[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
thank you very much the first part is
thank you very much the first part is over ladies and gentlemen good afternoon
over ladies and gentlemen good afternoon
over ladies and gentlemen good afternoon I wanted today to share with you my
I wanted today to share with you my
I wanted today to share with you my experience of living with blindness to
experience of living with blindness to
experience of living with blindness to hopefully send a positive message to
hopefully send a positive message to
hopefully send a positive message to those with special needs and their
those with special needs and their
those with special needs and their families and employers who think that
families and employers who think that
families and employers who think that having a disability is the end of the
having a disability is the end of the
having a disability is the end of the world it is it’s just the start of
world it is it’s just the start of
world it is it’s just the start of having great fun with endless challenges
having great fun with endless challenges
having great fun with endless challenges I was born with a degenerating disease
I was born with a degenerating disease
I was born with a degenerating disease of the retina causing blindness I
of the retina causing blindness I
of the retina causing blindness I started with a little bit of vision
started with a little bit of vision
started with a little bit of vision through which I tried to race with time
through which I tried to race with time
through which I tried to race with time to achieve everything that I’m not be
to achieve everything that I’m not be
to achieve everything that I’m not be able to achieve later so I did horse
able to achieve later so I did horse
able to achieve later so I did horse riding I did cycling I did skiing I did
riding I did cycling I did skiing I did
riding I did cycling I did skiing I did mountaineering I did driving everything
mountaineering I did driving everything
mountaineering I did driving everything that I could home was the absolute
that I could home was the absolute
that I could home was the absolute comfort zone for me headed by my great
comfort zone for me headed by my great
comfort zone for me headed by my great father farruko hamid ali luck man and
father farruko hamid ali luck man and
father farruko hamid ali luck man and home was the absolute comfort zone for
home was the absolute comfort zone for
home was the absolute comfort zone for me on the other hand mainstream
me on the other hand mainstream
me on the other hand mainstream schooling that was in Jeddah and Saudi
schooling that was in Jeddah and Saudi
schooling that was in Jeddah and Saudi Arabia where the absolute devil a
Arabia where the absolute devil a
Arabia where the absolute devil a nightmare I remember crying every
nightmare I remember crying every
nightmare I remember crying every morning before going to school and
morning before going to school and
morning before going to school and crying when I got back from school I
crying when I got back from school I
crying when I got back from school I hated waking up in the mornings due to
hated waking up in the mornings due to
hated waking up in the mornings due to school suffering
school suffering
school suffering in 1984 i remembered i moved to a school
in 1984 i remembered i moved to a school
in 1984 i remembered i moved to a school close to home to our new home and the
close to home to our new home and the
close to home to our new home and the first class was mathematics the teacher
first class was mathematics the teacher
first class was mathematics the teacher wrote questions on the board and asked
wrote questions on the board and asked
wrote questions on the board and asked us to answer when my turn came i got up
us to answer when my turn came i got up
us to answer when my turn came i got up and told him i cannot see them and he
and told him i cannot see them and he
and told him i cannot see them and he laughed and he said how could you not
laughed and he said how could you not
laughed and he said how could you not see the board being and sitting in the
see the board being and sitting in the
see the board being and sitting in the first row so he said why don’t you come
first row so he said why don’t you come
first row so he said why don’t you come hang on the blank blackboard so that you
hang on the blank blackboard so that you
hang on the blank blackboard so that you could be so close to it and can read it
could be so close to it and can read it
could be so close to it and can read it and obviously the entire class burst
and obviously the entire class burst
and obviously the entire class burst into a big laugh and I by bus into a big
into a big laugh and I by bus into a big
into a big laugh and I by bus into a big cry inside and the heart sometimes cries
cry inside and the heart sometimes cries
cry inside and the heart sometimes cries before the eye and as they say in Arabic
before the eye and as they say in Arabic
before the eye and as they say in Arabic sometimes there is there’s a famous
sometimes there is there’s a famous
sometimes there is there’s a famous point that says you owe me Oh Tony liebe
point that says you owe me Oh Tony liebe
point that says you owe me Oh Tony liebe Delhi asha cotton well you know Tasha
