AMMAR Bogus is a celebrity in his own right. He was born with quadriplegia, a symptom in which a person is unable to move all four limbs or the entire body below the neck.
There was all indication that the life for him will be full of problems. But he has proved everyone wrong. Not only did he complete his studies, at 23 he is a successful sports journalist and is seen on TV channels commenting on sports issues.
Regardless of his paralysis, Ammar has been able to live his life normally, thanks to his strong will and full support from his parents.
He was born in the United States. But he came to Saudi Arabia, his homeland. Here it was not possible for him to go to a proper school. So he had to complete his studies as a part-time student. He scored 97 percen paid off t in the secondary school examination and joined the faculty of information at the King Abdul Aziz University. Many of his teachers were skeptical. They wondered how the chair to which he was tied would give him the flexibility expected from a media man, but they were proved wrong. Bogus completed his studies and graduated with high grades.
After graduation he became a sports editor. Today he attends soccer games and writes daily and weekly sports articles in newspapers. He has also become a regular guest on TV channels to comment on games and sport issues.
He says some people seemed to be shocked and surprised when they see him for the first time. “They look at me as if they are seeing something rare or unnatural. I simply ignore such looks,” he says.
Bogus doesn’t blame the society for the seclusion of the disabled. “With strong will, even a disabled person can accomplish as much as normal people, or even more,” he maintains.
Bogus says he has been approached by many organizations for the disabled to join them, but he has always declined the offers.
“Such organizations are not useful to the disabled and will not benefit him,” he says. “A disabled person should always live normally in the society. This is good for him as well as for the society.”
He criticized the lack of concern for the disabled in many public places in Saudi Arabia — such as respect for handicapped parking, wheelchair ramps and adequate bathroom facilities. He said in Western countries these accommodations are part of the culture.
In fact, it is illegal in many of these countries not to provide these access points. Zoning regulations require buildings to be designed and constructed to accommodate the disabled, including public works. For example, crosswalks in many European cities emit sounds so that the blind can hear if the crosswalk is red or green.
Bogus said he has spoken at many forums for the disabled in the Kingdom. He says he is planning to go to the US to obtain his master’s degree, but not before he gets married.