Can’t walk, no problem
Disabled youth conquers adversities to become director of distribution biz
Published:Saturday | June 29, 2024 | 12:10 AMRuddy Mathison/Gleaner Writer
Beginning in the small district of Macka Tree in St Catherine, Omar Brown’s story is one of resilience and determination. Born to a mother who was an informal vendor and a father who was a small chicken farmer, Brown, one of nine siblings, was determined to defy the odds and not make challenging circumstances a hindrance.
He was born with a disability, but instead of succumbing to self-pity, Brown accepted his condition with remarkable grace.
“My disability is from birth. I often tell people that for me to walk would be a disability, but I have never experienced walking so to walk would be a challenge for me,” he rationalised.
His early years were marked by being carried around by his mother and being home-schooled, which put a strain on the family’s finances.
At six years old, Brown was enrolled at the Mona Rehabilitation Centre in Kingston, where he learnt basic mobility skills. By eight years, he continued his education at the Hope Valley Experimental School.
“At Mona Rehab I was trained how to deal with a disability, being in an environment where other persons were experiencing similar challenges, so yes, I was more focused and learned basic skills as to how to use the shower, get dressed, manoeuvre a wheelchair effectively, which of course was my feet,” Omar noted.
After leaving Mona Rehab at 13, Omar faced a new challenge – finding a school willing to enrol a disabled student.
“My mom approached the schools in the area, and none of them wanted to accommodate me,” he shared.
Tacius Golding High
For three years, he stayed home, but his family’s determination to empower him with education led him to Tacius Golding High School, where he was accepted into the 10th grade. He later graduated with five subjects, including mathematics for which he emerged as one of only four students who succeeded in the subject at the CXC level.
Inspired by his mother’s informal business, Omar pursued an associate degree in accounting at a community college, overcoming initial resistance to his enrolment. After graduation, he faced difficulties securing employment due to his disability, but his persistence eventually led to a job in the government service.
At the workplace, Brown met and developed a relationship with Alicia, whom he later married. The two bolstered the entrepreneurial spirit that Brown had adopted from his mother and during the COVID-19 pandemic, that spirit was presented with an outlet.
“I said to my wife, let’s start an online business,” he recounted.
Today, Brown is the director of Alduka Limited, a thriving variety store that brings goods directly to consumers. Initially, they started with a drop-shipping model enterprise, which quickly evolved into a hybrid business supplying dried goods, furniture, groceries, liquor, and appliances. With a physical presence in Portmore and an expanding online platform, business has grown exponentially for the Alicia and Omar, whose unwavering belief in the power of education and hard work is truly paying dividends.