Living with disability comes with its own set of challenges and difficulties, yet the main issue that most of the people with disability experience is societal attitudes, which almost excludes them from leading a normal life.
However, what if you have to fight not only social prejudice, but also endure military occupation? This is precisely the battle that Mohammad Dalo from Gaza has been fighting since birth, when he was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy — the degeneration of muscles — in which almost every aspect of daily life is a struggle for survival and progression.
From a very young age, Dalo’s parents, especially his father, encouraged him to integrate fully with the society. Lack of special needs schools made this decision a more obvious one, and so Dalo attended a mainstream school and mingled with people. Dalo gained confidence as people gradually accepted his disability and he was at ease with being “different” from others.
The fact that Gaza has yet to acknowledge and implement the United Nations international convention for people with disability diminishes the chance for personal development for people living with disability.
According to Medical Aid For Palestinian’s research, more than 87 per cent of Palestinians with disability are unemployed, and one-third of them will never be able to get married. More than one-third of Palestinians with disability have never been to school, while many do not use public transport, which does not have sufficient facilities for them. It is these practical barriers that make living with disability extremely hard under occupation.
Yet Dalo did not let these obstacles deter him from pursuing his dream of becoming an artist.
Even as a toddler, art came naturally to Dalo. It was a hobby that grew into a passion that knew no barriers. When Dalo’s health deteriorated and he could no longer endure the long and tiring days at school, he had no choice but to give up education before he could complete his baccalaureate exams — the equivalent of British A Level. So Dalo embarked on a solitary journey to achieve his dream.
Dalo recalls that the first person to discover his artistic talent was his middle school teacher who encouraged him to work and pursue his talent. Back then Dalo was not as confident of his ability as an artist. But life dealt him a hard blow when he had to discontinue secondary education.
It was then that Dalo turned to the internet and social media to learn and develop his artistic skills. Through his constant research and networking Dalo discovered that his real passion lay in anime — Japanese animated productions featuring hand-drawn or computer animation — and so he continued to learn in his solitary surroundings.
Gradually Dalo began showing his work to others, initially on social media then to friends and family. Recently, he had his work exhibited at two local events in Gaza, one of which was the Renewing Contribution festival at a college. Soon enough, regional media took notice of Dalo’s talent as Palestinian, Iraqi and Jordanian newspapers and TV channels vied to interview him, to tell the story of success against all odds.
Dalo’s fascination with anime stems from his love for minor and critical details and the freedom that this particular genre offers. Anime, unlike other forms of art, is not restricted by rules or guidelines and has no boundaries. Whatever your imagination leads you to draw on paper is accepted without adhering to any specific shaping or the general appearance of the drawing.
In Dalo’s opinion what distinguishes anime from other forms of visual art is its simple form and the freedom to use an eraser when a mistake is made. He acknowledges that anime is the most accessible form of art for a person with disability living in an isolating environment. “I only have my A4 drawing pad and pencils that enable me to live out my dream,” he says.
Living in Gaza is a real struggle for any individual but for the disabled, it is an entirely different matter. Palestinians have been suffering under the occupation for more than 65 years, and with little or no interaction with the outside world, people with disability remain unaware of the opportunities and facilities that are available for people with special needs, or even their own wants or needs.
Disabled people are largely marginalised and isolated within their own environment without any appropriate aid equipment that could assist them or specialist professionals or doctors who they can turn to for advice or help. People with disability are unable to see a way to correct things and begin to lose the courage needed to go forward. They develop deep feelings of being at fault for their own plight.
There are no disabled-friendly measures to help them lead a full life. The hearing impaired have no access to university education. Some university degrees are impossible for the blind. Until now, there are no facilities to integrate people with disability into education.
Gaza has been under siege for the past eight years. With hardly any electricity and generators not working due to fuel shortages, even the physically disabled are expected to climb up or down flights of stairs.
During attacks, the disabled are among the most vulnerable as it is hard for them to leave their house and seek shelter or move to the safe basement. Despite all this, Dalo is hopeful of better times for Gaza and himself. “I want to leave a mark in the world of arts, to travel and see what’s happening in terms of art, especially anime. I want to hold my own exhibition where people from all over the world can come and see my work. I want to improve my skills by meeting and interacting with artists and academics who might help me to nurture this talent through further studies.”
But this is a mammoth task without funding, facilities or sponsorship, given the degenerative nature of Dalo’s condition. It might be while before Dalo’s dream comes true, but there’s something in his determination, something that says: it’s not impossible.
Dalo draws hope from other artists who were successful despite their disability, such as Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Frida Kahlo, Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Al Capp, John Callahan, Chuck Close, Yinka Shonibare, Ryan Gander and Kathleen Morris. So, who are his favourite artists that influenced his thoughts and work? Dalo picks Picasso, Da Vinci and anime artists Naoki Tate and Masashi Kishimoto.
What advice would Dalo give to others with disability, particularly those living in Palestine? “Don’t hide or suppress your talent, nothing is impossible, be proud of who you are and what you contribute to society. People with disability have a vital role to play in shaping the world and influencing the attitude and perception others,” he says.
This, in Dalo’s view, can be achieved by giving their talent exposure and allowing them to engage with the society.
Raya Al Jadir is an English degree graduate from Queen Mary, University of London. Mainly interested in promoting disability awareness, Raya is the founder of Careless — a disability awareness page: www.accessless.com
