Tania Fernandes is a positive, enthusiastic, and committed person who was born with Tetra-Amelia Syndrome. Tetra-Amelia Syndrome is a very rare disorder characterized by the absence of all four limbs. Tania has no hands or legs, but she has made a difference to her own life and that of those around her with her incredible characteristics.
Tania was born to amazing parents, Tito and Lydia. Her parents accepted her with much love and affection, and her sweet little face and enchanting smile captured the hearts of her family and friends.
As Tania was growing, her mother taught her how to write by training her to hold a pen or pencil between her face and the small stump of her right hand. Her father introduced her to electronics and technology, and the world of computers.
Tania is eldest of three siblings. Talking about her childhood memories, Tania says, “My childhood was a beautiful one. My younger siblings, cousins and friends treated me like one of them, so incredibly loved, fought, I even got scolded like the others without any differentiation. It is an honour and privilege to live like that. To love and bring love in a situation where sometimes love is almost invisible.”
Later, Tania’s parents opted for home schooling for her. Tutors came home to teach her, and she took her exams at the examination center without any help from an amanuensis (scribe). She recalls, “There were thoughts that my life would be terrifying, having a differently able person to have to be taken care of, how the parents would juggle with their work life etc. But ironically, the rest is all an incredible surprise!”
Tania’s parents say that they did have doubts and worries about her disability, but over time she amazed them with her abilities and capabilities. “She is passionate about everything and always concentrates on her capabilities rather than her disability. She is a strong-willed person, and she is not a 24-hour task to be taken care of or looked after. She is about 50% independent and 50% dependent, obviously due to her physical disability,” they added.
Tania admits that she has faced ups and downs and challenges in her life, but she has learned that these are all a part of life and that without them, life would not be so interesting. She is happy to have seen herself grow and change over the years, and she is proud of who she is today.
Tania excelled in computers, web and graphic designing, and animation studies. She says that the internet has been a powerful tool that has helped her in ways beyond her imagination. Today, she is a freelancer who works with professionals and companies from home. She communicates via all modern methods of communication, and she is involved in photo editing and album designing for Mountain Top Motion Pictures. She also designs and maintains creative posts, and she is a backend processor who manages websites, digital marketing, and content writing. She is a full-time human multitasker who is committed to high standards and a timely delivery of any work entrusted to her. She is grateful to all the teams that have encouraged, supported, and accepted her for her skills.
Tania says that she does not consider her work to be work since it's her passion. “I will not call it as ‘work’ because when you enjoy what you do, and where creativity lets you to explore, it is called ‘passion’ and I really enjoy what I do,” she said.
Tania is an expert at online shopping and online payments. She has learned to be financially independent and purchased herself a motorized wheelchair. Her friends say that she is not a person with pride and that she is always friendly. She is active on her social media handles, and she has friends from all over the world. She also tries her best to help people in whatever ways she can.
Tania has a message for everyone: “Always do what you love, be passionate about what you do, focus, and you will be surprised at your success.” Tania is a true inspiration, and she has shown the world that a disability does not mean absence of life, joy, zest, and zeal.
