Skeletal Dysplasia in Singapore: Joshua’s journey of advocacy and empowerment | In The Spotlight - video Dailymotion

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“I want people to look at me, and not just see someone with a short stature, but a person standing tall with purpose and determination.” Joshua, 33, living with Achondroplasia, transforms his journey as a photographer and motivational speaker into Little Mighty Warriors. Through advocacy and community programs like bowling and art jamming, he uplifts those with Skeletal Dysplasia, proving that purpose and connection overcome physical challenges.  Watch more: https://www.asiaone.com/video

Transcript

00:01What if my so-called limitations become my platform to speak?

00:07I'm not just a photographer with a short stature.

00:12I'm also the founder of Little YT Warriors,

00:15a community for people with skeletal dysplasia.

00:19I'm passionate about creating spaces

00:22where people who struggle like me

00:24can be seen, heard, and given an opportunity.

00:30I'm Joshua, 33 this year.

00:38I'm a motivational speaker and an established photographer

00:42and the founder behind Little Mighty Warriors.

00:46I started this Ground Up movement in 2022

00:49to support kids and adults with skeletal dysplasia.

00:53We come together as a community for activities like bowling,

00:57art jamming, nature walks, and creating a connection,

01:02reminding each other where we belong.

01:06Outside of Little Mighty Warriors, I also advocate and promote inclusion

01:10for people with disability.

01:12From giving talks to podcasts and interviews,

01:16it is a way for me to use my voice not just for myself,

01:20but also others who felt unseen.

01:23Whether it's through Little Mighty Warriors

01:26or in other areas of my work,

01:28I spend a lot of time with children.

01:30I connect with them through customized kids program

01:34and simple everyday moments.

01:36It is these moments that they forget about the differences

01:40and just treat me as a friend.

01:45But I didn't always have this clarity.

01:47I was diagnosed with Achondroblasia before I was born.

01:50It's a bone growth disorder that affects the development of the bone,

01:54leading to a weaker spinal cord, shorter limbs, and a larger head.

01:59During one of the prenatal check-ups,

02:04doctors noticed these symptoms which led to the diagnosis.

02:09Growing up, I was often compared to my sibling,

02:12which seems to have it all together,

02:14a stable job and a predictable life.

02:17I could only walk at the age of four

02:19because my spinal cord was too weak.

02:22While other kids ran freely,

02:24I had to go for physiotherapy for a number of years,

02:27learning to stand, to take steps, and to balance.

02:32Step by step, there were signs of improvement

02:35because my parents and grandparents

02:38invested a lot of time into helping me through these sessions.

02:42My grandparents took it upon themselves

02:45to transport me back and forth,

02:47navigating buses and taxis with a heavy stroller.

02:51I could see that it was tiring for them,

02:53but they never complained.

02:57But the world didn't always move with me.

03:00People would stare and ask questions.

03:02Why are you so short?

03:04Can you really do that?

03:06One of the incidents that I remember vividly

03:09till today was during one of my ride-healing trips.

03:12When I was about to step into the car,

03:16the driver made his remark.

03:18He said, I'm not allowed to accept your ride.

03:21According to traffic rules for persons with certain height,

03:25we are required to put on a booster seat.

03:30When I'm on a car, when I'm seated,

03:32I'm just like any other ordinary person.

03:35Even people from outside won't know that I'm short,

03:38because when I'm seated,

03:40I'm almost the same height as any other person.

03:42At first, it felt hurtful,

03:44making me feel that my body was an issue.

03:49But over time, I realised those questions

03:52were opportunities, chances to educate

03:55and to shift the narratives.

03:59It became less about defending myself

04:02and about showing others

04:03that a life with echondropasia isn't less.

04:06I could do the same things that any photographer can,

04:10just that sometimes I use different methods.

04:14Subsequently, I began to realise that I could do even more

04:17and make greater impacts if I focus on my niche.

04:22As I started building Little Mighty Warriors,

04:24I began to see a clearer vision of who I am.

04:28My experiences, my challenges and my perspective

04:32are what gave me the authority to speak into the lives of others.

04:36while struggling in a similar way.

04:38And that's when it connected.

04:40The very things that once felt like setbacks

04:44became the foundation for the purpose

04:47much bigger than myself.

04:51Today, I'm leading a community of children and adults

04:55by empowering and encouraging

04:57through programmes, talks and fellowship.

05:01Looking ahead, I envision Little Mighty Warriors

05:03going beyond Singapore.

05:05I want to connect with others in Southeast Asia

05:08and all to the world

05:10who share this condition

05:11and potentially create spaces

05:14where we can come together,

05:16share our stories

05:17and raise awareness about inclusion.

05:21It is not just about skeletal dysplasia.

05:24It's about bringing visibility, opportunity

05:27and support to people with disability,

05:30reminding the world that our lives are full, vibrant

05:34and worth celebrating for.

05:37I hope to inspire others to see beyond the labels and limitations.

05:42It is about facing those limitations

05:44and breaking them together with the community.

05:47I want people to look at me,

05:50not just see someone with a short statue,

05:53but the person standing tall with purpose

05:56and determination.

05:57It is your only one remarkable thing that you are

06:14worth mentioning is in 2018,

06:16you have to wait for yourself.

06:17You

Skeletal Dysplasia in Singapore: Joshua’s journey of advocacy and empowerment | In The Spotlight

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