PWDs Celebrity Of The Week 005:
For 26 Year Old Kamorudeen Suliyat Adeola, her visual impairment is not enough to distort her dreams. The University of Jos undergraduate is not only ambitious, but has succeeded in turning her disability to ability. She shares her inspiring story with Oyeleke Bernice, including how she lost her sight, becoming a certified caterer and her future ambitions.
Kindly introduce yourself
My name is KAMORUDEEN SULIYAT ADEOLA, an indigene of Osogbo, Osun state, Nigeria.
Let’s know about your schooling experience?
I attended Osun State School for the Handicapped now Osun State School for Special Needs for my primary school education. From there I proceeded to Notre-Dam Girls Secondary School, Kwara State. I obtained Diploma Certificate in Law from the University of Jos, Plateau state. I am currently a final year student of English and Literary Studies in the University of Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
What is the nature of your disability?
Visual impairment.
How did you become visually impaired?
It happened when I was a year old. Several medical attempts were made so I could regain my sight. We visited many hospitals like UCH in Ibadan, OAU’s teaching hospital and others. A minor surgery was done but to no avail.
What is the exact medical condition that resulted to the vision loss?
The doctors said it is glaucoma.
Is the vision loss partial or total?
It is total loss. I can’t see with the eyes at all. I can only see colours and reflections most times.
Alright, so we can say that you are blind. Do you make use of any assistive device or accommodation service?
Yes, I use technology as a support especially when it comes to the need to access the internet using laptop and mobile phone. There is an application known as ‘Talkback’, it sounds activities on gadgets when installed.
How did the blindness affect your childhood?
It did not really affect my childhood because I have a very understanding family who understood and admitted the condition at the early stage. Though, my education as a child was not as normal as that of my counterparts, it is fine when compared to other people with visual impairment. It widened my experience and even that of my parents. Members of my family who knew nothing about special education got to know because of me.
What do you do for a living?
Apart from being a student, I am also into catering. I bake cake, make chinchin and a lot of national and international dishes. I am a chef. SULKARAJ is the name of my kitchen. I have a Facebook page and a YouTube channel.
Let’s talk about your culinary skill, how did you train as a chef being a blind person?
How I trained without the eyes? We have five sense organs, it’s only one that’s not working out of the five sense organs and that is the eyes. Knowing that I can’t see, I committed my mind into learning it. I learnt how to make different types of snacks and cook different types of food and I achieved it with the help of my boss. Although, initially, my boss was skeptical I could learn. But I convinced her into giving me a chance. Then, she saw that I was responding very well to her training.
Do you make money from the catering job? I mean do you do it as a business or leisure?
Yes I make money from the catering business. I mostly bake snacks to school for sale. I also sell my products online using my social media handles.
People with disability often experience discrimination in almost every venture, do you experience discrimination in getting contracts?
Yes, there is always discrimination. Customers usually feel that as a person with visual impairment, I will not be able to make the snacks perfectly as they want. However, a trial usually convinced those that have patronized my service.
Do you have any plan to use your cooking skill to help other blind people?
Yes I have the intention of teaching my fellow blind people how to make different types of snacks. That is the motive behind establishing my YouTube channel. There was a time I drafted a proposal to train my fellow people with visual impairment. But the proposal wasn’t approved on account of lack of fund. And that terminated the project.
What do you intend to do upon completion of your first degree studies in English Language?
I hope to secure a job to work in media houses upon completion of my program. I will also like to run my Master’s degree program in Communication and Language Art or any other field I deem it fit later. Perhaps in the future, I may run a degree programme in Law.
And how about your love relationship?
I have been in several relationships, but you know as a person living with disability you need to think wisely before choosing your partner.
Can I know your age range
I am 26.
What is your parting shot for the government and society?
My word for the government is simple, invest into the education of every child. Sensitize the society about disability so we can have an environment without discrimination.
For the society, as long as we live, anybody can be anything through anything. Anybody can become disabled at any point in time. Treat people with fairness irrespective of their tribe, nature, gender, race or disability.
Thank you for your time
It’s a pleasure