.
Today, his passion extends to fostering creativity in others. He conducts workshops on art and sign language, sharing his talents and experiences in schools and art spaces across the UAE.
Sitali’s passion for photography complements his paintings. He freelances for fashion and art events, capturing the vibrancy of the region’s creative scene. His artistic portfolio continues to flourish, as he puts in efforts to attain greater heights.
Prince Nahimana
Prince Nahimana, a deaf Rwandan artist, has carved a space for himself and countless others in the world of art. Despite facing communication barriers and a lack of resources, Nahimana’s artistic passion blossomed at a young age.
Today, at 34, he is the driving force behind the Kigali Deaf Art Gallery, a platform not just for his own work, but for 11 deaf artists to showcase their talents and Rwandan heritage through paintings, sculptures, and fashion.
Nahimana’s vision extends beyond personal success. He aspires to shatter the silence by advocating for sign language as a fundamental right and equipping the deaf community with the tools they need to thrive. His dream is to establish an art training center for deaf children, nurturing their creativity and fostering a path towards self-sufficiency.
By: Yahuza Bawage
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Featured
Life, struggles, and triumphs of Jessica Long
Born in Siberia, Russia, Jessica Long faced an uphill battle from the start. Fibular hemimelia, a rare condition affecting her leg development, presented an immense challenge during her childhood.
Jessica’s young mother, overwhelmed by the situation, made the difficult decision to place her in an orphanage. But hope would later arrive for 13-month-old Jessica, when Beth and Steve Long, a couple from Baltimore, Maryland, adopted her.
Years later, Jessica found herself growing up in a new home, and she soon embraced life in America through exploring various sports, including gymnastics, ice skating, rock climbing, and even trampolines.
Amidst difficulties, Jessica persevered. This resilience, coupled with her unwavering determination, led her to the pool. It was in the water that Jessica truly found her calling.
The path wasn’t without roadblocks. However, her inherent strength and unwavering spirit propelled her forward. Soon enough, Jessica was recognized as Maryland’s Female Swimmer of the Year with a Disability.
At the young age of 12, Jessica’s competitive career reached a defining moment at the 2004 Athens Paralympics. Having only honed her skills for two years, she defied expectations and stunned the world by claiming three gold medals. This accomplishment, even surpassing the aspirations of swimming legend Michael Phelps (with whom she would later train for Rio 2016), and transformed Jessica as a force to be reckoned with.
Jessica’s journey has not been solely about medals. Her 23 gold medals for Team USA made her one of the most decorated international athletes. However, beyond the accolades, she has transcended her victory to become a symbol of inspiration for future generations.
“The only disability in life is a negative attitude”, she often voiced.
Jessica has since overcome her physical limitations and become resilient enough to chase her dreams, no matter the obstacles. Her achievements stand as a powerful reminder that disability isn’t the end of life. With an unwavering determination and a positive outlook, persons with disabilities can also become great and influential people across the world.
By: Yahuza Bawage
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Culture
Fannie Lou Hamer: A Powerful Voice in the Fight for Civil and Women’s Rights
On March 8th, International Women’s Day, is a day of commemoration, advocacy, and protest. On this day, we remember all those women who gave their lives, efforts, and dreams to achieve a better life for themselves and for all. These brave women have left an indelible mark on history. One of these heroines was Fannie Lou Hamer, an American activist who fought for women’s rights and universal suffrage. Despite her disability and the violent racism she faced, she managed to bring about change in the state of Mississippi.
First years
Fannie Lou Hamer, born on October 6, 1917, in the Mississippi Delta, a southern state with a history of slavery, experienced the daily impact of racial segregation, which was theoretically abolished. Lou grew up in poverty as the daughter of cotton pickers. At the age of six, she followed the same path and began working in the fields alongside her parents. Fannie attended a one-room schoolhouse meant for the children of farmers, which only operated during the winter (between harvests). It was there that she developed a deep love for reading and poetry. Unfortunately, at the age of 12, she had to leave school to support her family. During those years, she contracted polio, which left her with a disability, making it difficult for her to walk normally, a challenge she faced throughout her life.
Despite her precarious circumstances, Fannie continued to hone her reading and writing skills. In 1944, she was selected as a timekeeper on a plantation. A year later, she married Perry Hamer, a farmer on the Marlow plantation, where they lived for 18 years.
Fight for civil rights
Fannie Lou Hamer began her interest in civil rights in 1950 when she attended the Regional Council of Negro Leadership (RCNL). Local leaders provided messages of hope, struggle, and social reform during these gatherings, which deeply resonated with Fannie and led her to become part of the movement.
Indignant at the government’s efforts to disenfranchise people of color, Fannie decided to act. Along with 17 volunteers, she registered as a suffragist at the Indianola courthouse. Unfortunately, an unfair literacy test denied them the right to vote. This act sparked controversy in the city, and authorities began harassing this small group of activists. As a result, Hamer was fired from her job, and most of her belongings were confiscated. Fannie and her husband relocated to Ruleville, Mississippi, to start anew.
The struggle didn’t end in Indianola. A year later, Hamer completed a voter registration program in Charleston. She also participated in a peaceful demonstration with a group of women at a “whites-only” restaurant, which landed her in jail. There, she was brutally beaten and mistreated, resulting in lasting physical effects. Undeterred, Fannie decided to go further. Fed up with bureaucratic obstacles preventing Black voter participation, she co-founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP) in 1964. This movement aimed to encourage Black political participation while challenging the Democratic Party figures in Mississippi
The fight for change
The MFDP, in collaboration with hundreds of young volunteers who arrived in Mississippi during the Freedom Summer, made the decision to challenge the political representation of the so-called ‘regular’ state party at the national convention of the Democratic Party, scheduled for August in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Fannie, along with several volunteers, traveled to New Jersey to express the difficult situation faced by Black residents of Mississippi. Her speech moved many, but due to the actions of President Lyndon Johnson, who sought a peaceful and uncontroversial resolution, the MFDP’s intentions were thwarted.
Finally, Walter Mondale, then Attorney General of Minneapolis, awarded all the seats to the general party and only two to the MFDP. Party members, after a civil rights march, decided to reject this ‘charity.’ Mrs. Hamer declared, ‘We didn’t come here to have only two seats because we are all tired.’ Despite this setback, Fannie Lou Hamer’s fight continued, and she and her party persisted in changing a backward, racist, and unjust system. Thanks to her tireless advocacy and nonconformity, the Democratic Party managed to reform itself by expanding the participation of women and minorities.
By: Álvaro Lago
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