Amid the bustling streets of Aden,Al-Rumaysa Yaccoub’s life was reshaped in an instant when a  traffic accident forced her to face a new reality: one in which life moved at a different pace and a wheelchair became her constant companion. Yet Yaccoub did not view this change as a limitation but rather embraced it as a catalyst for a chance to achieve meaningful impact. 
In an interview with Annahar, Al-Rumaysa noted that , “The real challenge wasn’t the accident itself, but what followed: societal perceptions, the obstacles in my path, and the closed doors I had to push open to prove I could move forward.” Refusing to be defined by circumstance, she transformed adversity into a catalyst for action. Al-Rumaysa thus embarked on a mission to support people with disabilities, extending her efforts beyond awareness and advocacy by founding the National Network for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Today, the organization serves as a leading advocate for more than five million individuals with disabilities across Yemen.
Al-Rumaysa has not only spoken about change;she has made action the foundation of her work. In the past several years, Al-Rumaysae has spearheaded campaigns to make roads accessible for people with disabilities, supported employment initiatives, and established  sports teams that transform wheelchairs from symbols of limitation into instruments of achievement.
“When I see a war survivor become a professional athlete or a young person with a disability secure a government position, I know I am on the right path,” she added with pride. 
Al-Rumaysa’s journey, however, was not easy. She confronted chronic funding shortages, limited public awareness, and pitying stares. Yet she never wavered. She adapted, persevered, and continuously created spaces where people with disabilities could participate fully in society, rather than being reduced to statistics.

Al-Rumaysa aims to extend her network beyond national borders, advocate for stronger legal protections for people with disabilities, and pursue positions of authority from which she can effect meaningful change. She does not define herself by her disability; instead, she sees herself as a leader driving progress and transformation.

“Your life is shaped by your thoughts,” she concluded. “If you don’t accept yourself, how will the world see you?”