Case Study 3

Ishrat Fazal born on 24/07/1978. She got physical disability in her early childhood. She got fever and due to typhoid her legs were left weak and also due to polio attack her legs were squeezed. Since early child hood she could not walk on her legs. In child hood parents use to left her in room for days and no body supported her so she says that she use to stay in her room for years.

She was quite brilliant and hardworking by crawling she use to see children going to school and palying in the streets from her main door of the house but was unable to go in the street or could not go to school.

She was having good relations with one teacher living in neighbors teaching in government school. She requested her when Ishrat was 9 years old that plz teacher help me read and write, I want to do some thing in my life. But my parents do not support and help me at all. My father was interested sometimes to help me to go to school but due to interruption of and interference of people around that disabled woman cannot do any thing and always people use to show discouraging behavior and attitude. So I never told any body and quietly started taking help from teacher and I admire my teacher today that she use to help me with books, stationery and other things but never asked to pay back.

I did my matriculation in the year1997 from Bahawal pur education board with 350/850 marks. My parents and all other relatives were really happy that I did what dreamed and wanted to study more in future.

My father helped me to prepare for intermediate exam and I could not continue my studies I got married with Sawan Shahzad in the year 2000. This was also shocked to many people that disabled woman is getting married. There are hundreds of disabled women members at SDW and mostly are discouraged to get marry.

I cam to Faisalabad after marriage and my husband was so nice and supportive and allowed me to study and prepare for exam. I did my intermediate with 534/550 marks and I was awarded good student.

My in laws were also very poor as I was belonging to very poor family. So still the challenges are in my way.

I have been blessed with four children and I take care of my children also and use to cook and attend household activities. I also work in SDW and run disable children small school.

Ms. Ishrat is the only female disabled woman did F.A (intermediate study and preparing for B.A exam.

We have hundreds of disabled women members but all are illiterate and can not read and write.

Ms. Ishrat is role model for other all disabled women community and her selection for WILD course held in USA organize by mobility international will be example for all other disabled women members in Pakistan but for all others in South Asia.

Society for Disabled Women is requesting urgent fund for travel and registration hopeless life.