Story Urmi

My name is Urmi. I’m 18 years old and I’m a little person. I have dwarfism. And I’m studying.

When I was young, my family wanted to send me to the circus! As a child I often hid. I was very shy. I also didn’t dare to talk to anyone because I felt fear and shame. My mother was always there for me and helped me. My first day at elementary school I remember well. I could not get up on the bench to sit at my desk, because it was much too high for me. When I tried to sit on it, I saw that all the pupils in my class and even the teacher were laughing. I felt terrible. What I also remember very clearly is being locked in their house by my relatives during my cousin’s wedding. They were afraid that the wedding would be called off if the in-laws-to-be saw me. This is apparently still the case because I’m still not allowed to meet new family members.

I have completed reproductive health education and leadership training and now know what my rights are. But now it actually hurts more when someone ignores me.

My problem is not my disability, I can manage by myself very well. My problem is the behavior and negative attitudes of people in our society. They make me disabled.

Also read the story of Asha