Delhi asha cotton well you know Tasha
Delhi asha cotton well you know Tasha hook up the line near Hannah and this is
hook up the line near Hannah and this is
hook up the line near Hannah and this is very true for us the blind because our
very true for us the blind because our
very true for us the blind because our ears always loved before our eyes
imagine from the example I told you
imagine from the example I told you there’s so many imagine you could you
there’s so many imagine you could you
there’s so many imagine you could you could see how is the attitude of mature
could see how is the attitude of mature
could see how is the attitude of mature teachers toward me and I can give it
teachers toward me and I can give it
teachers toward me and I can give it your imagination to think how was the
your imagination to think how was the
your imagination to think how was the attitude of kids and teenagers towards
attitude of kids and teenagers towards
attitude of kids and teenagers towards me I despite all that I finished school
me I despite all that I finished school
me I despite all that I finished school with flying colors together with many mo
with flying colors together with many mo
with flying colors together with many mo awards such as the best mathematics
awards such as the best mathematics
awards such as the best mathematics student the best musician and all around
student the best musician and all around
student the best musician and all around student the next stage was University
student the next stage was University
student the next stage was University and i will tell you how I moved from
and i will tell you how I moved from
and i will tell you how I moved from University the job and back to
University the job and back to
University the job and back to university in continuation for my love
university in continuation for my love
university in continuation for my love for challenges I chose the hardest
for challenges I chose the hardest
for challenges I chose the hardest subject and the hardest university in
subject and the hardest university in
subject and the hardest university in Europe I opted to do mathematics at
Europe I opted to do mathematics at
Europe I opted to do mathematics at Imperial College of Science and
Imperial College of Science and
Imperial College of Science and Technology
Technology
Technology london which is one of the hardest
london which is one of the hardest
london which is one of the hardest colleges despite all the challenges and
colleges despite all the challenges and
colleges despite all the challenges and despite that Imperial and mathematics
despite that Imperial and mathematics
despite that Imperial and mathematics continue to challenge fully sighted
continue to challenge fully sighted
continue to challenge fully sighted people I came out of Imperial after only
people I came out of Imperial after only
people I came out of Imperial after only three years with an honours degree in
three years with an honours degree in
three years with an honours degree in mathematics I moved on from there to do
mathematics I moved on from there to do
mathematics I moved on from there to do a master’s in computing at the
a master’s in computing at the
a master’s in computing at the university of kent at canterbury before
university of kent at canterbury before
university of kent at canterbury before i got my first job I was hired by
i got my first job I was hired by
i got my first job I was hired by Unilever from the UK and posted to Jetta
Unilever from the UK and posted to Jetta
Unilever from the UK and posted to Jetta then do by Unilever is one of the
then do by Unilever is one of the
then do by Unilever is one of the largest 500 companies in the world and
largest 500 companies in the world and
largest 500 companies in the world and has over 300,000 employees it was a
has over 300,000 employees it was a
has over 300,000 employees it was a great employer but unfortunately the
great employer but unfortunately the
great employer but unfortunately the work required a lot of visual skills and
work required a lot of visual skills and
work required a lot of visual skills and many traveling on going travels every
many traveling on going travels every
many traveling on going travels every week to different cities and countries
week to different cities and countries
week to different cities and countries around the world I remember after a
around the world I remember after a
around the world I remember after a particular market visit abu dhabi city i
particular market visit abu dhabi city i
particular market visit abu dhabi city i came back home with a decision to change
came back home with a decision to change
came back home with a decision to change career i decided to do law and the
career i decided to do law and the
career i decided to do law and the choice of law was for obvious reasons
choice of law was for obvious reasons
choice of law was for obvious reasons it’s a profession that does not rely so
it’s a profession that does not rely so
it’s a profession that does not rely so much on vision plus it runs very long
much on vision plus it runs very long
much on vision plus it runs very long back in the lock man family I chose to
back in the lock man family I chose to
back in the lock man family I chose to do low at Kent University again and
