CLEVELAND — Symphonie Mosley has a big personality.
“I’m a big people person. I love to help people,” said Mosley, a disability advocate.
She also has a love for fashion.
“I see it as a form of self-expression. Like I don’t have to say anything but you see what I’m wearing.”
And for languages.
“It was third grade, she said if you can say the Spanish alphabet by the last day of class in front of the class I’ll give you the sucker. So, I learned my Spanish alphabet then.”
She was also born with cerebral palsy.
“I could fit in your hand. I was (borm) like two or three months early. And I weighed 2 pounds, 11 ounces.”
But Mosley doesn’t let her struggles define her life.
“Although I have a disability, I can help people. Although I have a disability, I can be interested in fashion. Although I have a disability I spend my time learning a second language so that I can help people in the future.”
She’s modeled in a fashion show, earned two degrees from Kent State, and played sports as a kid.
Recently, she was given an award for her advocacy work helping others achieve their goals.
“Before COVID that’s how I spent my Tuesdays and Thursdays. Helping people work towards that high school equivalency test which is one that is known as the GED.”
Since COVID-19 sidelined her volunteering, Mosley is focusing on mastering Spanish so she can help others.
“I hope to one day be an interpreter, a Spanish interpreter. So I’m learning Spanish. I can say I’m learning Spanish in Spanish ‘estoy aprendiendo espanol.'”
Mosley also has a lesson for the rest of the world.
“We’re not all sad and like depressed and things like that. A lot of us have a lot to show society. A lot that we can offer society. But because of these like one sided stories I would say people have these preconceived idea of what disability is.”
So how can you help and be an advocate? Mosley said it starts with inclusion.
“Try to expose yourself to things related to disability,” said Mosley. “For the able-bodied population to allow the person with the disability to speak for themselves. Like don’t speak for them.”
