Mélange Accessibility for All Magazine October 2020 | Page 74

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mobility aid. She is fearful that her position at her second job as a restaurant supervisor, may come to an end in the near future as her knees been to fail her. She has been with the establishment for four years working 8 and sometimes 12-hour shifts but her knees may no longer allow her to continue.
In spite of it all, Joshuanette remains in high spirits.“ I have my good days and my sad days,” she said, but no one will ever know which is her sad day as her buoyant demeanor always belie her pain and discomfort. As the effectiveness of her knees begin to fade, her outlook on life has shifted. She remembers her pharmacist saying to her,“ you are taking this disease exceptionally light now, but someday you may not be able to walk. This disease has no cure, and it only gets worse.” Having always made light of her disease, thinking,“ I am young so I’ ve got time on my side,” her knees have given her a reality check and since her fall in April, working on a healthier version of herself is her focus. She is also on a path to“ do the most,” she says, and if she ever gets to the stage where her mobility is lost, she wants to be able to relive her life via the content she would have created. This content is now being memorialized on an-going basis in what she calls,“ Joshuanette’ s World,” her YouTube Vlog.
“ I live on one of the world’ s most beautiful islands- Antigua and Barbuda. It is known for sun, sea and sand, an island surrounded by 365 beaches,” she said. Her doctor recommended physical therapy, incorporating exercises on the beach and even bike riding. Her Vlog,“ Joshuanette’ s World,” documents her trips to the beach for physical therapy – she intends to visit all of the 365 beaches on the island! The Vlog highlights places she venture on her walks as part of her physical therapy. She will be visiting historical sites and other interesting places, one day at a time to explore as best she can, document and share it with the world.
Joshuanette wants to publicly share her journey to let people know, especially those on her island, that many others are living with Osteoarthritis and there is no need to be ashamed. People have many misconceptions about disabilities and she sees herself as an educator in this regard. As a teacher, young eyes and ears are entrusted to