Amiah
Content Warning: These stories are about violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation and may include references to suicide or self-harming behaviours. They may contain graphic descriptions and strong language and may be distressing. Some narratives may be about First Nations people who have passed away. If you need support, please see Contact & support.
Amiah is blind and uses braille.
She grew up in a refugee camp with no access to special education or technology.
Amiah told the Royal Commission she never felt like she had a disability because her father encouraged her to do everything her siblings did.
‘My family and community were very supportive, and they have actively helped and assisted me to be independent … This has made me very capable of living by myself and managing my needs.’
Amiah came to Australia in her late teens. Since then, she said, she has ‘felt discriminated against’.
‘The cultural differences and the isolation in school started to make my life stressful. I was more aware, conscious and anxious about being a blind person.’
Following school, Amiah started a relationship with a man who has vision impairment.
Amiah and her partner decided to start a family. Their GP referred them to an IVF clinic because ‘there were issues having a baby naturally’.
‘The consultations with the IVF clinic helped me make an informed decision. Several tests including genetic testing were done, and all tests came out good.’
Amiah was able to self-administer hormone injections by listening for the clicks the injection device would make. She said it would have been safer and easier if the instructions and markings on the device were in braille.
IVF was successful, but Amiah’s joy was crushed by people’s negative attitudes to her pregnancy.
People saw only a ‘blind lady who is pregnant’ instead of a person who wished to be a mother.
‘I have been discriminated against, judged and questioned by many people. I had to always say, “This is not an accidental baby.”’
She said health professionals were the worst.
They constantly questioned her capacity, asking if she was physically and mentally prepared to look after the baby.
One person demanded to know who was going to stay awake and take care of the baby at night.
‘I want to be that person, I wanted to be a mother.’
Another person told her she had ‘other options’ and could find someone else to look after the baby.
‘I wonder if they would ask the same of any parent who is in the same situation.’
Amiah’s baby was born a few weeks premature.
‘I was not able to hold the baby for 10 days, which was traumatising for me.’
Amiah’s partner overheard health professionals discussing whether Amiah would be able to care for the baby. Another asked him whether he or Amiah would cope. Amiah said people often treated them as if they were invisible, talking about their capacity in front of them.
‘As a blind person and a person with a disability, my whole life turns into a constant journey of proving self-capacity to everyone,’ Amiah said. ‘Everyone has a right to have a family and a baby.’
Amiah said that instead of feeling ‘harassed and constantly questioned and coming home being anxious about fear of losing [her] baby’, she would have liked practical support. For example, instructions for baby products, medications and supplies in braille would have been helpful.
Now Amiah’s child is a preschooler, people constantly express their surprise at how well he is cared for.
Amiah would like to have more children and hopes people’s attitudes will be more positive.
‘I believe I also have a right to be heard, have an opinion, and have the same dignity as any other person.’
Disclaimer: This is the story of a person who shared their personal experience with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability through a submission or private session. The names in this story are pseudonyms. The person who shared this experience was not a witness and their account is not evidence. They did not take an oath or affirmation before providing the story. Nothing in this story constitutes a finding of the Royal Commission. Any views expressed are those of the person who shared their experience, not of the Royal Commission.