How Personal Experience Inspired a Journey into Disability Advocacy and Inclusion

Women of the South Series | Story #4 The Work That Is Never Reported

In every society, progress toward inclusion often begins with individuals who decide that their personal experiences must translate into change for others. For Tariro Gurure, a Zimbabwean Inclusion Practitioner, disability advocacy was not a career she planned. It was a calling born from life-altering circumstances.

Her journey into disability advocacy began after a car accident that left her with a spinal cord injury. What followed was a shift in how she understood the world around her.

“Life changed,” she explains. “The things I had previously taken for granted, including accessibility and independence, suddenly became daily challenges.”

Experiencing these barriers firsthand opened Tariro’s eyes to the realities that many people with disabilities face every day. Instead of accepting these limitations as the norm, Tariro made a decision that would shape her future.

“I had to be the change I wanted to see around me and for others like me.”

Zimbabwe has made some strides toward disability inclusion over the years, thanks to the persistent work of advocates and organisations. However, Tariro believes there is still more that needs to be done.

“There is still a long way to go,” she says. “I don’t take for granted the work done before me by others and the collective advocacy efforts we continue to push. It is still a work in progress, but I wish disability inclusion could be treated as a matter of urgency.”

Her advocacy is not only rooted in personal experience but also in research that highlights the realities faced by persons with disabilities. Last year, Tariro led a study titled “The Disability Inclusive Score Card (DISC): Voices for Equitable Healthcare in Bulawayo,” which looked into accessibility across 19 council-run clinics in Bulawayo.

The findings painted a concerning picture. Nearly 89% of the clinics were rated poorly in terms of physical accessibility, with many lacking ramps, accessible toilets, or functional elevators. Additionally, all the clinics assessed were rated poorly for communication and sensory support, meaning there were no Sign Language interpreters, Braille materials, or accessible formats for patients with visual or hearing impairments.

The research also revealed gaps in sexual and reproductive health services for persons with disabilities, while some healthcare workers still lacked adequate training on disability inclusion. These findings highlight how structural barriers continue to limit equitable access to healthcare.

Despite increasing conversations around inclusion, barriers remain. For Tariro, one of the biggest challenges people with disabilities face in leadership and opportunities is discrimination.

“Discrimination from ableists who often don’t see beyond one’s disability remains one of the biggest challenges.”

Yet she believes leadership among people with disabilities is essential in reshaping narratives and policies.

“Leadership is being heard, being seen, being present, and ultimately being a trusted voice for everyone, disabled or not.”

The research she led also calls for practical steps, including upgrading health infrastructure to improve accessibility and investing in communication support such as Sign Language interpreters and accessible medical information formats.

Tariro’s vision is simple but powerful.

“The world is changing and we must catch up with how other countries are becoming more inclusive,” she says. “But charity begins at home. Our homes and communities should be safe spaces for persons with disabilities. That is how the world truly catches up on inclusivity.”

Through her advocacy, Tariro continues to remind us that inclusion begins with listening and with courageously leading change.

This story is part of the Women of the South series, where I explore the lived realities of women whose work, voices, and experiences often exist on the margins yet shape everything. It was first published on my Linkedin articles on the 16th of March 2026.