Al -Sumaiti conquered “unification” by reading .. He dreams of creating an electronic library for people of determination

Inside the corridors of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Sharjah, and between the shelves of books that have become part of his own world, the Emirati student stands in the fourth year in the English Language Department, Ali Al -Sumaiti, tall after years of the challenges of “unification” that he faced strongly, and his dreams that have been fulfilled with unworthy insistence.

Since his childhood, he was not only a lover of reading, but was also passionate about technology and intersecting in dealing with its techniques, and he mastered the English language as if it were his mother tongue, and after graduation he aspires to employ his knowledge and capabilities in the field of reading and libraries to serve his homeland, as he dreams of creating an electronic library to help those with determination.

And «Emirates Today» was keen on visiting Ali Al -Sumaiti and his family, to monitor the story of his struggle closely “from the silence of autism to the hustle and bustle of achievement.

Strong will

The student, Ali Al -Sumaiti, remembers his early years, as he challenged “unification” with a strong will, and with the support of his parents, saying: “The road was not easy, but my parents always believed in me, and supported me in every step. They encouraged me to overcome the restrictions imposed by the unification, and gave me opportunities to achieve my ambitions, which enabled me to succeed in my academic career. ”

On the cusp of graduation

He said: «I am on the threshold of graduation, I do not see my university degree (end), but rather a new stage, as my ambitions precede me to work in a major national library, not only as a librarian, but rather a specialist in the science of reading and reading that was the companion of the struggle. He explained, “I look forward to creating an interactive electronic library that allows those with determination to listen to books and analyze their content, which contributes to making knowledge more easy and available to everyone.”

Shying indicators

And behind this success, his exceptional parents, who challenge all the circumstances, said: “The symptoms of autism were not clear in the early childhood of Ali, and we did not notice any disturbing indicators in the age of nursery, but as he entered the second kindergarten, various features in his behavior began to draw attention, where he was introverted, hated noise, and did not respond to directives, and fast.”

Integration strategies

In the absence of integration strategies at the time, and before the issuance of the inclusive education decision in the state in 2006, I was expelled from his school after a simple position with one of his colleagues, so that incident was the first spark to launch a long journey of challenges, especially since the schools were not prepared to receive students from the owners of determination, and there were no specialized cadres capable of understanding their needs, to start the research journey to find educational solutions And medical is suitable for the nature and condition of Ali.

After attempts, Ali was able to enroll in the Dubai National School, and it was presented to the sixth grade. The Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai helped us find a school that includes a section dedicated to people of determination, which includes classes that do not exceed four students, with educational and psychological qualified cadres.

The biggest challenge

But the biggest challenge was the high fees, which amount to 100 thousand dirhams annually, with 40 thousand for academic fees and 60,000 for the private department, and although Ali’s level was weak in the Arabic language, he excelled in English subjects, so it was included in the ranks of “non -Arabic speakers” from the seventh grade to 12, then he continued his university studies.

A difficult start

His father, Ahmed Ali Al -Sumaiti, said: “When Ali was diagnosed with the unification spectrum disorder in 2006, the beginning was difficult, but I always believed in his capabilities, and unification was not an obstacle, but rather a different way to understand life.” His mother, Fatima Ahmed Abdullah, said: “I devoted my time to helping him learn before university education, as well as developing his reading skills and using technology, but the road was not free of challenges, so the most prominent challenges we faced were the lack of specialized centers after reaching the age of 16.”

She added, “We were unable to find places of learning with life skills and interacting with different groups of society, and it was difficult to find teachers who specialize in dealing with his condition, but we did not stop our support for him, but we made every effort to provide opportunities that enable him to succeed.”

Preferred world

His parents said: “From the beginning, reading was his favorite world, and the books were his first haven and his permanent friends, until he had a profound association with libraries. His passion did not stop here. They added: «He was not only an insatiable reader, but he was talented in mastering the English language that was his key to achieving his aspirations. Thanks to it, he was not limited to understanding the texts only, but rather communicated with specialists in library science, and learning the latest technology of this field.

A message from parents

In a message from my father Ali Al -Sumaiti to all families, especially those who have children of anxiety, they say: “Do not let the challenges stand in the way of your dreams. Each child has special capabilities that need constant support, with the appropriate environment and right guidance, our children can achieve great successes. Keep your belief in them and be by their side, with your insistence, they will achieve their aspirations. ”

They pointed out that the story of their son is not just the story of a university student, but rather an inspiration for every family with an anxious child, confirming that the will and science are able to break all the barriers. Today, after 19 years of struggle, our son does not stand at the limits of a dream, but rather takes his first steps towards achieving it, to confirm that unification is not a restriction but an opportunity to understand the world in a different way.

parents:

• He mastered “English” and helped him understand texts and communicate with library science professionals to learn the latest technology.

• (Ali) excelled in book indexing and designing library management systems, and showed an exceptional skill in using technology.

To watch Al -Sumaiti’s video, “Automatic” by reading .., Please click on this link.