JEDDAH, 21 July — Physical disabilities seemed to run in their families until the new generation arrived a few years ago. But congenital impairment was not the end of the world for the Majdalanis who braved it and learned to live with it — happily, never looking back to grieve over what they missed all along.

The Majdalanis went a step further and took up professional careers despite being born deaf and dumb.

Life was smooth for the Lebanese engineer until recently when unemployment began to haunt him following the closure of the company which employed him for many years.

Mikhael Majdalani, 50, arrived here 25 years ago armed with an engineering degree from Beirut and has since been working as an electrical engineer with a local firm. "I was quite happy until recently when my company downed its shutters permanently. So I’m unemployed but am hopeful my job hunt will end soon," says Majdalani in his inimitable sign language.

He arrived here as a Christian but within a few years converted to Islam because "I was enlightened and impressed by the world’s fastest growing religion and embraced it," said Majdalani who later married a Saudi, also deaf and dumb from birth. He has adopted Malik as his Muslim name.

How have they been conducting themselves despite their identical disabilities? Majdalani gestured with a reply: "We speak and discuss through a sign language with which we’re well conversant. Part of the language is our own and part of it universally followed."

Asked whether his disabilities came in the way of doing his job, Majdalani said: "Never. All of my colleagues are an understanding lot, and have been considerate and giving me full cooperation."

He added: "In my current predicament, my wife’s salary is of some help." She is Dalal Hussain Ali Bastangi, a Saudi computer literate who is employed in a school for over 18 years. Her sister Amal, also deaf and dumb from birth, has a job in the same school. Amal lives with her sister’s family.

Majdalani said a common family friend introduced him to Dalal. "It was a happy coincidence that I came across her while performing Haj and on return from the pilgrimage I sent a marriage proposal to Dalal.

We got married 14 years ago," Majdalani added. The couple have two children, both normal with no disabilities.

The family is presently in great mood. Their nine-year-old daughter, Wiam, had bought a watch from the money her grandmother gifted her for doing well in her annual examination.

The girl bought a watch and filled out a coupon that won her an air ticket to Beirut with a free seven-night hotel stay. She received her prize from Omar M. Assaggaf of Alzouman General Trading at its head office here yesterday, as part of a festival conducted by the watch company.

"I’m thrilled to receive the prize and looking forward to my trip. Of course, I want all the family members to accompany me," said Wiam, a student of Ittihad International School on Palestine Street.

"My parents were also born deaf and dumb," said Majdalani who has made it a habit to drive his children to school and family for shopping and visits.

Asked whether he has encountered difficulties while driving, Majdalani remarked: "None. My reflexes work wonderfully well and I’ve not been involved in road accidents. Most of the time, my 12-year-old son Wasim accompanies me."

On the nationality of their children, Dalal, 42, said: "We’ll apply for their Saudi nationality after they reach 18."