Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za

13 November 2025

4-minute read

A mother whose life is defined by courage, compassion, and commitment, Razia Hisham’s journey began when she was personally touched at the birth of her disabled daughter Nura.

Having worked in the English as a Foreign Language sphere and print media for a few years, 53yo Razia has embraced her role as a stay-at-home mom and full-time caregiver to Nura. 21yo Nura Mohamed is classified as profoundly disabled, having been diagnosed with spastic quadriplegia, cortical visual impairment, global developmental delay, and epilepsy among other medical challenges.

Trying to navigate a world where the needs of differently abled people are often overlooked, Razia and her husband became advocates for such individuals. Nura’s dad wanted to include her in his cycling experiences, and when they saw the Warrior on Wheels Foundation getting ready for the Cape Town cycle tour in 2017, they knew instantly that it was a way for them to get their daughter to be a part of a “supportive community.” It was also a way for them to get fit and healthy and become good influences in their child’s life, as well as “make a difference” in the lives of families who were impacted by having disabled kids in their homes.

People with disabled children cannot so easily do the things that parents of “normal” children can do. The Warrior on Wheels Foundation makes things possible for these families by facilitating outings like trips to the beach, visiting Seal Island or taking a tour through the city on the Red Bus. Simple tasks like leaving the home for an outing takes an exorbitant amount of planning and management. Warrior on Wheels make everyday activities easier and more accessible and remove the obstacles that families with disabled children face.

Apart from the medical issues with Nura that their life is dominated by, Razia and her family face other daily challenges from the public like ignorance, intolerance and lack of understanding, as well as inadequacies in the built environment like obstacles to access care. As Nura has gotten older, they have had to adapt, grow and learn, and in doing so, have been able to share their experiences and help other families facing similar challenges.

“Our children are generally superstars,” says Razia, with smiles that “makes everything worthwhile.” The sense of pride and accomplishment that comes with every small achievement is amazing. She remembers bursting into tears the first time they crossed the finish line with Nura in 2018 and says that the impact of these kids on strangers is another aspect that drives her forward.

Working with these incredible kids has changed their perspective, and Razia says that in trying to keep their child “comfortable, safe and healthy,” they have grown spiritually and drawn on their own inner strength. Watching these children show their own resilience and tolerance despite all their challenges has brought immense pride and joy in them.

Razia’s message to society regarding creating more inclusive and supportive spaces for differently abled kids is to accept them and facilitate their needs instead of sidelining them. “It’s not the person that’s disabled, its actually society that’s disabled,” sates Razia. Everyone is deserving of being loved, cared for and valued, and your worth should not be measured in economic terms or in what you can give back to society.

Razia’s story is not only one of personal strength but also of purpose — a journey that has intertwined her life with a broader community of differently-abled individuals and their families. Through her daily experiences, Razia has come to understand resilience on a level few can imagine, finding beauty in moments of struggle and inspiration in the smallest victories.

Listen to the full interview with Ml Ibrahim Daya, Ml Ahmad Waja and Razia Hisham.