Fatimah Aderohunmu is a Nigerian disability advocate, author, and aspiring journalist dedicated to reshaping narratives around disability and inclusion. Diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at the age of nine, she has transformed her personal journey into a platform for amplifying the voices of people with disabilities and advancing the call for accessible environments. Her best-selling book, Beyond My Trials, has inspired thousands within and beyond Nigeria, while her initiative, My Freeability, is building a trusted guide to accessible spaces for people with disabilities. Currently completing her degree in Mass Communication at the National Open University of Nigeria, Fatimah blends her advocacy with her budding career in journalism. She is determined to harness the power of media as a tool for social change, spotlighting stories that matter and driving meaningful conversations on inclusion. She shares her story in this interview.

Inspiration Behind My Advocacy
I didn’t start out thinking I’d be an advocate. For a long time, I was just trying to navigate life with muscular dystrophy and all the challenges it came with. But as I grew older and met other people with disabilities, I realised my experiences weren’t just mine—they reflected what so many people with disabilities face in Nigeria and beyond. Sharing my story was my way of saying, “We are here, we deserve to be seen, and we deserve better.” That realisation inspired me to speak up. If we don’t say it, they won’t know.

How Muscular Dystrophy Shaped My Perspective
It completely shifted my perspective. When you’re nine, you’re supposed to be running around with siblings, cousins, and friends, carefree. But instead, I was learning what it meant to adapt, to rely on others, and to fight for independence. That early experience taught me that resilience isn’t about pretending things are easy, it’s about showing up every day, even when the world isn’t built for you. It made me more empathetic and gave me a strong sense of responsibility to push for a more inclusive society.

Message Behind my book: Beyond My Trials
Aside from readers holding it and feeling it, I want them to see that no matter what life throws at you, you can rise above it. I wanted people with disabilities to see themselves in my story and feel encouraged, but I also wanted people without disabilities to understand our realities better. My biggest hope was that readers would walk away with compassion, courage, and the belief that strength comes in many forms. The strength is in us, we just need to find it. I want them to see that BMT isn’t just a book, it’s an art.

Challenges of Writing and Publishing
Beyond My Trials was my first book, and I had no idea where to start or what to do. But a stranger who later became a friend came to my DM after seeing a post I made with some book covers I designed on Canva. People on social media had been anticipating a book from me for years, and that day’s encouragement motivated me to write. The hardest part of writing was being vulnerable. Putting my life, my struggles, and my pain out there for the world to read wasn’t easy. But I reminded myself that if my honesty could help even one person feel less alone, it was worth it. I had doubts about a lot of them, but I did it. Publishing wasn’t as challenging because I talked to people who had been on the journey for years, watched YouTube videos, and leaned on faith, determination, and the support of those who believed in me. Now that my second book is in progress, I feel like a pro.

Birth of My Freeability
The idea came from frustration, honestly. Moving around in a wheelchair in Nigeria can feel like an endless battle—with inaccessible roads, buildings without ramps, and no reliable information on where you can go freely. I know that feeling. Imagine being carried inside a building before you can access it, despite having an electric wheelchair that’s supposed to give you independence. It hurts. So, My Freeability is about giving people with disabilities the freedom to plan, to move, to live without constant fear of barriers. Long term, I hope it creates a culture where accessibility is no longer an afterthought but a standard. I want people without disabilities to see that it’s not okay to build a world where some are left out.

Using Media for Disability Inclusion
The media is powerful; it shapes how people think. Sadly, disability stories are often told with pity or “inspiration” in ways that don’t reflect reality, even in the film industry. As a journalist, I want to tell stories that are truthful, empowering, and respectful. I want to use media to challenge stereotypes, highlight accessibility gaps, and amplify the voices of people with disabilities in ways that push society to act.

Proudest Moments in Advocacy
Giving the world Beyond My Trials will always stand out because it was the first time I saw how my story could touch lives beyond my immediate circle. Young children called me their role model. I attended events and I saw teens holding my art, flipping and enjoying every page without putting it down. A young girl called Maryam was the first teen to send a lovely letter when she read my book. I felt everything she wrote. She was 12 then. So, the act of seeing people learning and unlearning through my work is an absolute joy. But launching My Freeability also made me proud because it felt like moving from just telling stories to building solutions. Both remind me that impact comes in different forms, sometimes through words, sometimes through action.

Staying Motivated Despite Challenges
It’s not easy. There are days I feel frustrated, even tired. But then I remember why I started: the people who will benefit from every little progress made. I think about the younger generation, kids with disabilities who deserve a world that doesn’t limit them. That thought keeps me going. I also get motivation from my community of supportive friends and family.

The Change I Want to See in Society
Society often sees us as “less than.” Too often, people look at us with pity, limitation, or surprise when we achieve something. I want that to change. We are not defined by what we can’t do we have dreams, skills, and potential like anyone else. Changing that perception would open doors for true inclusion. I want that kid without a disability not to laugh at his classmate with one. I want the adult who stares at or mocks people with disabilities to make amends. I want in-laws not to discriminate when their child brings home a prospective spouse with a disability. I want employers to make offices inclusive. And most importantly, I want parents to stop seeing their child with a disability as a burden or letting anyone make them feel it’s their fault.

The Legacy I Hope to Leave
I want my legacy to be one of courage and change. I want people to say, “She didn’t just talk about her struggles, she used them to open doors for others.” As an advocate, I hope my work contributes to Nigeria and a world, where accessibility and inclusion are the norm. Where people with disabilities are not discriminated against in families, workplaces, relationships, or anywhere else. As a storyteller, I want my words to inspire long after I’m gone. I want to be remembered as the woman who never let muscular dystrophy stomp on her.