Life is sometimes difficult and has challenges for everyone, but those who are born with disabilities and immobility face more problems and hurdles in their life from society and its surroundings.
Ammar Bogis is a 26-year-old journalist, writer, husband and father of a 13-year-old stepson. He is a role model in learning how to deal with hardships and obstacles of life. He memorized the Qur’an in two years at the age of 13 and wrote a book about himself that has already been sponsored by an American organization for publication and distribution. He worked at Al-Madinah newspaper for five years and is now working as an editor for another newspaper.
Bogis has been fully paralyzed since his birth in America and moves around in a small disabled stroller. The only parts of his body he has control over are his eyes and his exceptional brain, because even for talking he faces some problems.
Bogis told Arab News he studied with able-bodied children in American schools until the age of 10, but when he came back to Saudi Arabia he was refused admission at any school. “It was very difficult.
Our society doesn’t allow disabled people to live their lives normally; they are always looking at them as handicapped or useless people. In America, society and the government don’t see disabled people as useless. They help such people make the best out of life, make them a beneficial part of the society,” he said. Bogis started learning at home through a distance learning school in America. He acquired high marks in high school and decided to join the university for journalism in America. “When I applied to study journalism at university, they told me it was a very difficult task, so I should not apply. However, I didn’t listen to anyone. I just did what I wanted to do, and with my abilities and willpower I proved myself by securing high standing in the university and started working at Al-Madinah newspaper,” he said.
He got married two years ago and is extremely happy in his life. His stepson Youssef Osama Mustafa is helping him with his work, such as by talking on the phone. “I don’t feel I have any disability, as I have a very good wife and son. My wife really takes care of me and always looks to me as a strong and excellent husband,” he said with joy. “My main goal is to give the message to people in the community that there are no handicaps and no disabilities. The only disabilities are in the people who don’t have a broad mind. That’s why I chose to become a journalist,” he said.
He is never afraid to appear on TV programs or go to hospitals and schools to encourage other disabled people.
“I hope people will respond positively to my book,” he said. Bogis said the media should take responsibility to highlight the activities of the disabled to encourage them. Strong faith in Allah and trying to follow Allah’s commandments as much as possible will also help the disabled achieve their dreams, as Bogis has experienced in his life.
The message he conveys to the people: “I think able-bodied people have to look at their abilities and powers and move away from their negativities.
Think positively and have strong willpower and faith in yourself. No one can stop you.”
When dreams get wings, disabilities do not deter
