Embracing uniqueness: being different is alright, acceptable

Islamabad : Growing up as a deaf girl, communication at home was tough for Hareem Mustafa’s family. Currently, Hareem is sharing her stories on Instagram, using colorful pictures and fun posts. Each picture and post work as a small lesson, bringing people closer to understanding each other.

Hareem’s story was shared at an event organised by Special Talent Exchange Program (STEP) and UNFPA on the occasion of International Disability Day, where she was recognized as a champion of disability inclusion for promoting newer ways of communication for persons with disability.

Talking to ‘The News’, Hareem said that as a deaf content creator, the idea came to her mind from her own experiences. With the rise of social media platforms, she observed that the volume of content for deaf people was limited. “I often found it hard to access online content that was easy for me to understand because it lacked captions or sign language. I realized many others in the deaf community faced similar challenges. Also, there weren’t many deaf content creators in my country on such platforms so, I thought, 'Why not create content that's easy for all of us to follow?' I wanted to bridge this gap by making videos with clear captions or sign language to ensure everyone could enjoy and learn from the content without any barriers,” she said.

The UNDP has estimated that nearly 6.2 per cent of the Pakistanis have some form of disability. Other estimates consider this proportion to be much higher.

According to World Health Organization, of the total world population approximately 15 per cent or about one billion fit the definition of mild, moderate or severe disability with 93 million of these are children. In Pakistan, approximate or projected numbers estimate that, total population of people with disability (PWDs) is 5.035 million, more than the population of Norway, New Zealand, Lebanon or Kuwait. According to Human Rights Watch, estimates of the number of people living with disabilities in Pakistan wildly vary from 3.3 million to 27 million.

Pakistan ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2011. In September, 2020, Pakistan enacted “ICT Rights of Persons with Disability Act, 2020.” The law prohibits disability-based discrimination, ensures reasonable accommodations, and establishes a Council on Rights of Persons with Disabilities to oversee its implementation and a Special Disability Court to address rights violations, encompassing key areas. It guarantees equal access to education and healthcare, non-discriminatory employment opportunities, social protection schemes, accessible environments and transportation. Moreover, it emphasizes the inclusion and participation of individuals with disabilities in various aspects of society.

Similarly, there are some provincial laws as well e.g. the Sindh Empowerment of ‘Persons with Disabilities’ Act 2018 and the Balochistan Persons with Disabilities Act, No II of 2017 and various Policies including the Accessibility Code 2006. But all these laws and policies await effective implementation due to challenges such as lack of awareness, insufficient resources, institutional priorities and societal attitudes. Besides policy initiatives and structural improvement, inclusion is vital for mainstreaming Persons with Disability.

“We all use wheelchairs. Your wheelchair is the car or motor cycles. There are roads for your wheelchair. But for my wheelchairs, there is severe lack of paths and that’s why people call me disabled,” said Abia Akram, a part of STEP and Chief Executive Officer of National Forum for Women with Disabilities, in an interview to international media.

She says that communication is the second biggest challenge after efficient infrastructure. “If a deaf woman goes to the hospital, it is hard for her to communicate for the medical help,” she said being a disabled girl in Pakistan can present various challenges, including limited accessibility, societal stigma, and reduced opportunities for education and employment. Discrimination and social attitudes may contribute to a more challenging environment.

Answering a question regarding how she was able to turn her disability into an opportunity, Hareem said that at first, she found her disability a big obstacle for her to do what she wanted. “But my passion allowed me to conquer all the challenges. I learned sign language and tried to become an advocate for people like me. I also discovered new ways to communicate, like using different media platforms. Because of my experiences, I realized I could make things better for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Now, I teach and share my knowledge to make the world a more inclusive place for everyone." She says that being a digital content creator has always helped her to express herself and brought a sense of purpose. “I aim to create content that is easily understandable through visual elements like videos with captions or sign language interpretation. By making my messages accessible to all, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing, I strive to increase awareness, share valuable information, and foster a sense of connection within the deaf community.”

About the reaction from her family and friends, Hareem said that her family and friends have been amazing in supporting her as a deaf content creator. “Initially it was a little difficult for them to understand the idea of me working as a content creator on social media as they

were not aware of this technology but with time they understood the power and usefulness of these spaces. Now they always encourage me to follow my passions. Not only my family also my friends have always cheered me on, worked with me on projects, and tried to make our collaborations more creative and accessible. Their belief in me has motivated me to create content that spreads awareness and allowed me to keep moving forward in pursuit of my dreams.”

She said that as per her experiences, Instagram and TikTok are the most influential spaces in the digital world now a days for raising awareness about issues faced by persons with disabilities. “These platforms allow for the creation of engaging visual content where I can share personal stories, educate about deaf culture and sign language, and address various challenges that the PWD community encounters.

They allow me to reach a broader audience, including those who may not be familiar with the daily struggles and strengths of individuals with disabilities.

Sharing a few tips with persons with disability regarding sue of social media as a way to communicate, she encouraged them to firstly, embrace their uniqueness and just take a start from any equipment available. “Secondly, follow some good content creators to get an idea of video-making and to understand the trends and usage of such platforms. Thirdly, network and collaborate with other content creators to reach a wider audience.

Lastly, don't be discouraged by challenges; stay persistent, be creative, and believe in the value of your content and its potential to inspire, educate, and empower others in the PWD community.”

Hareem wants to teach everyone about inclusion and hearing disability. Her struggle inspires to a make a world where everyone feels accepted, even if they talk in sign language like herself. She wants to show that being different is alright and acceptable.

“Remember, your uniqueness is your strength. Embrace it, share your story, and let your voice be heard. Stay resilient, support each other, and continue striving for a more inclusive society where everyone, regardless of abilities, can thrive. Your presence and contributions matter. Let's keep moving forward together.”