About Karneshia
Karneshia Shantel is a 32-year-old woman originally from Mississippi. She was born with spina bifida but didn’t use a wheelchair until she was three years old.
She now lives in Birmingham, Ala., where she works as a nail technician. She loves fashion and modeling, and she hopes to one day open her own nail salon.
Karneshia Shantel on Ableism
[00:00] My name is Karneshia Shantel. I'm 32 years old. I was born with spina bifida. So I've used wheelchairs since I was three years old. I don't fight everything because it's exhausting. Mostly what I do is adapt to whatever or however I need to adapt to it.
[00:15] If it is an extreme case, and I feel like I need to, I will — especially if it's dealing with access or if it's a teachable moment. I'll tell somebody like- “Ey, I don't say that” or, you know, “This is a better way to say this —A, B, and C.” But mostly I ain’t trying to fight every day. And I think they came from like I said growing up how I grew up. I didn’t have anybody to show me or teach me that it was okay to like who I was. Because everybody else didn't have disability.
[00:46] I did do PT. Even when I had to go to the hospital I come back out and I’m back at it. I didn't really feel like I ever missed out. I think I didn't feel that way till I became an adult. And it's like, now I feel like — You’re messing with my life. I got things to do.