Man walks on hands - ... Dreams of standing tall as a car wash operator

Walking on one's hands may sound complicated but, for Raheem Williams, it a task that he does with ease. Williams' disability that has not been diagnosed by doctors affects his capacity to stand upright.

However, the 27-year-old told THE STAR that his disability does not dampen his spirit but ignites an entrepreneurial flame within him. Currently, Williams is employed as a side man on a pick-up truck, doing deliveries from the Kingston Wharves. But he is eyeing a personal venture, operating a car wash and detailing business.

The Selassie Drive, St Andrew native explained that he was born disabled, but his mother, Diane Moodie, ensured that he received therapy and medical treatment.

"My mother went to the doctor with me and they said that the veins in my legs are too short, so I cannot walk. They also said it was polio [poliomyelitis] and she carried me to the doctor and she followed them up from time to time and carry me to therapy at Mona Rehab, and they made a calliper for me. I had it for six months on my feet," he said.

However, when the calliper was removed by age eight, Williams stopped attending classes at Rousseau Primary School as he was unable to climb the staircases to his grade-four classroom. While this disheartened him, his mother ensured that her eldest child was home-schooled.

Williams admitted that he does feel distressed at times, having to walk on his hands, as he is left to be a bystander in activities such as sports.

"Sometimes, me see my friend dem a run up and down a play ball, me affi say, 'Look how dem a play ball and me can't even play with my friend dem'. Me just affi siddung and watch dem play. I pity myself sometimes, too, because I just wish I could walk," he said, the sadness evident in his voice.

Nevertheless, he made it clear that he is not shy to ride a bicycle. Flawlessly, he hopped onto his bicycle and manoeuvred with much agility. This is how he commutes daily to his job. Additionally, he wasted no time to show THE STAR how he carries out his daily tasks as a delivery truck side man, stacking and packing pallets and boxes into the truck with ease, as well as taking charge in the driver's seat.

Williams, who has been demonstrating that he can make his mark in society despite his disability, said that he gets tremendous support from his community, who he said are very supportive of his endeavours and his quest to do more. At the same time, he lamented that there are persons in the general society who are very mean.

"Some people dem treat me rough and run me away and say, 'Move man, you a handicap', and I will say, 'Yea me a handicap, but me not begging you anything; me deh here a work for my own and me nah look hands out'," Williams said.

He encouraged others who are faced with disabilities to not give up and be steadfast in achieving their dreams. Williams shared that his reason to attain employment was credited to his mother's influential role in his life. He added that he has two other siblings who are faced with a similar disability and that they, too, strive against the odds.

"Me deh here nine years now a do this job and me kind of like the work. Me a do the work because me nuh have a choice. Everywhere me go, people like what I am doing so dem tell me say, 'One day, one day somebody going see you and help you', and me say me have faith," Williams told THE STAR.

He feels strongly that his life will be transformed if he gets help in his quest to open a car wash and detailing business.

"I would love to get some help with getting a power machine and a tank to start my own business. Anybody that can assist me, I would be very thankful for it. I would take a crutch stick or a walker, but I want to start my business. Nuff man nah do weh me a do and me know youth in my condition weh just sit down every day. Me nah give up still, me just hold the faith, me nah be sad bout it," Williams said.

Raheem Williams may be contacted via telephone at (876)482-0288.