Leader for a Lifetime
On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Lindo Antonio shares how Special Olympics Namibia helped him become who he was always meant to be.
By Lindo Antonio & Bailey Powell Aldrich
International Day of Persons with Disabilities is about promoting the rights and well-being of all people with disabilities and raising awareness surrounding this population politically, socially, economically and culturally. It’s December 3, and I think it’s a great opportunity to close out the year with some understanding and knowledge regarding disabilities, intellectual disabilities (ID) in particular. Why am I writing all of this? Well, I’m an authority on the topic. I have an intellectual disability.
My name is Lindo Antonio, I’m 30 years old and I was born in Windhoek, the capital of the Republic of Namibia. Like many people with disabilities, I grew up being teased. Not only was I bullied by classmates, I was frequently told by people both inside and outside my school that I was inferior to people without ID. By the time I reached secondary school, I had to withdraw due to financial issues. So, I took matters into my own hands and sought out educational opportunities on my own terms. For instance, I taught myself English! Due to my poor experience at school with my peers I was emotionally stunted for a time before I broke through and became who I was always meant to be: a leader.
Something a lot of people don’t know is that people with ID are proud of who we are. I don’t feel like there’s anything to hide or be ashamed of, rather there is much about me and others with ID to celebrate. Differences aren’t bad. In fact, differences are key to understanding, compassion and progress. It hurts that people call me “bewitched” and think ID is taboo. It’s simply the way I was made! I didn’t ask to be born with an ID. Like anyone else in the world, I was dealt a hand in life and want to play it to the best of my ability. For me, that looks like being a Special Olympics Athlete Leader, community contact, mentor, public speaker and facilitator of family health forums, national and regional games, Healthy Athletes (Special Olympics International’s health-driven initiative) and youth innovation. While I do many things for the movement, something I’m most proud of is the seat I hold on the Special Olympics Namibia Board.
I’ve been involved with Special Olympics for four years now, and used to compete in the marathon event. While I retired my running shoes, I still go the distance, literally. I’m known to walk innumerable kilometers to be a part of Special Olympics programming whether that means trainings, competitions, meetings and more. I’ve come to think of Special Olympics like a family, and what can I say? I don’t like to miss family events!
From the first day I started participating in Special Olympics I wanted to be a part of every activity possible. That dedication, enthusiasm and engagement shined through me to others, which is how I ended up achieving important leadership roles. It’s also how I rebuilt my confidence. I decided to mentally repurpose my history of being bullied. Instead of it being a traumatic part of my adolescence, I think of it as an indicator of my acute ability to persevere. I’m tenacious, and I believe all Special Olympics athletes have the capacity to be so as well, hence my passion for mentoring.
I believe it’s my purpose to take what I’ve learned and help other people with ID find their inner strength, showing that no matter what the world throws at us we will continue to chase our dreams. If someone is feeling defeated, I want them to know that everyone has a chance and that life is full of potential. When people with ID are seen as not belonging, bullying often ensues, and it’s easy to feel pushed aside. It’s natural for anyone to become discouraged from time to time, but it’s important to be welcoming to people of all abilities. When the capabilities of people with ID are written off, everyone misses out on untapped talent and potential from the corporate world to the football pitch.
Like anyone else, people with ID simply need the chance to try different things to find our strengths. Sometimes people without ID do things meaning to help but are actually doing the opposite. Instead of asking to take over a task for a person with ID, give the person time and space to try it themselves. It’s imperative to respect the autonomy of people, including those with ID, and if someone needs help, trust that they’ll ask. Achieving a unified society requires people with and without ID to be proactive on both sides. This looks like everything from vocational training to simply ensuring a person with ID has the basic physical tools necessary to perform a task.
Another simple likeness between people with and without ID is the challenge of facing Covid-19. So many people, including me, have struggled emotionally, and my mental health especially suffered during lockdown. Many days I wondered what I would do to cope and how to survive a pandemic day in, day out, and it feels like there’s even more pressure on me to have answers due to my role as mentor. Despite differences in intellectual capability, strife tends to bring all kinds of people together and warrants Unified Leadership as we work together to find a new normal in life, sports, politics and professions. Beyond the reaches of Namibia and the continent of Africa, we’re all in this together and ultimately, we are one.
I’m a hardworking and dedicated Athlete Leader and spend a lot of time motivating and training athletes in my community. Today I reside in Soweto, and while my location may have changed a little, my drive for continuing education has never waned. For instance, I’ve recently completed a computer training and doping training to add to my skillsets that serve Special Olympics Namibia. My whole life I’ve sought out learning opportunities that continue to shape me into the most effective leader possible. We’re all humans and should be there for each other, and I plan to be a leader for a lifetime.
