Empowering Change: How Joshuanette Francis is Transforming Lives Amidst Arthritis Challenges

Joshuanette Francis, diagnosed with osteoarthritis at 24, is using her experiences to effect change and create more equitable opportunities for those with disabilities in a resource-strapped society.

Diagnosed with osteoarthritis at just 24 years old, Joshuanette Francis has turned her personal struggles into a mission to uplift others facing similar challenges in Antigua. Initially sharing her journey on her YouTube channel, viewers only glimpsed her cheerful exterior, unaware of the emotional toll her diagnosis took behind closed doors. Told she could lose her ability to walk by 40, Joshuanette made it her goal to hike every trail and visit all of Antigua's 365 beaches while she still could.

Her optimism faded when she lost her job as a restaurant supervisor, a development she attributes to her condition, leading to the loss of her home and shattered dreams. However, six years later, the young mother has transformed her sorrow into advocacy through her nonprofit, Good Humans 268, founded in 2023. This organization works tirelessly to improve accessibility and rights for people with disabilities in a country facing significant inequity.

“Arthritis has changed my life so dramatically; I can’t imagine what those with major disabilities endure,” she stated. Osteoarthritis typically affects older generations, yet Joshuanette's experience highlights that it can arise at any age. "I was stunned when I received my diagnosis. My greatest concern was what my life would become," she recalled.

Good Humans has initiated numerous programs, including efforts to create an equal rights tribunal to combat discrimination and a recycling initiative that has engaged over 80 schools and employed individuals with disabilities to sort and repurpose waste. The organization has successfully diverted approximately a million recyclable materials from local landfills.

Testimonials from participants under Joshuanette’s guidance recount transformative impacts. Kelisha Pigott, who works within Good Humans, noted, “Joshuanette inspires self-belief. Because of her, I applied to university and was accepted.” Kelisha aims to integrate her tourism management degree with Good Humans to create further employment opportunities.

Meanwhile, Joshuanette's advocacy has led to significant improvements, such as the installation of accessible bathroom facilities for a 10-year-old girl unable to use school restrooms independently. “We must change the way we approach accessibility,” she emphasized passionately. “I’m confident in Good Humans' potential to create meaningful change.”

Despite her progress, challenges abound; navigating St John’s streets remains perilous for individuals with mobility impairments due to inadequate infrastructure. Bernard Warner, leader of the national disability association, highlighted the ongoing struggle: “Access to assistive devices is lacking, and enforcement of 2017 disability rights legislation is absent.”

Warner, who lost a leg in an accident, stressed the need for a societal mindset shift regarding people with disabilities, lamenting the lack of accessible infrastructure even in new buildings. Kelly Hedges, principal of the Victory Centre for children with special needs, shared concerns about the future for their students, saying, “Wary employers mean many students remain at home after graduation.”

As Good Humans continues to grow, Joshuanette remains hopeful that her advocacy will foster independence and inclusion. Despite her struggles with anxiety and the daily fight for a home, she persists in raising awareness for disability rights: “True change comes from conversation, and we need to keep demanding more.”