07 Indonesian Experience (Wom. Disability)
Description
This article is from the Essays on the topic of Women and Disability.
07 Indonesian Experience (Wom. Disability)
by Wahyu Handayani, Wahyu Handayani works for cuso in Jakarta, Indonesia
I realized that I was different from the others in elementary
school. After school hours it was the custom for students to
shake hands with their class teacher and say "good afternoon."
One day my fifth class teacher did not allow me to shake her
hand. I thought hard along my way home about why she did not want
me to do that. Was it because of my bad hand? My right hand has a
normal thumb but the fingers have been amputated. When I was a
year old, I put my right hand into boiling water.
I did not understand. She was a nice teacher and she was very
kind to me. When I grew older I understood. An Indonesian woman
who is pregnant worries about meeting a person with a disability
because they are afraid their baby will become disabled too. I
remembered my teacher was pregnant at that time.
The main thing is that I have a good family. My father supported
me in every way. He told me many stories about people with
disabilities and their successes. My father gave me my spirit.
When I'm looking for a job, I find many times I am rejected
because of my disability. Although I meet difficult situations
like this I never stop trying. As my father said, "Where there is
a will, there is a way."
One day I was called for an interview. I felt that as usual I
would not be a success but I was very surprised. I met a person
who is a great supporter of people with disabilities. He hired me
and said there is no special consideration for me as a person
with a disability because if I have the ability to do the job, I
am the same as the others. Thank God there are those who give
spirit and support to people with disabilities.
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