“I love dealing with children and especially specially-abled children because we as persons with disabilities we don’t get those kinds of attention from people because it always seems to people that we are a pity party, we need help.
But if you can give a person a chance especially a person with a disability a chance you can see the ability in them, that is what motivated me to become a teacher because I am out in helping because I know what it feels like and how it feels to go down that road” she emphasized.
By Leah Hernandez
As children, we were told by our parents to always have big dreams and soar high, but often times we ourselves lose confidence and doubt that those dreams can become reality.
Nevertheless, as our biggest supporters, our parents’ encouragements would effortlessly restore that passion and longing to accomplish those future endeavours.
It is evident that parents, who are our first teachers, have a major role in helping to mould and shape positive minds and instil determined attitudes into a child from an early age.
This has been the case for 20-year-old Makila Crawford who owes her determination and hunger for success to her parents as they were her supporters since childhood to present, especially through the sad reality of being categorised as being differently abled.
This ambitious young woman is unique, not because she is a differently abled person but because of her willingness to help others and that undying zeal, confidence and belief in herself that motivates her to overcome all odds and achieve her goals, even though the road is full of bumps and hazards.
During an interesting conversation with Crawford, she related that she spent most of her life in the East Ruimveldt, Georgetown community where her childhood was normal except that at six-year-old she was diagnosed with congenital cataract, a condition which affects mainly the lens opacity in the eye resulting in the lens being visually insignificant or causing profound visual impairment.
Although being visually impaired in her left eye, Crawford also revealed that she completed her primary education at the East La Penitence Primary School and her secondary at the St. Rose High School but during her years of attending school she was a victim of discrimination and bullying because of her condition.
“Growing up with my disability it didn’t really affect my childhood, because as a child I didn’t really acknowledge or know what it was, but it was kinda easy. It was okay.
Going to school was a little bit challenging because like the other kids didn’t see me as like being normal because I couldn’t see on the board or things that they did I didn’t do. So it was kinda difficult for me because I was bullied,” she said.
Despite all the challenges faced, Crawford didn’t set boundaries nor did she limit herself and in the end she came out on top as she is now practising her teaching skills at the St. Pius Primary School which she said was inspired by her love for children and willingness to help others especially children who are differently abled in the eyes of society.
On this note, Crawford related that she knew what it felt to be looked down upon and not to be given much attention because of her minor difference.
“I love dealing with children and especially specially-abled children because we as persons with disabilities we don’t get those kinds of attention from people because it always seems to people that we are a pity party, we need help.
But if you can give a person a chance especially a person with a disability a chance you can see the ability in them, that is what motivated me to become a teacher because I am out in helping because I know what it feels like and how it feels to go down that road” she emphasized.
The University of Guyana Student explained that she learnt to develop her skills through the constant use of her computer in studying as she also mentioned that the recent differently abled persons training hosted by the Board of industrial training was of great benefit to her.
This industrious young woman has her eyes set on becoming an advocate for other persons who have disabilities while she plans to remain and enhance her skills in the teaching profession.
“I see myself still being a teacher but elevating myself from where I am in my school to basically a higher level, to be a role model to young girls with disability and just be an advocate for persons with disability that’s what I see myself as advocating for the rights that everybody needs an equal chance in life.”
Crawford is advising other persons with varying disabilities to not limit themselves or set boundaries because once determination and confidence are present along with being given a fair chance to perform, anything is possible.
“I would tell them to do not ever set boundaries and limit yourself because that’s where you’re going to fall back.
Because you’re going to think that you know what because I am this way I can’t do this, you need to push, you need to keep believing in yourself.
Once you believe yourself and you have faith and potential in yourself nothing else matters” she cheerfully explained.
Throughout our entire conversation, this young woman was full of life and even as we come to concluding she made sure she credited all her success to her parents simply because they are the ones responsible for assisting her in keeping a positive mind when she was depressed.
“During this period in my life, my parents were very supportive of my decisions and whatever decisions I made. They also kept me positive because like when I found out that I was visually impaired and I had this congenital cataract, I kinda got depressed and down but they motivated me. They always motivated me to keep positive and keep on the right road” she told me.
With big goals set to achieve in the future, when Crawford is not teaching she enjoys singing, dancing and playing cricket as she is also an active member of a sickle cell organisation.
