At 19, the girl from Kelantan had fallen from the balcony of her home while trying to rescue her stranded cat.

Nithyah said she had felt robbed of her future and slipped into a depression soon afterwards.

“For a few years, I was angry and depressed, and would often take it out on my family,” Nithyah told FMT at the Disability Management Excellence Awards ceremony recently.

“At that point in time, I was not doing anything with my life.”

However, Nithyah eventually found herself inspired by those who had more severe disabilities but who did not let that stop them from living life to the fullest.

At first, she said, it was difficult to land a job but she found one in customer service.

“Unfortunately, that lasted for only two years before the company closed shop.”

Undeterred by the setback, Nithyah found another job in customer service at Philea Resort and Spa in Ayer Keroh, Malacca, through the Socso Return to Work programme.

The programme helps insured workers who have suffered injury or serious illness to return to work. Since its inception in 2007, it has helped almost 15,000 people.

Now at 31, the recently-engaged Nithyah is looking forward to a life of endless possibilities and happiness.

“Life is like a video game. When we reach a new level, we face a new, more difficult challenge, but we cannot be afraid. We must meet and overcome these challenges.”

Nithyah, who hopes to become the general manager of a hotel one day, said there was no limit to what the disabled can do.

“We, the disabled, are independent and can do a job as good as anybody else.”