Inspirational Perth teenager Shamira Martinez has been acknowledged for her work in making a difference for people living with disability.
The young Adventist entrepreneur, who lives with blindness and hearing impairment herself, recently won a Shine On Award from the Rotary Club of Southern Districts, recognising her work in creating accessible products, and for her volunteer role at both Guide Dogs Western Australia and the Kites sensory toy library.
Shamira (Sham) has also received the Ida Lloyd Fellowship Award for Inclusion, presented by VisAbility to young people under the age of 30 with low or no vision to facilitate their social and independent living skills and to assist their positive inclusion and participation in their community.
Sham lives with an extremely rare condition encompassing blindness, hearing impairment and spinocerebellar ataxia. Her family believes she is the only person in the world with this condition. Despite the significant impact of her condition on every aspect of her life, Sham remains a vibrant and positive young lady who simply wants to be actively involved and enjoy a fulfilling life.
With the support of her family, she launched Sham’s Beauty Products, a business specialising in products such as soaps, hand creams, bath soaks and scrubs. The business operates with an inclusive mindset. Product labelling features braille and accessible packaging is a priority.
Assistive technology plays a vital role in helping Sham achieve her business goals. She uses devices like the OrCam MyEye 2, which reads recipes and labels aloud, and the Phonak FM system in conjunction with her cochlear implants to enhance her hearing and communication. Working closely with her support team and family, Sham crafts her products at her own pace, ensuring their quality and accessibility.
Customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing that Sham’s products are the best they have ever used. By incorporating natural and simple ingredients, Sham strives to create outstanding products that cater to diverse needs.
“The best part of owning my own business is being able to work at my own pace and the hours that suit my needs,” said 18-year-old Sham, who attends Livingston Adventist church.
“I do the parts I can and ask for help with other parts. The achievement I feel by being able to have my own business is huge. I can do things other people do in my way. It has opened up opportunities I didn’t think were possible for me.”
More details: visit Sham’s Beauty Products on Facebook or email shamsbeauty21@gmail.com
