Sana Khurshid takes the spotlight at FUCHSIA this week for her utmost dedication and determination to speak up for differently-abled people and their needs. Scroll down to know her journey.
It is hard to get back up after life has pushed you down, very few people are able to do so, and those who do define resilience like no other. One such person is Sana Khurshid. When a devastating accident left her wheelchair-bound, she kept on going & her determination got her an LLB & LLM degree from the UoL external programs. She became Pakistan’s first differently-abled lawyer. Today, she is an advocate for differently-abled people, an activist, and a motivational speaker. She has also served on the Lahore Development Authority’s advisory committee on persons with disabilities. And her long list of credentials goes on.
Her Story
In 2002, Sana was a first-year medical student traveling with her sister on the Islamabad motorway when they met with a devastating road accident. Her sister lost her life on the spot while Sana suffered excruciating injuries. She suffered a spinal cord injury and almost 95% of her body was paralyzed.
The road to recovery was difficult, to say the least. Her communication skills were compromised as she was unable to move any part of her body. Blinking was the only way she could communicate. Ultimately, she traveled to the UK for rehabilitation. However, she decided to write her own story after numerous hospital visits and surgeries.
Much to her dismay, when she returned and decided to pursue her education, she found it difficult to find institutions that had wheelchair accessibility or catered to special needs. This is also the reason why she is working towards making everyday life in Pakistan more wheelchair accessible for those who need it. In an interview, she stated that getting an education was a “great boost” for her. She enrolled herself in an LLM program in Dispute Resolution not long after she completed her LLB.
Education equips you, it gives you the tools, it gives you the confidence, it gives you the intellect to face the world.
Sana Khurshid
Sana doesn’t limit herself and we love that about her. She has been a part of several campaigns with renowned fashion brands including Nishat Linen & Lulusar, spoke at TedxKinnaird among several other platforms, and is also an awardee of Pride of Pakistan.
She runs a social media campaign where she points out all the places in Pakistan that do not have ramps or accessibility for differently-abled persons. Apart from posting on social media, she is also pursuing this issue legally.
Her zeal to speak up for what’s right & aim to make Pakistan wheelchair accessible has truly inspired us. This is a ray of hope for people in her community that were unable to find their voice after going through a life-changing incident.
You can follow Sana on her Instagram account at @sanakhurshid.official.
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Sources used in this article include an interview by Public Interest Litigation with Zainab Fareed Khan & LinkedIn.
Impressive! Thanks for sharing this.