Chaeli was one of the few who stood up to make a change on how many disabled people feel about themselves. Kids with disabilities tend to go to self esteem issues. Chaeli has been in this situation, and knows what it feels like. Fortunately, she decided that she could do something to make a change for a lot of these children. She made people aware of how disabled kids felt, and made sure they were happy.
“I hope that my actions as an ability activist will leave the world more accepting and more accommodating for all people and not just people with disabilities, because we are all different and we all have the need to be accepted regardless of having a disability or not.” (SA Career Focus) Chaeli wants to be able to lead a normal life. She doesn’t wants people to judge her because of her disabilities. She wants people to know that even if someone’s disabled, they are still people who have same needs and rights as normal people. This changed how disabled people felt about themselves in two different ways. Chaeli, and her volunteers made sure they could help as many kids possible, to get through everyday feeling happy, and not feeling left out. Also Chaeli made sure that normal people know how it feels like to be disabled, and they shouldn’t be discriminated, or not be able to do what normal people do.
“Hope is what keeps us going,” Chaeli said in her speech. “It’s what keeps us striving for the lives we deserve. I have hope for myself, but I also have hope for all other children with disabilities” (SA Career Focus) In addition, Chaeli knows that having disabilities make people judge her in a negative way. For example, I, myself (and a lot of people I know), tend to judge disabled people. When I see disabled kids in a hospital, I kind of feel disgusted. I have a tendency to think that all disabled kids aren’t capable of thinking, and speaking out for themselves. This is why Chaeli strives to help herself and other disabled children so they can have a not unfair life, and makes sure she can make as many disabled kids possible happy, and get a lot of opportunities in life.
Chaeli is working hard to make sure disabled people are more independent. Since her family supported her a great deal, and got her a mobile wheelchair, Caelie wanted to do the same for people who aren’t so fortunate as her. “Chaeli was born with Cerebral Palsy, through which the function of her arms and legs is limited. But where others see limitations, she sees possibilities; with her positive attitude, she is an inspiration to many.” (SA Career Focus) Even though she was born with a disease called Cerebral Palsy, she decided that she should accept her disability, and not let anything get in her way of being able to do what everyone else does.
“At the age of 9, Chaeli and her friends and sister started a project to raise money for an motorized wheelchair for Chaeli. In just seven weeks they raised more than enough money, so Chaeli decided to help more disabled children.”(SA Career Focus) She knew that many disabled people around the world aren’t getting the support, therapy, and medical care as she is. So, she makes sure that in her organization, donations and volunteers don’t just go to psychological therapy, but also to physical therapy. Kids do activities where they learn sports, get mobilized wheelchairs, and learn how to take care of themselves( washing, cooking... etc). This allows kids to be more independent, and not have a helper always helping them out.
In conclusion, Chaeli Mycroft has been trying her best to make sure that she and other disabled children get fair treatment and the same needs as normal people. The winner of the 2011 Children's Peace Prize did has been brave, and stood up to make a change for the lives of many disabled kids. Because of her, thousands of handicapped kids have hope, and are able to be positive about themselves.
