My name is Muhammad Akram and I used "Danish" as a nick (TaKhalus) for poetry. The life was normal as of others common boys in Pakistan. But well life is risk itself - I got seriously sick when I was teenager. With the help of God and well care of my family, Doctor saved me but unfortunately I lost my hearing power. At the start I thought I'll get my hearing power back soon, as my family and Doctor told me that it'll be ok (but that was not true). We tried here and there Civil, National, J.J. and Aga Khan Hospitals we even tried Chinese Acupuncture but nothing worked. At this stage I realized that I lost my hearing power forever, I got disappointed - there is a long life, "what will I do? How can I face this? I can't do anything"
I thought, I was hopeless. During this time, my family always helped me and they knew I was getting bored and it is hard for me to pass the time, so my brother brought a computer for me - if I am not mistaken, it was 1989 - I started playing computer games - quite good can spend lot of hours with computer games - "BUT IS THIS LIFE?"
I THOUGHT - there is no cure for my deafness, am I going to spend all of my life as a dependent? At this stage I decided I should try my best no matter what, even if I fail, I'll get experience with this. I talked to my family to let them know that I am interested in Computer Diploma, they encouraged me, but the big hurdle was unavailability of computer institute for deaf students. I was a little afraid, but I decided to go with hearing students. Initially, we visited some nearby small computer institute (response was not good neither bad). Then I saw an ads from "Petroman Computer Institute" at that time Pertoman was pioneer in computer education. We visited the Admin officer, Mr. Shakeel Ur Rehman. He appreciated me and offered me some class prior to admission. The teacher at Pertoman was cooperative (Special thanks for Mr. Javad Akhtar instructor at Petroman). As I was going to learn with hearing student
I thought "I might not be able to compete with other (hearing) students and I won't even be able to pass my Diploma but at least I'll learn something new so I should try it."
I got admitted and tried my best - you might doubt it but its totally true. In the first test I got 8.75 marks out of 10 and there was only one other student who got the same marks, none got better than me. This minor test changed my life and my thoughts!! I continued to compete with hearing students and was often successful.
I failed in one pager "Electronic Data Processing"
twice, but I didn't gave up until I finally achieved my Diploma. This gave me confidence and I realized that life does not lies on hearing, it is your will - if there is a will nothing can stop you. I met good and bad people in my life, some appreciated me some laughed at me - but I didn't care about the rest one. Now I know how to ignore them, how to beat them. After my diploma I graduated in Commerce (B. Com) then got a Certificate in Computer Maintenance, then became a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP). I want to tell all the disabled people that you can compete with "able"
people and you can be better than "able"
people. And I want to tell "able"
people that they should not underestimate or hesitate to give Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) a chance to prove their abilities. They can compete with others, they can beat others, just give them a chance.
During my Diploma studies in Computer Science I worked at Pertoman for NEMES - UNISCO. Then after passing the Diploma, I worked at DAWN newspaper for 3months. In the mid 1996 I joined Pakistan Institute of Quality Control (PIQC) as Computer Programmer, life was going fine and one day I encountered Ms. Irene Dine, she was working with Association of Physically Handicap of Thailand (APHT). When I informed her that I am in the computer field, she asked if I can help her in building website for APHT. I agreed and designed a website for APHT, then she suggested that, I should not waste my talent sitting alone at home, instead I should utilize my talent for local disabled communities. This was a good advice. I visited Social welfare Department and asked for the list of NGOs working for the Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and then I selected Pakistan Association of the Deaf (PAD) and became a volunteer for PAD. It was late 2000. Later, in early 2001, I joined Deaf Friends International (DFI) as a remote / virtual volunteer web designer, in September I became Junior Editor, and in June 2002 I became Assistant Director at DFI. Later Irene moved back to Philippines and start Heaven Care Resource Center Inc. (HCRCI) and I joined her there too. I also had a chatmate from Philippines name Gilda, she is a deaf girl. Some time ago she decided to leave her job and do something else. She started Deaf Tour Assistance, Philippines (DTAP) and asked me to help, and you know I love to volunteer so I joined her at DTAP. Internet brings miracle, the same way Gild from Philippines found me through the net, Galuh Sukmara from Indonesia found me on net and became my friend. She is also deaf and is a leader of deaf community of Yogyakarta - Indonesia, she and Whuy (President of deaf association of yougya) invited me to visit Yogya as volunteer, so I enjoyed 10days with yogya deaf community in December 2004, just before the tsumani incident. During this time, PAD requested me for more support, they first assigned me as Advisor then also as Special Project Coordinators. Now a days I am volunteering at PAD, DFI (USA), HCRCI (Philippines), DTAP (Philippines), Matahariku (Indonesia) also ASHA (Rural Sindh - Pakistan) and SDF (an alliance of Disabled People Organizations of Sindh-Pakistan).
As I grew up and studied in hearing community, I might have missed this wonderful Deaf community, where I am now enjoying as volunteer. I am thankful to Ms. Irene Dine for showing me the path of volunteerism.
Finally I would like to say, "If you are Deaf or have any type of disability don't be hopeless - go ahead give your abilities a chance, select a field and do your best, then God will do the rest"
Thanks to my Family
Thanks to my God
and all those people
who appreciate Lot
(Danish)
you can contact me at danishkadah @ hotmail.com
