Reshaping Futures: My Remarkable Journey as a Professional Fellow with a Disability in the United States

Published: Jul 18, 2024

Country: Uganda

Josephine Namirimu is a 2024 Fellow in the Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement. This program is sponsored by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is administered by the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at the University of Massachusetts Boston in partnership with Humanity and Inclusion (HI). The following blog post was written by guest author Josephine.

Hello, I'm Josephine Namirimu, a middle-aged Ugandan woman and wheelchair user. As a human rights scholar and disability-intersections advocate, I'm currently a Professional Fellow for Inclusive Civic Engagement in Boston, Massachusetts, in the United States. Join me as I share my remarkable journey as a Fellow with a disability in the US and how it is reshaping not only my career path but young people with disabilities back home in Uganda.

It's true and entirely possible for people with disabilities to actively participate in international exchange programs successfully, without encountering any accessibility limitations whatsoever. The Professional Fellows Program has been a personal testament to this affirmation for me. My successful 14-hour journey to the US not only fulfilled my professional aspirations but also served as a powerful affirmation of the slogan “All is possible with determination and supportive systems.”

A Ugandan woman with long braided hair, wearing a blue dress, holding a handbag, poses in a wheelchair in front of American flags. — Figure 1: Josephine in front of the American Flags on Boston Common, Boston, Massachusetts (flags were in commemoration of Memorial Day).

The saying, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page,” resonated deeply with me. Countless insights from various one-on-one meetings with disability rights professionals in the US completely reshaped my perspectives toward life and professional aspects, particularly programming.

My experiences were drawn from simple aspects, such as time consciousness, prior planning for the activities ahead, and the “first things first” approach in meeting appointments, and how each affects advocacy and lobbying. I learned to employ “lightning talks” in every appointment to ensure my message was effectively communicated. People on this side of the world mastered time management!

I celebrate my achievement in meeting all my appointments on time, something I intend to carry on during my advocacy work. Time is important, priceless, and irreversible.

Mastering the art of support systems, teamwork, and coordination in disability rights advocacy was another significant positive impression I gained from US disability rights advocates. During my Fellowship in Massachusetts, disability rights advocacy primarily focused on personal care support systems and placed a strong emphasis on intellectual disabilities. These issues surfaced in almost every meeting and appointment with various individuals and offices. It became evident that the power of advocacy lies in the collective voices: the more people speak out, the more likely change-makers will listen.

Similarly, parents of children with disabilities played a critical role in shaping the disability rights movement in the US.

My engagement with Partners for Youth with Disabilities (PYD), a Boston-based non-profit serving youth with disabilities, was an eye-opener. Many staff members and the director were parents of children with intellectual disabilities, and their passion for their work had been shaped by their personal experiences.

I learned that their unwavering commitment was driven by parental instincts, sustaining their resilience amidst adversity. As a result, I have adjusted my follow-on project to include raising awareness among parents about disability rights.

Four women, three American and one Ugandan, pose for a photo, all smiling. The woman on the left wears a patterned blouse and black pants, the one in the middle wears a white blouse and black pants, and the woman on the right wears a green jacket and black pants. The Ugandan woman in front of them, sitting in a wheelchair, wears a blue dress. — Figure 2: From left to right: Angela Ortiz, Director of Business Development and Strategy at Partners for Youth with Disabilities (PYD), Dr. Heike Boeltzig-Brown, Professional Fellows Program Director at ICI, and Tere Ramos, Executive Director at PYD. Josephine is in front of the group, wearing a blue dress in a wheelchair.

Insights gained from the Fellowship, coupled with ongoing engagements with disability rights advocates and weekly Fellowship seminars, significantly reshaped my follow-on project. Key highlights include expanding from a single-issue focus to addressing at least three key advocacy issues and incorporating intersectionality from the project’s design stage.

For example, my initial project focused on youth-led disability rights advocacy, aiming for inclusive policy approval. However, based on these engagements, I am now intentionally incorporating aspects such as personal care support and enhancing parents' capacity in disability management and rights, among others.

In summary, my follow-on project has shifted from a school-based approach to a community-based boot camp. This new approach emphasizes sustainability and integrates exciting youth activities, such as using drawing and vision boards to help youth envision their future. This follow-on project serves as a pilot to test insights gained from the Fellowship and will continue to evolve as needed.

Exploring American culture through sightseeing was another integral part of my Fellowship experience. I visited various monuments such as the battlefield in Lexington, Massachusetts, the Statue of Liberty in New York City, and the Embrace statue of Martin Luther King Jr. in Boston, Massachusetts. Each symbolized critical aspects of American history.

Additionally, I participated in Memorial Day celebrations and attended a play about the National American Woman Suffrage Association of 1913, deepened my understanding of the country's cultural heritage and women’s rights journey.

The sightseeing activities were eye-opening, revealing advanced technology in the US compared to my home country. Importantly, I observed how assistive technology enhances physical accessibility for people with disabilities, promoting their independence. For example, sailing on the Atlantic Ocean in Boston and taking a boat tour to Ellis Island in New York City, I witnessed firsthand how technology empowers individuals with severe disabilities to control power wheelchairs and write independently.

Two women in wheelchairs, one American and one Ugandan, pose for a photo beside a door labeled "Mayor’s Commission for Persons with Disabilities" Room 967, both smiling. Behind them is a shelf and a notice board with certificates. The woman on the left is wearing a white top and black pants, and the woman on the right is wearing a brown long-sleeved dress. — Figure 3: City of Boston’s Disabilities Commissioner Kristen McCosh (left) and Josephine (right) at Boston City Hall.

In conclusion, these firsthand experiences allowed me to make comparisons that will profoundly impact my perspectives on life and improve my work. I encourage mid-career professionals with disabilities who are committed to enhancing their communities to seize international opportunities and challenge themselves.

Moreover, I urge human rights advocates in all fields to adopt broader perspectives during project design. Addressing a single issue in isolation can intensify vulnerability and discrimination.

I extend heartfelt thanks to the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at UMass Boston, and Humanity & Inclusion for their support. The Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement is a unique and practical initiative.