Dubai: Success stories of people with disabilities are inspiring visitors at the AccessAbilities Expo in Dubai, which ends on Thursday.
Both local and overseas personalities are talking to visitors about how they turned around what others see as limitations into strengths.
Dubai resident Dareen Barbar, 38, is an amputee who has become a certified gym instructor, doing aerobics and hitting the weights six times a week. She is also a motivational speaker, presenting at various events in the UAE a few times a year.
The Lebanese expat’s left leg was amputated above the knee when she was 15 due to bone cancer. As a teen, she was very active, playing for her school basketball team.
After losing her leg, what was especially hard for Dareen was the fact that she didn’t have a role model to look up to. The situation was also difficult for her family.
“People don’t realise how much the family of the amputee also suffers. I didn’t have anyone to look up to and they didn’t have anyone to guide them,” Dareen, who is now married with two children, said.
She overcame the “looks and stares and the comments” of people to continue her schooling and worked in the insurance industry in Lebanon before coming to the UAE in 2006, where she held some temporary jobs.
After recovering from a broken hip two years ago, Dareen turned to fitness, going on to receive her certification as a gym instructor. With the help of a new customised artificial limb – tailor-made by Mediclinic Orthotic Prosthetic Services in Dubai – Dareen said she felt like she “went from a Volkswagen to a Ferrari”.
She is also in the process of trying to regain her ability to run again, and is learning swing yoga and jujitsu martial arts.
“When I needed a role model, I didn’t find one. My goal is to inspire amputees to find themselves, merge with the society. This expo helps you meet the right people.”
Also at the expo, taking place at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, is Tom Yendell from the UK. Born without arms and hands, Yendell learnt to write, draw and paint using his mouth. He also paints with his feet.
Yendell’s paintings, some of which are made on site, can be seen at the expo. He is part of the Mouth & Foot Painting Artists group in the UK and is visiting Dubai to build awareness, inspire others, and invite local artists to the group. More information about him is available at www.tomyendell.co.uk and www.mfpa.co.uk.
“I started painting at an early age. It wasn’t harder to learn than anyone else really, than those who try to paint with their hands. Our group founder said art is in the heart and head, it doesn’t matter what body part you use — if you’ve got talent, it’ll come out,” Yendell, 54, said.
