THE NMU Universal Accessibility and Disability Services Unit (UADS) recently hosted celebrated motivational speaker, Musa E. Zulu.
Zulu, an author, award-winning entrepreneur and artist, has become a well-known disability activist after a motor vehicle accident in 1995 left him paralysed at the age of 23.
At the UADS event, Zulu’s opening line was that any word starting with “dis” has a negative connotation and he therefore referred to his disability as “thisability”.
His frank advice to the disabled community is that failure is not an option if you put your mind to succeeding.
“A person has no excuse not to succeed because of his disability.
“There are challenges facing the disabled community and the acceptance of disabled persons as part of the mainstream. Activists must clear the path for universal acceptance,” Zulu said.
“Our new democracy has established legislation assisting in advancing the disabled in the workplace. There is no reason for a qualified graduate to not be employed. Starting out rendering service, even for no remuneration, will pay off handsomely in the long run.”
He gave the example of a BComm graduate unable to find formal employment offering his services as a consultant to schools where book keeping is non-existent – even if the service is rendered for no charge in the beginning.
“A person with passion will always find his place in his chosen career and find fulfilment in life.”
After his talk, he signed free copies of one of his books for the students.
