Breaking Barriers

Do you know what it takes to overcome challenges and thrive as a person with a disability? Here is an inspirational story of Bethelhem Shitahun's journey to success in her own words.

My first memory of communicating with my parents was interrupted after my infection with yellow fever. At the age of 4, I could no longer communicate with my parents and the world around me, and that difficulty followed me to school. I couldn’t understand or communicate with my classmates, so I sat alone. Before starting school, I could speak Amharic, but it wasn’t perfect, making talking to my classmates, teachers, and understanding work assignments difficult. It took me 3 years to pass first grade. But I persisted.

My life changed when my mother sent me to a school that was aware of my needs. There, I developed my Amharic and English writing and reading. I received speech therapy from my family and school, which helped me become proficient in lip-reading and speaking. This helped me stand on my own two feet. I read different books on my own, independent of the teacher. There was no sign language or interpreter at that time and deaf children usually stay home and remained illiterate, but I had the opportunity to be different.

Initially, dreams of becoming a medical doctor fueled my passion for education. My deafness became a new challenge in many ways at university. I did not attend most of the lectures because there was no interpretation. I would spend entire days at the library, studying modules myself. However, the biggest challenge was missing exams, assignments, and vital information. Fellow students were incredibly supportive, often lending me their notebooks so I could copy down the essential material. Sometimes I approached the lecturers and told them I could not hear, they became nervous. They glare their eyes admiring and say "Why did you come here? You must know hearing is important. If you can't hear, you can't be a doctor." A biochemistry teacher once asked me to leave his class and told me not to come again.

So, I lost hope and spent a year at home — depressed and anxious. In 2020, I applied to transfer to Addis Ababa University to continue my education. After weeks of back and forth, I was finally admitted to the Special Needs Department. I was determined to strive for my academic success to make my family proud and fight for the negative attitude that “deaf persons cannot thrive!”.

I graduated being the first deaf gold medalist in the history of Addis Ababa University. I also won the prestigious” Maleda Leadership Award” for leading Students Union of 11 colleges for 2 years. 

During my time as a bachelor's student, I was a tutor at an orphanage in Addis Ababa. This experience allowed me to invest my time and expertise in helping children, especially those with disabilities — sparking my interest in disability leadership and self-determination. I love exploring history books, fiction novels, and personal blogs and I wanted to pass that on to others.

Today, I am a YALI East Africa Fellow, a disability rights activist, and an Inclusive Education Intern at UNICEF Ethiopia. 

I am dedicated to empowering the disability community — especially children with disabilities— by ensuring equal access to education. UNICEF’s work in building ramps, accessible classrooms restrooms, providing assistive technologies, and specialized educational materials, training teachers on inclusive education practices, sensitization programs to build awareness, and reduce stigma around disabilities has been life-changing for children with disabilities.

Seeing children thrive in inclusive schools, equipped with the resources they need to learn, fills my soul with satisfaction. I believe that for children with disabilities (CWDs), assistive devices are as essential as food, shelter, and clothing—the fourth necessity for a dignified life.

I am proud to contribute to this mission, helping build a world where no child is left behind. I visit schools to share my story and mentor teenagers, helping them build confidence and embrace their potential.

I am driven by the belief that disability is not inability. My journey—marked by perseverance, advocacy, and leadership—proves that barriers can be broken. Through UNICEF, I am contributing to our vision where every child, regardless of ability, can learn and thrive. My story is not just mine; it is a testament to the resilience and capability of millions of people living with disabilities. Together, we can build a more inclusive world.