Samantha Adams (31), is pursuing a master’s degree in rehabilitation at the University of Stellenbosch.
Samantha grew up in South Africa during a tough political time period. Both her parents worked hard to support Samantha and her two bothers. Her childhood was a happy one and her involvement with her Christian faith was a big part of her upbringing. Samantha knew she had to find employment in order to support her family, so she started working part-time after secondary school.
During this period, she found inspiration for occupational therapy. This interest came about when she interacted with a friend’s mother who attended an arts and crafts group. This group consisted of older people some of who were disabled. Samantha soon found that she was particularly interested in helping people with disabilities have access to equal opportunities in society.
After receiving her bachelor’s in occupational therapy, Samantha pursued a diploma in disability studies. She was motivated by the aspirations of people with disabilities and their desire to live normal lives. She also realized from her experiences and during her program that women are usually the main caregivers to disabled people. This understanding further motivated Samantha to help create avenues and collaborative platforms for caregivers to turn for resources. Her current study aims to create a social integration system that is currently lacking, particularly in employment services for people with disabilities.
