ODJF Restores Mobility and Independence for Hanover University Student Following Hurricane Melissa

For 22-year-old university student Britannia Stephenson, Hurricane Melissa took much more than the roof over her family’s head. The hurricane devastated her household’s livelihood and rendered her wheelchair unusable, creating a major barrier between her and the university education and independence she had been working to maintain.

Today, Britannia is mobile and studying again after receiving a replacement wheelchair from the Open Door Jamaica Foundation (ODJF), through support from the WalkGood Jamaica Hurricane Relief Fund.

Living in rural Hanover with a disability, Britannia relies on her wheelchair to navigate her community, attend university classes and participate in student life. Even pre hurricane Melissa, mobility was central to her ability to pursue her education and remain actively engaged in her community. 

However, when Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica, nearly a year ago, Britannia and her family were dealt several devastating blows simultaneously. High winds destroyed the roof of their home, while the storm swept away the family’s small flock of poultry, which served as their primary source of income and daily livelihood. At the same time, Britannia’s wheelchair was rendered completely unusable. For Britannia, the loss of her wheelchair meant far more than the loss of a piece of equipment. Without a functioning mobility device, attending university classes became impossible while her ability to move independently within her home and community was also severely affected.

Brittania’s circumstances highlight an often-overlooked consequence of natural disasters: for persons living with disabilities, damage to essential assistive devices can magnify the effects of a disaster by limiting access to education, healthcare, community participation and everyday independence. The experience also demonstrates why disability inclusion must form part of both immediate disaster response and longer-term recovery. 

For Britannia, however, the impact of the intervention is measured less by the wheelchair itself and more by what having it has allowed her to regain. According to her, “Receiving my new wheelchair has been an absolute blessing. Before, getting around was a struggle that limited where I could go and what I could do. Today, thank you for the wonderful support. I have regained my independence and mobility. I can now move freely and enjoy the day with less physical struggle. From the bottom of my heart, I want to say thank you to everyone for the kindness who made this possible,” Britannia said. 

Recognising the urgency of Britannia’s situation, the Open Door Jamaica Foundation prioritised sourcing a suitable replacement wheelchair. ODJF Programme Manager Alex V. Sterling, accompanied by two Foundation volunteers, travelled directly to Hanover to deliver the wheelchair to Britannia. This intervention was supported by a US $10,000 grant from the WalkGood Jamaica Hurricane Relief Fund, which enabled ODJF to extend its post-hurricane response to other persons with disabilities, elderly residents and geographically isolated communities across Hanover, St. James, Manchester and Westmoreland.

Brittania’s family described the intervention as transformative, both practically and emotionally. With her mobility restored, Britannia is studying again and is better able to continue pursuing the future she had been building before the hurricane all the while, recognising that the while a replacement wheelchair cannot undo the wider losses her household experienced, including damage to their home and the destruction of their source of livelihood, the intervention removed one critical barrier from her path.

“Receiving my new wheelchair has been an absolute blessing. Before getting around was a struggle that limited where I could go and what I could do. Today, thank you for the wonderful support. I have regained my independence and mobility. I can now move freely and enjoy the day with less physical struggle. From the bottom of my heart, I want to say thank you to everyone for the kindness who made this possible.” ~ Britannia, Wheelchair Recipient, Hanover

Britannia’s story also reflects the wider mission of the Open Door Jamaica Foundation, which works to create opportunities for young people and persons with disabilities across five pillars: Skills Development, Healthcare, Accessibility, Recreation and Education. ODJF’s relief operations supported by the WalkGood Jamaica Hurricane Relief grant have focused specifically on accessibility and healthcare, including the provision of wheelchairs, walkers, white canes and other specialised care items. 

For ODJF, Britannia’s journey and those like hers, represents what inclusive recovery can accomplish when the specific needs of persons with disabilities are recognised and addressed. 

Today, Britannia has her mobility back. She is studying again. And after a hurricane that placed another significant barrier in her path, she is once again moving forward. 

The Open Door Jamaica Foundation is committed to creating pathways for persons with disabilities to access opportunities, platforms, and experiences that celebrate their full humanity. To learn more or to support our work, visit opendoorjamaicafoundation.org.