Abdullah al-Suri, a 35-year-old resident of Ras Al Khaimah, has challenged his physical disability with science, storytelling and community initiatives, despite being paralyzed and breathing difficult after suffering from muscular dystrophy 29 years ago.
Al-Soori told Emirates Today that his physical disability did not stop him from education, but was an important factor in his academic excellence and the highest degree of excellence.
He explained that he had muscular dystrophy at the age of six, where his body began to weaken gradually until he had difficulty breathing, and became moving in an electric wheelchair, and breathing on artificial respirators.
He added that his parents encouraged him to challenge the disease and disability by overcoming all the difficulties facing his way, where they bought an electric wheelchair to help him navigate, and provided him with smart and electronic devices that help him to learn and help him to study excellence.
He pointed out that he studied high school in Ras Al Khaimah Secondary School, and got 90.7% in high school, and he joined the College of Information Technology in Ras Al Khaimah in the field of business solutions in information systems, and received a distinction with honors.
“I decided to continue my university studies at the British University in Dubai, and I am currently studying for a Masters in Information and Communication Technology,” he said. He pointed out that he loves the study as he loves life «as there is no value for man without education, whatever his health».
He added that he launched an initiative under the slogan «Yes to Ataie» in order to provide the needs and services for people with disabilities in roads and commercial centers, pointing out that the initiative is concerned with communication with the competent authorities in Ras Al Khaimah to provide them, such as parking and private slopes.
Al-Suri's superiority was not only in the field of education, but also in short stories. He wrote a book containing a collection of short stories in 2014 and is currently working on a book about his autobiography.
He explained that he has launched with a group of people of concern in Ras Al Khaimah, and some citizens in government departments, community initiatives concerned with the people of determination, including the initiative «Hamta in my reading», in the «Year of Reading 2016», as well as launched several community and cultural initiatives to promote awareness among the public About his illness.