Grace Oyewale: People with physical challenges should know and believe in themselves

I see Olayemi Grace Oyewale and see a warrior, more like the Woman King. She is the epitome of beauty and God's love. She is a woman who has risen past her limitations to live life to the fullest. Just as her name implies, Grace is really a child of grace. I would not like to describe her as physically challenged because in her lies the strength to do what even able-bodied men and women cannot do. 

Back in our undergraduate days at the prestigious University of Ibadan, we used to attend the same fellowship. My first encounter with her was when she came to the podium to read a self-written, powerful and inspiring poem. From her back seat, she walked slowly and steadily in her clutches to the front, not minding the eyes on her. She held the congregation spellbound as she spoke wise and encouraging words.

We have been friends for over a decade. In fact, she is one of my friends whom we still keep in touch with after school. We pray for each other and catch up on our families, careers, and lives.  All these years, I never knew much about her story, though I know it would have been challenging because of the system we operate in this economy, where inclusivity is not practised. However, she dissects this and proffers solutions.

From this graceful woman comes a story that the world must hear. I liked how she emphasised how being educated shaped and empowered her. There was more she could say, but space will not permit it; however, the message she passed here remains timely and impactful. She kept hammering in the belief in oneself, which is key.

Read below her chat with Omote Ro Dhe:

Can you tell us about your early years in Lagos and what childhood was like for you?

My childhood was not so easy. There was a time I would fall down when going to school, and people would say, "Go and call her parents" 

 "Why disturb her going to school?"

"Why don't her parents allow her to learn a trade or vocation?"

Then my mom will say, if at all, she will learn a trade or vocation. She said I must go to school because she believes that if one has an education, one can stand alone, and because she didn't have an educational background, this has always troubled her a lot.

You’ve built an impressive academic journey. What motivated you to pursue Guidance and Counselling, and later Educational Psychology?

when I want to go to school I'm not good in science or anything calculation so I go for counseling and my counselor said I can go for any course under education and when I ask my spiritual mentor to pray for me about the course and he said the course is okay and back it up with a place in proverb that say in the multiple of counseling there's safety and I also have peace within

Though is not so easy to enter UI, I lost my first admission in 1999 due to I didn't have my results complete I have to do series of exam before I finally make all my subject with mathematics and english that always hold me down in the year 2004 and I wrote Jamb that same year that makes me enter UI in 2005 and before guidance and counseling give me admission they said I should go and write another Jamb because I didn't took their course as First choice for I took sociology as my first choice and guidance and counseling as my second choice but God intervened and I was offered admissions and my name came out with supplementary list.

Were there moments during your education when you felt challenged, and how did you keep going?

There was a time when I felt discouraged and dejected, but through the support and assistance of some good Samaritans. I feel encouraged and moved forward again.

You’ve spoken openly about navigating life with a physical challenge. How has this shaped your outlook on life and your drive to succeed?

For one to be physically challenged doesn't mean one can't make it or be somebody in life, and one background should not limit a person in making it in life

I have that drive within me that, with God on my side. I can make it in life, and I can become what God has destined me to become in life

Through the words of God and believing in myself have shaped me and keep me moving to success.

What misconceptions do people often have about individuals with physical challenges, and what do you wish more people understood?

Some people believe that a physically challenged person can't make it in life, some people believe that they should not enjoy life as other normal people do or have a happy home or build a house and have a car of their own which is very wrong misconceptions and some treats us as if we are not human being or God is not the one that create us

So there should not be segregation between normal people and those of us who are physically challenged. We should be treated equally because it is God who created us, and we are part of society too.

You also counsel people going through personal challenges. What fuels your passion for helping others?

What fuels my passion for helping others is that I have received help from God and from Man; therefore, in my own capacity and ability, I  should be able to help others who are in one challenge or the other.

In your view, what kind of support systems are most needed for people living with physical challenges in Nigeria today?

Firstly, people should support us to achieve our goals in life, either in the aspect of training someone to go to school, learning a vocation or a trade.

Secondly, there should be a space for any person with a physical challenge to get employed should be automatic in any organisation.

Thirdly, there should be provision of mobility for us to be able to move anywhere we are going without any difficulty, and shelters that provide a conducive place to live without stress.

Fourthly, we should have access to medical treatment. Some of us find it difficult to give ourselves medical treatment, and some who need their aids that help them to move about, like wheelchairs, callipers and crutches, there should be some organisation that renders help in getting all these assistive aids.

Fifthly, they should put a physically challenged person on the agenda that they are doing with those normal people; they should consider us and put us in their plan for the citizens. They should count us as part of society, too; they should not leave us behind.

You’re currently working on a book about understanding and coping with physical challenges. What inspired you to start this project?

Sometimes, because of series of challenges have encountered in the aspect of, making it to higher institution, getting employment and also getting who to marry all these challenge use to depressed me and making me feeling commiting suicide but I have already know that commiting suicide is not the solution for all these challenge therefore I was inspired that out of this challenges I can it affect and impact life positively. That is what triggered the move of writing on understanding and coping with disability.

What message or hope do you want readers—especially those living with physical challenges—to take away from your book?

People with physical challenges should know and believe in themselves, and also know that with God on their side, they can achieve purpose and fulfil their mandate on earth

What lessons has life taught you that you think everyone should know?

What life has taught me is that, whatever your challenges in life, believe in yourself, even if the world doesn't believe you. Believe in yourself that you can make it in life, that you can become what God wants you to become. Whatever the world throws at you, believe in yourself, be focused, determined and have courage and boldness.

How can society better support and include individuals with special needs in education and employment?

Go to the 7th response. I have given an explanation on how the society and the government can be of help and put us in their plan and agenda in all their aim, and they should count us as part of society and make life comfortable for us to live on.

If you were not teaching or counselling, what would you be doing?

If I am not teaching or counselling, I go for business, I have a passion for trading, and I also learn any vocation.