Beating disability through social work

Challenges are part of human existence. We all face different challenges every day but what if your challenge is permanent, how do you go about life?

For Akram al Mawali, it is finding his purpose beyond his disability — that while he cannot walk, he still has some other blessings he can tap into and believe in human magic and his ability to focus his energy on something productive.

Being a person with a mobility disability, Akram grew up trying to overcome many obstacles, most of them related to the public’s lack of awareness about disability and how to deal with such a segment including their rights and duties.

Many challenges were also about the facilities not being designed for their proper use and the lack of universal accessibility standards in many public service buildings.

With social media activity, specifically in the last 10 years, he started his journey of raising awareness and educating people about the importance of paying attention to this group of people and striving towards providing everything that would make their lives easier and more convenient.

At the beginning of his journey, the effort revolved around volunteering and raising awareness in the community and the media about disability and people with disabilities.

After that, the awareness-raising activity involved several community workshops and lectures targeting all groups, including people with disabilities themselves. Later, it developed into the establishment of voluntary teams in technology and art fields to highlight people with disabilities with their wonderful abilities and great potential, until it worked to collect all those efforts and activities under The name of an initiative called Akram Al Maawali Initiative for Disability which aims to develop the disability sector for the better.

In this regard, Akram said,” Personally, I always try to make that passion always accompanies me in every step related to any field of disability, and I make sure that any participation or any step is useful and beneficial for people with disabilities, their families, workers in the field or even those who are interested.”

He added that great efforts are being made by the various stakeholders, however, he feels that these efforts need support, methodology, evaluation, development and interdependence to achieve their maximum benefit.

This sector is vital and active. There are many things we can achieve and even excel at on the international stage if the efforts are systematic, interconnected and accompanied by passion.

There are specific and clear elements in the life of disabled people. The more everyone works to improve these elements, the more the disability sector in the Sultanate will improve those needs including independence, recruitment, having a supportive family, getting a good education, being involved in sports, providing Health supplies and providing prosthetic devices at subsidized prices.

Akram said, “The reader may think that what we mentioned above are self-evident aspects, but those who are delving into the field of disability are fully aware that we have identified very precisely the aspects that need attention and development in the lives of people with disabilities.”

Every person with a disability is an inspiration to others. Akram explained this by saying that "What that person needs is often the same as what I need as a person with a disability. I am also inspired by passionate volunteers who excel in helping disabled people not to get a job but for that passion that shines within them for Serving people with disabilities. They really touch my heart with their steadfast work in supporting their disabled brothers and sisters and making their lives easier all without asking for any financial benefit.