TOMODACHI Alumni Highlight: Sena Someya, from TOMODACHI Next Generation Summit 2024
This month’s alumni highlight features Sena Someya, who delivered an inspiring speech at the TOMODACHI Next Generation Summit 2024. Sena Someya is an alumna of the 2023 TOMODACHI Story Jam for Youth with Disabilities. She graduated from the Tokyo University of Science in the School of Management this spring where she studied marketing, gender, and minorities. Sena suffers from a congenital disease called spinal muscular atrophy, and has been in a wheelchair since she was a child. She wants to change the negative image of wheelchairs and disabilities by talking about her life, and tell many people that people with wheelchairs and disabilities can have fun. She has been giving lectures at companies in Japan and sharing information on social media to gradually spread awareness.
A year and a half ago, as a university student, I gave a presentation to 200 people titled “Inclusion from a Wheelchair User’s Perspective. “What do you think inclusion really means?You can watch my full talk on YouTube by searching my name in Japanese kanji! Please come take a look!
I first encountered the term “inclusion” during university. I’ve never thought about it before. I’ve done everything I’ve wanted so far – joining a brass band, traveling with my friends, and going abroad without my parents’ help! I enjoyed my youth to the fullest.
Why could I do that?This is because I rarely think of myself as a wheelchair user.
I was just a student. Now I’m just a working person, a woman.But sharing my story publicly made me realize something.This is that society perceives me first as a wheelchair user, a disabled person. My self-perception was misaligned with the perception of others. So I was practicing inclusion unconsciously. This was a significant realization. I understood that I need to acknowledge myself more and share the world I experience from this perspective.
Following my talk, I received praise, new invitations, and interviews. Also last year I participated in the TOMODACHI Story Jam for Youth with Disabilities where I met people from diverse backgrounds. Although they are disabled, they were simply living their lives like anyone else. There was nothing particularly special about them.
As a minority, I believe in the importance of sharing my life story.And it has positive effects on me. It helps me better understand myself and deepens my appreciation for those around me. I’m sure there’s much more to discover as I continue telling my story. What we are talking about now like this also has the best effect on each other, doesn’t it?
I have many things I want to do going forward. I want to share more about my ordinary and wonderful life. After joining the TOMODACHI Story Jam for Youth with Disabilities, I also aspire to improve my English fluency. Next month, I’ll start working at Woven by Toyota, a global company, and I hope to contribute meaningfully. I also dream of having my own family. So I want to move out and live with my boyfriend. I am excited about my future and will continue to live a happy life. Thank you for listening.
This Alumni Highlight was written by Aika Talavera, an intern with the TOMODACHI program.
