MISS MEXICO
I participated as a state liaison in the National Movement of Persons with Disabilities and coordinator of the Chiapas committee before said movement originated in Mexico .
I have had the opportunity to participate in inclusive modeling catwalks and will soon represent Mexico internationally as a finalist candidate in the Miss Wheelchair World 2022 pageant for women with motor disabilities , in October of this year .
Being 23 years old as a person with a disability , do you consider Mexico to be an inclusive country ?
No , it really isn ’ t . Unfortunately , we are not yet close to being so , since in Mexico there is still a lack of interest in the social sector of PwD in many aspects , for which we cannot enjoy our rights as individuals , and neither can we have a “ normal life ”. and accessible as possible ”, this could be due to the fact that many authorities who are the voices of the people continue to see us as the “ minority ”, a small group that does not add or subtract from me , but we are not really a minor group , since globally we are 15 % of the population , in my Mexican country we are approximately 20 million people with some physical limitation and 6 million people with some disability , which are not really accurate figures , since censuses are not carried out in all homes , due to various factors . And it is because of these data that I dare to ask each of the authorities if we are really the minority and if we will continue to be a social sector that we will continue to leave aside or make visible what has been invisible for a long time ? We must begin to generate a real awareness and capable of being able to generate empathy in general , because disability is not something you choose , it simply occurs , and not only due to an accident , illness or congenital origin , but that advanced age itself It will be physically limiting in a natural way and we cannot forget about temporary disabilities , such as fractures , dislocations , etc . Change and accessibility are not only for us , it is for everyone and that is what we need to reflect on .
What difficulties do women with disabilities face ?
It could be said that women with disabilities have a double struggle due to gender discrimination , as well as physical condition . In a society where machismo , as well as prejudices have been maintained and have been instilled directly or indirectly for generations , it has caused labor and political opportunities for a woman with a disability to be truly scarce , violence and abuse to be more frequent in this social sector . The perspective persists where intelligence and abilities are conditioned by the physical , when it should be the opposite .
It is necessary that we begin to consider these shortcomings and misconceptions regarding what disability is purely and the true limitations that a person with a disability has ; that we start talking about equal opportunities and guarantees for the members of this social sector .
What do you expect from the Miss Wheelchair World 2022 international project in which you will represent your Mexican country ?
That each of the finalist candidates who will be present at said event demonstrate their abilities and work for the benefit of their society , since the struggle of each one is the same in different parts of the world .
74 Miss Wheelchair World USA