Nisaa FM: - Nawaal Akram, Qatar's first disabled model is also a comedian, an athlete and a social media influencer – and she wants to break stereotypes and change narratives on disability. She considers herself “physically challenged” rather than disabled. “Disabled is a term used about a phone, when it doesn’t work,” she advocates. “Well, I’m able to work and I’m not a phone.”

Akram was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy when she was four years old. The genetic condition means that she now gets around in a wheelchair, but this restriction hasn’t limited the scope of her ambition. 

Her journey has been far from straightforward, since she left formal education, when she was 10 years old. At the age of 10, her British curriculum, international school told her parents that she could no longer attend. Her parents then had to resort to private tutors.

Someone to look up to

Akram is a Pakistani expat, born in Doha, and Qatar is the country she calls home. She grew used to people making fun of her in public as she was growing up.
“Before I was in a wheelchair, I would walk, but I walked in a different way, and people would mimic me in public. Even my teacher called me a slow-coach, in front of the other kids.”

She says that she feels many people are uncomfortable around people with physical challenges because they rarely see them in public, or in the local media.
“I wanted someone I could look up to. I thought, I can’t be the only girl in a wheelchair in Qatar,” she says. “I thought – why isn’t there a female in the media, in fashion, in acting, why isn’t there anyone like me?” 

Akram’s decision to put herself forward as this role model was driven partly by adversity. 

A new career as a role model

Akram’s growing Instagram and Twitter following are regularly updated with her activities, which include learning to scuba dive, training as a paralympian in the sport of Boccia, appearing in a short film, modeling at a fashion shoot for Qatari brand fanillacouture, and appearing as a comedian with Stand Up Comedy Qatar (SUCQ.)

Taking to the stage with the SUCQ comedians has allowed her to challenge people’s perceptions. “The first time I did it, people were not used to seeing a physically challenged person on stage. They obviously weren’t expecting the things that came out of my mouth.”

Another career move is to register her support group, Muscular Dystrophy Qatar, with the authorities. She hopes the group will encourage other MD sufferers in Qatar to come forward and meet each other.

Whatever her personal future brings, Akram hopes that by speaking out, attitudes towards physically challenged people will keep changing for the better.
“I want my home to be accepting and loving of everyone,” she adds.

Source:  www.dohanews.co