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YES Alumna Advocates for People with Disabilities

Maria stands next to a graduation banner

by Maria Adisa Nahil, YES 2005-06 Philippines, hosted with AFS in Janesville, WI

It’s been 12 years since I became an exchange student on the YES Program, but all the memories are still fresh in my mind. As I go on a trip down memory lane, please allow me to share the incredible impact of being an exchange student, not only for me, but also for all the YES alumni. I am writing this story not only to share to all the alumni, but also to thank all the organizations behind the YES program for continually accepting PWD (Persons with Disabilities) as participants. You may not see us actively participating in all YES activities, but all of us are engaged in productive and life-changing endeavors. We firmly believe that our participation in the YES program has contributed greatly to where we are and who we are today. Our participation in the YES Program helped us change our views of the world. This is especially true for alumni with disabilities.

Maria and her host mom on Maria's graduation day
Maria and her host mother

Before I went to the U.S., I thought the environment would be inaccessible and difficult for people with disabilities. As some of you might know, the environment for people with disabilities in the Philippines is a lot different compared to the U.S. In my country, most of my fellow visually impaired people always have guides or companions when we travel. We depend on our companions because we think that it is very dangerous to travel alone. The streets are not very friendly for those who are visually impaired. There are no sounds or other audio signals for us to recognize when a traffic light is changing. Most elevators and hotels don’t have Braille buttons for us to navigate. The restaurants don’t offer their menus in Braille, so we always need a guide to read for us. Some people are not accommodating whenever we need assistance along the way.

But when I went to the U.S., I realized that it is possible to have an environment friendly to people with disabilities. I still remember the first day of my Orientation and Mobility (O&M) class, where my teacher handed me a Braille map of Janesville and helped me go around the city. I was so amazed when I saw that most restaurants offer their menus in Braille. Most establishments and hotels have Braille labels on their elevators and room numbers. When you are doing grocery shopping, you can ask someone to assist you and help you locate the items that you need. There were different travel methods to choose from: you can use a cane, or get a guide dog. Visually impaired people in the US can find a lot of descriptive movies everywhere, so we don’t need a sighted guide when watching movies. Hearing impaired people in the US don’t always need to rely on a hearing person because their beds or tables vibrate when someone knocks on their doors. Most multimedia content is offered with sign language. Most establishments have ramps and elevators for mobility impaired people.

Phi Maria Adisa Nasil And Hs Grad
Maria and her high school friend

The environment in the U.S. is friendly to people with disabilities, which helped us believe that it is possible to create a better place for us to live. As of now, the environment in my country is not yet as accessible as the U.S., but it is getting better little by little, with the help of technology. If more people will take action, I believe that my country will be able to have an accessible and PWD-friendly environment in the future.

Aside from having a different view of the world, the YES program also inspires alumni to make a difference in the lives of others. I hear news about my fellow YES alumni who are working actively in different areas related to community service and development. One of my fellow YES alumni with disabilities is teaching children with special needs and uplifts the spirit of her students. I am also occasionally teaching and giving inspirational talks/testimonies to visually impaired students and parents. If we want to create a better world, all of us must take action to change the lives of other people. I believe that having a disability is not a hindrance to making a difference.

Participating in the YES program also helped us dream higher, and not just stay in one corner of the world. I’m sure that all YES alumni have big dreams. As for me, I wish to come back to the U.S. again in the future, and experience other memorable moments with my host family and former American classmates. Also, in my burning desire to uplift the spirit of my fellow visually impaired, I am planning to take a degree in education so that I can teach visually impaired students through Special Education centers.

I really hope that more people with disabilities will be encouraged to participate in the YES program, and I also wish that they will be more involved in the activities related to the YES programs. Cheers to the success of the YES program and my fellow YES alumni!


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