STORY By JOSHUA MULI
A clunk sound is heard from a far every morning coming from the campus bustling hallways. The sound that has been familiar to the university life. Rose is a second-year student at Chuka university pursuing Bachelor of Arts in Education.
Crutches can be used as a form of mobility and support when you have legs injured after an accident.
According to Rose, her passion not only for teaching and coaching but also interacting with young people by giving guidance and growth and mostly helping the disabled in the community.
Rose was involved in a car accident four years back causing huge damage on her lower limps which lead her to using crutches as form of mobility and support. For Rose, her situation does not limit her and see it as a barrier but unique perception that fuels more passion to education “I think people like me have unique strength and capabilities”, she narrates.
Access to university is a right for all people. However, access to higher education for people with disability has its challenges.
In recent years, higher education has placed greater emphasis on equality, diversity, commitment to create an inclusive and accessible environment. Disabled students remain systematically disadvantaged compared to the non-disabled.
Her friends help her carry bag stuff between classes and she sometimes do it for herself. It is pretty much impossible to do without terribleness.
The amount of effort and pain her arms tire by swinging with crutches is evident. “I have to leave class early or late to avoid crowds that create risk of being knocked”. Her lecturers have been so supportive as they understand her situation by providing accommodation such as allowing extra time to get to class because some structures have no access to elevators.
Beyond physical challenges, Rose also faces social complexities of university life. “Initial awkwardness “as she calls it. “Students sometimes stare or are unsure how to interact with me “but when they get to know me it’s just like any other friendship as she has opportunities to make friends who understand her condition, making crutch friends and go for racing leagues.
She never lets her disability define her. She is just Rose, a brilliant student and great friend. “I want to use my knowledge and experience to educate for greater inclusion and accessibility”.
Her focus and ambition are beyond university to support students with disability.” Students living with disabilities have talents and deserve the opportunities to reach their full potentials. “Obstacles navigated with courage and grace, sounds that carries a message of hope.
The Feature Story Writer is a Second Year Student at Chuka University pursuing a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication