We’re Celebrating International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Discover inspiring stories of achievement and resilience from individuals with disabilities.
December 3rd is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. It’s a day to raise awareness about disability issues, support people with disabilities, and celebrate their achievements. It also reminds us to work towards a more inclusive and accessible world for everyone.
Despite challenges, these people have overcome obstacles, broken stereotypes, and succeeded in many fields. Their stories prove that a disability doesn’t define a person’s potential or abilities.
Andrea Dalzell, known as “The Seated Nurse,” is a registered nurse and activist who has been using a wheelchair since the age of 5 due to transverse myelitis. Despite facing challenges and discrimination, Andrea stayed determined to follow her dream of becoming a nurse. She made history as the first female wheelchair user to graduate from New York University’s accelerated nursing program and now works at one of New York City’s top hospitals.
Andrea works to challenge stereotypes about disabilities and raise awareness of accessibility issues in healthcare. She believes that a disability is just one part of a person’s identity and doesn’t define who they are.
Tamimi Syawalludin Pohan doesn’t let brittle bones from osteogenesis imperfecta hold him back. Despite facing challenges since birth, with his first fracture occurring just three days after he was born and leading to over 50 fractures throughout his life, Tamimi has never let his condition define him. He has been unable to walk by himself for most of his life, but his positive attitude and thirst for knowledge continues to inspire others.
He created a character named “Chip” with blue hair and a spunky attitude, who serves as his avatar for his Facebook shop, Potato Shop. There, he runs live sales with his father, selling meals, merchandise like T-shirts, car decals, tote bags, and plushies featuring Chip. This not only helps his family’s income, but also raises funds for his hospital and transport needs. One of his hobbies is collecting car models. He has a love for everything automotive and continues to expand his knowledge on this topic.
Tamimi’s story is one of determination and resilience, showing that dreams can go beyond physical limits. Even with his condition, Tamimi stays dedicated to his love for cars, breaking boundaries and inspiring others. His determination shows that with passion and a drive to learn, you can overcome challenges and achieve amazing things.
Thembakazi Yaso’s life changed dramatically in 2009 when spinal tuberculosis left her paralysed. With her mobility severely affected, she was mostly confined to her home, relying on the radio and social media to stay connected with the world. At first, Thembakazi struggled to accept her disability, even cropping her wheelchair out of her social media photos to hide her reality.
Then Thembakazi made a brave decision—she reached out to a radio presenter and shared her story. This led her to Ncikazi Nyoka, a social worker with the Western Cape Department of Social Development. Like Thembakazi, Ncikazi also had a disability, but she had found ways to stay mobile and actively involved in her community. Ncikazi’s example inspired Thembakazi, showing her what was possible beyond the limits of her disability.
With Ncikazi’s support, Thembakazi started a life-changing journey toward self-acceptance and confidence. She joined a social work learnership programme and became an active part of her community. Inspired by her challenges, Thembakazi developed a strong passion for helping others facing mobility issues and accessibility barriers.
Thembakazi’s story shows how strong and determined the human spirit can be, especially with the right support. Her journey has not only led her to personal growth and happiness but also inspired her to help others and make a real difference in their lives.
Dilani Selvanathan is a talented Junior Software Engineer at Herotech8, where she helps the technical delivery team develop exciting products and meet the company’s growing technical needs. Outside of work, she is a strong supporter of diversity and inclusion in STEM. She volunteers as a STEM Ambassador through the STEMazing programme, running fun and interactive online sessions for primary schools. Dilani is also a WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) role model, encouraging young women to consider careers in STEM.
Dilani opened up about her disabilities to break stereotypes and challenge misconceptions in engineering. She was diagnosed with dyslexia at 18 while completing a degree apprenticeship with the BBC and feels lucky to have been diagnosed early. Seeing a few stories of engineers with disabilities, Dilani shares her experiences to raise awareness and inspire others.
Dilani was further diagnosed with severe ADHD at 22. While adjusting to this new diagnosis, she highlights how understanding her disabilities has helped her. Learning she had dyslexia gave her clarity about why reading, processing information, and staying focused for long periods were so challenging. With support from her university and the BBC, Dilani received the tools and help she needed to successfully finish her apprenticeship.
Dilani has used her disabilities as a chance to learn more about herself and find ways to manage them. Instead of seeing her dyslexia and ADHD as obstacles, she has taken steps to work through them. By using planners to stay organised and wearing orange-tinted glasses to help with reading, Dilani’s journey has been one of self-discovery and strength.
Dilani uses her openness and honesty to encourage people with disabilities to recognise their strengths and abilities. Together, we can change perceptions and build a more inclusive space for everyone in engineering.
Stephen Hawking, one of the world’s most famous physicists and cosmologists, was diagnosed with a rare motor neurone disease when he was 21. Doctors gave him only a few years to live, but he beat the odds and transformed how we understand time, space, and the universe. Through his innovative ideas and popular books, Hawking showed that physical challenges don’t have to stop someone from achieving knowledge and success.
Born without arms or legs, Nick Vujicic faced challenges with his self-esteem and finding purpose. Over time, he discovered a love for motivational speaking. Today, he has shared his powerful messages of hope, resilience, and acceptance with millions worldwide. His determination and positive outlook continue to inspire people with disabilities and others alike.
After a spinal cord injury left him paralysed, actor Christopher Reeve became a passionate advocate for spinal cord research and treatments. He started the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation to support people living with paralysis and to fund research for a cure. His dedication and efforts continue to inspire and benefit the disability community.
Stevie Wonder was born blind but showed incredible musical talent from an early age. Despite discrimination and challenges in the industry, he became one of the most successful and influential musicians in history. Through his iconic songs and fight for equality, Wonder proves that with talent, determination, and perseverance, obstacles can be overcome.
These are just a few examples of incredible stories from people with disabilities who have gone beyond expectations and achieved amazing things. Their challenges and achievements prove that having a disability doesn’t mean you can’t succeed. With determination, perseverance, and a positive mindset, they’ve shown that anything is possible.
Let’s continue to celebrate their achievements while working towards a society that is inclusive and diverse for everyone, no matter their abilities. These stories can inspire anyone facing challenges in life—if they can overcome obstacles to achieve greatness, we too can overcome our own hurdles.
Share this article