Advocate Profile: Minor Gersala

Costaricandude

Minor Gersala, walking confidently towards the camera, looking creatively off to the side. Minor has a limb difference, with his right arm ending just after the elbow. Minor is carrying his own camera in his left hand.

D: What is your favorite way to pass time? M: Taking pictures, traveling, finding new music and reading.

D: What is something people generally don’t know about you? M: I get really scared when I am trying new things.

D: Who is Minor Gersala? M: Minor is eclectic, curious and creative.

D: What gets your fired up about the disability movement? M: It's exciting because disabilities are getting more attention now than ever before. This makes me think that generations to come will have a better understanding of people with disabilities and we will have a more inclusive world.

D: What is your advocacy platform? M: Instagram, YouTube and Facebook

D: What barriers or challenges do you face in this movement? M: In life, the barrier I often face is when people do not believe in my capabilities and instead focus on my disability.

D: What do you want those who do not identify with disability to know? M: We always find a way of doing things, and we can accomplish the same things they can. It may take us more time, but we will always try.

D: What areas are you still growing/hope to grow? Personally? Professionally? M: Personally, I am still growing in my self-confidence. Professionally, I want to be the type of photographer that when people think about travel photography, they think about me.

D: Who was the person/role model who inspired you to look into disability advocacy? Why/how did they inspire you? M: The one and only Shaholly Ayers. When I first saw a photo of her modeling I knew I wasn't alone and I knew that people with disabilities could be successful too.

D: When people look at you/up to you, what do you hope they see? M: I hope they see someone who always tries and never surrenders. I want to be a positive role model by showing that I am accomplishing everything I have dreamed of.

D: What are your next steps? M: Right now I am traveling through South America with my girlfriend and we both have a project called Vivir Andando (it translates to "Living on the go"). We take pictures, make videos and tell stories about the places we visit.

D: How do we follow you?! MY INSTAGRAM: @costaricandude

VIVIR ANDANDO:

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