Redefining what it means to be powerful

Doaa Shayea is a sociology student and GB Parapowerlifter, who is challenging and changing perceptions of disability

Doaa Shayea

Being in a wheelchair growing up, many people assumed I had a cognitive disability as well as a physical one.

Society had a way of making me feel like I didn’t belong and I was constantly underestimated.

3 December 2024

But underestimating Doaa Shayea is not a wise move.

The sociology student, who is currently in her foundation year at the University of Plymouth, is a Parapowerlifter, public speaker, proud Muslim and change maker.

Speaking at events locally, regionally and nationally, she shares her experiences and passionately champions disability rights, disrupting typical narratives that limit the potential of those with diverse abilities.

Within three months of taking up Parapowerlifting she was competing at the European Championships, and now she’s balancing her academic work with training, in a bid to reach the Commonwealth Games.

Doaa Shayea

"I don’t like my story being one of sympathy – I’m a Muslim woman in a wheelchair, and I have had to fight to be heard and seen. But I’m also a model, competing at the highest level of sport and a strong advocate for self-love and positive mental health.

After college I took a few years to heal, soul search and grow spiritually, looking at what I wanted to achieve and setting goals to get there. I originally started wheelchair racing, but after wanted something different and now I’m powerlifting.

I’ve transferred a lot of the physical and mental strength that my sport takes into my academic learning too.

I’m used to pushing my body past its boundaries – now coming to uni means I’m doing that with my brain!

Doing a foundation year has been great and, while it’s tricky to balance everything, each part of my life feeds into the other. We are all more than just ‘one thing’ – and I’m certainly more than my disability."

Growing up in Plymouth, she wanted to pursue higher education locally, and chose Sociology based on its affinity to social justice.

Already lending her voice to many different channels, she will balance her degree with whatever opportunities come her way.

Doaa continued:

“I’m currently a lived experience expert with charity Well Connected, working with our medical students. It basically helps them to learn about a medical condition from a person, not a textbook, and understand that someone shouldn’t be defined by their condition.

“I’m also speaking at a conference for the University’s Education students in January, again outlining my lived experiences and how you should ask and never assume when it comes to inclusivity.”

Whatever she takes on, it’s clear that Doaa has one purpose – to make a difference.

“My ultimate goal is to sculpt a society that is not just accessible but inherently inclusive to all. I describe myself as ‘disrupting the disability narrative unapologetically’, and that’s ultimately what I’ll continue to do.”

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