Nafi broke his neck playing rugby 8 years ago and has been using a wheelchair ever since. It wasn’t easy for him to accept the changes in his life. It took him 2 years to adjust himself to his life with a wheelchair.
For Nafi, having the support of his friends and family has kept him going through his tough trials and he shares that it’s important for other people to have a support system. “Having good family, good friends and…meeting other people with disabilities” are the major components.
“I don’t think you’ll get far just doing things on your own. You’ll definitely need help and don’t be ashamed to ask for help.”
“Good support, I have a good bunch of friends and a really good family. They helped me through my injury and adapting to living on a chair,” Nafi shares how he overcame the challenges. “They just treated me the same,” he says.
A new perspective on disability
It’s not only important to change your own perspective about using a wheelchair, but for society to start changing their perspectives towards people on chairs as well. “Just see us as people…Society, they see disability first so there is a prejudgement, there is a perception about us,” says Nafi.
People with disabilities are one of the best examples of the phrase ‘Never judge a book by its cover.’
“People have their preconceived ideas about what someone with a disability is capable of doing, but it’s not until that you meet someone and realize that they can still live a normal life.”
As for Nafi, he goes for what he wants and accomplishes them. “Finishing University…that’s my greatest accomplishment,” he shares. He uses his degree in physiotherapy to give back to his community in New Zealand, another passion of his.
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