Featured Person: Sarah Funes
Meet Sarah, one of several young Americans and Syrians who collaborated on an effort to create the first disabled Muslim super hero.
Age During Exchange: 19 (High school graduate)
Disability: I was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2002 at the age of ten. Because of the tumor I became hemi-paraplegic and lost all left peripheral vision (called hemianopsia). It also caused right parietal neglect syndrome. I had already been diagnosed with dyslexia and have another learning disability, dysgraphia.
Hometown: Redwood City, California, USA
Host Country: Damascus, Syria
Program Length: Four days
Program Type: Cultural/Arts Exchange. I was part of a group of ten Americans and thirteen Syrians who collaborated on an effort to create the first disabled Muslim super hero for Liquid Comics on behalf of the Open Hands Initiative.
About Me: I enjoy travel, reading, music, studying, and advocacy. I traveled to various U.S. states and also El Salvador prior to the summit. I've always wanted to change the world and help people. What better way to do that then go to other countries and learn and help change things for the better?
I've had many opportunities in my life to travel and learn through a trip called Sojourn to the Past, through the California Youth Leadership Forum for Students with Disabilities, and also through my work on the California Health Incentives Improvement Project.
Was your international exchange experience arranged through an exchange organization? If so, what was the application process like?
The Open Hands Initiative and the Victor Pineda Foundation arranged the Youth Ability Summit. The application process included an application online and a phone interview.
If you received any scholarships, stipends, or other funding for your exchange, who provided them?
The program paid for all of my expenses.
What were your concerns as you prepared to travel? What kinds of resources did you use to address these concerns (MIUSA/NCDE, website, advisor, book, etc.)?
I didn't have many concerns; I'm the kind of woman who goes with the flow. I'd been to El Salvador before so I knew how to be careful. More people were concerned for me then I was! I was able to bring someone along, which helped greatly.
What was your experience living in the host country? Please share your impressions of housing, transportation, activities, cultural attitudes towards disability, and your strategies for navigating abroad. What was a highlight or a favorite memory?
All of the participants shared the common notion that disability was empowering and not something to be ashamed of. We stayed at the Four Seasons and it was the most accessible hotel in Damascus, I was told. Transportation was a smooth transition. All of the participants traveled on a big bus, and we also took taxis on a few occasions.
We went touring the day after we got there. Syrians were very nice and helpful. My favorite memory was meeting some of the Syrian women and instantly connecting with them.
Did you use assistive devices, adaptive equipment or disability-related accommodations during your exchange program? Were they helpful to you in your new environment?
I use a Walkaide, which is an electrical stimulation unit for my hemiparaplegia. I also used my white cane when traveling to dinner or in the hotel. It was very helpful to have my Walkaide and white cane available.
Did you document your experiences? Please share your travel weblinks, if you have any.
I took video of everything while I was there and watch the videos often to feel reconnected to the experience. There are photos and links to some videos of the summit on my Facebook fan page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sarah-Funes/117844304949693).
Thinking back, what do you wish you had known before you began your journey?
I wish I had composed a list of questions to ask the Syrian participants. I'm glad I didn't know everything that was going to happen during those four days because it made the little surprises that much better. For example, I met the First Lady of Syria!
What were the benefits of the experience, and how has your international experience informed your future plans?
The benefits of my experiences have changed my life in so many ways. Now I can educate people about the United States' relations with Syria and I can help correct people's misconceptions about Muslims in the Middle East. I also am dual majoring with Political Science and International Relations, and I want to learn Arabic and travel more extensively to the Middle East.
Do you have an exchange or disability-related question for Sarah? Email clearinghouse@miusa.org to contact her.
Visit our "Featured People" page to meet other international exchange alum.
