From challenges to triumphs: How girls can lead in building an inclusive society

Like any childhood story, my story has been punctuated with a combination of challenges and triumphs. My hearing disability did not make it any easier, from as early as I remember I faced communication barriers everywhere, including with my own parents. 

Accessible information is transformational. In an information age, it is an equalizer for opening opportunities; lack of accessible information for persons with disabilities is a huge disadvantage. It is against this background of lack of accessible communication and information around me and my peers, that I was determined to advocate for others like me. I believe that with the efforts and the right support, barriers can be overcome. I not only mastered sign language but also became proficient in other subjects.

With UNICEF's Skills4Girls project, I was able to explore my love for learning graphic design. I learned new skills and techniques that have helped me express myself creatively. It’s been a really inspiring and inclusive experience.

Further, I got an opportunity to advocate for the rights of girls with hearing disabilities on a broader scale. As a STEM student, I am in the IT sphere, I use my skills to empower women within the community of people with hearing impairments. Now I use the opportunities provided by UNICEF to participate in key UNICEF’s programmes and advocacy, as well as inspire my peers to recognize the importance of inclusivity and accessibility in the sphere of education, technology and etc. 

My future is bright and full of opportunities. I want to be a programmer, to create accessible applications that will be useful for people with hearing impairments. But for that I need more accessible world including for people like me. Unfortunately, not all the doors are open for us, for people with disabilities reasonable accommodation and support is essential part of our daily life. Few sign language teachers are in schools, so knowledge is hard to absorb. Sometimes, it can be difficult to get the information you need because not everything is available in a way we can understand. 

Continuing education and finding a job is very challenging for us due to lack of accessibility needed for people with disabilities, especially in the STEM field, which requires constant communication and specific software. But I believe that the world is changing. More and more people realize that inclusion and universal design is not just a trend but an everyday necessity. I want the world to become barrier-free for people with hearing disabilities, so that we can speak freely, express our ideas, and succeed.

That's how I see my future:  Companies should create workplaces that are adapted to the needs of people with hearing disabilities. For example, providing sign language interpretation during seminars and trainings, using video calls with a sign language interpreter. It is important to create special training programs in STEM that will take into account our perception of information, such as sign language interpretation. This will help us learn complex technical knowledge. I also want teachers and people in general to know sign language at least at a basic level. This will facilitate communication and increase accessibility in our world. I am convinced that in the future we will have an inclusive society. We can achieve a lot if we work together and build a world where everyone can fulfill their potential.