do low at Kent University again and
do low at Kent University again and because i had finished an honours degree
because i had finished an honours degree
because i had finished an honours degree from ok and worked for an international
from ok and worked for an international
from ok and worked for an international company in the english language for few
company in the english language for few
company in the english language for few years i was offered to do the LLB degree
years i was offered to do the LLB degree
years i was offered to do the LLB degree in two years after extremely successful
in two years after extremely successful
in two years after extremely successful two years as you know low read in terms
two years as you know low read in terms
two years as you know low read in terms of reading i used everybody i could i
of reading i used everybody i could i
of reading i used everybody i could i borrowed the eyes of family friends
borrowed the eyes of family friends
borrowed the eyes of family friends colleagues to read for me and record for
colleagues to read for me and record for
colleagues to read for me and record for me and after those very painful two
me and after those very painful two
me and after those very painful two years once again i completed my degree
years once again i completed my degree
years once again i completed my degree in two years
it was then the first job as a blind
it was then the first job as a blind lawyer less than your career my first
lawyer less than your career my first
lawyer less than your career my first job was with an international company in
job was with an international company in
job was with an international company in London called Richards Butler they tried
London called Richards Butler they tried
London called Richards Butler they tried very hard to accommodate me and provide
very hard to accommodate me and provide
very hard to accommodate me and provide me with all the required facilities is
me with all the required facilities is
me with all the required facilities is what it was great to be honest but the
what it was great to be honest but the
what it was great to be honest but the big problem was commuting to London I
big problem was commuting to London I
big problem was commuting to London I used to leave at about seven a.m. in the
used to leave at about seven a.m. in the
used to leave at about seven a.m. in the morning of whites totally dark raining
morning of whites totally dark raining
morning of whites totally dark raining and snowing catch a train and then
and snowing catch a train and then
and snowing catch a train and then change to another train or more before I
change to another train or more before I
change to another train or more before I got to the office was during rush hours
got to the office was during rush hours
got to the office was during rush hours extremely crowded no seats people are
extremely crowded no seats people are
extremely crowded no seats people are running pushing me stepping on my cane
running pushing me stepping on my cane
running pushing me stepping on my cane I’ll show you an example for example I
I’ll show you an example for example I
I’ll show you an example for example I use this cane to walk it feels what’s
use this cane to walk it feels what’s
use this cane to walk it feels what’s what’s in front of me and people would
what’s in front of me and people would
what’s in front of me and people would come and just step of over it and break
come and just step of over it and break
come and just step of over it and break it into two another example I was at the
it into two another example I was at the
it into two another example I was at the train station one day and I was trying
train station one day and I was trying
train station one day and I was trying to walk very fast I’m confident like
to walk very fast I’m confident like
to walk very fast I’m confident like like other commuters do and somebody
like other commuters do and somebody
like other commuters do and somebody suddenly pulls me from the back of my
suddenly pulls me from the back of my
suddenly pulls me from the back of my jacket and before I react she told me
jacket and before I react she told me
jacket and before I react she told me you were just about to phone in the
you were just about to phone in the
you were just about to phone in the track of the train I would leave office
track of the train I would leave office
track of the train I would leave office at about seven ave about 5pm it’s
at about seven ave about 5pm it’s
at about seven ave about 5pm it’s already dark in the winter and the
already dark in the winter and the
already dark in the winter and the entire ordeal would start again after
entire ordeal would start again after
entire ordeal would start again after that I decided to return to the by where
that I decided to return to the by where
that I decided to return to the by where I got the job with a company called al
I got the job with a company called al
I got the job with a company called al tamimi encompass the largest Arab law
tamimi encompass the largest Arab law
tamimi encompass the largest Arab law firm the world today life was much
firm the world today life was much
firm the world today life was much easier full-time driver full-time
easier full-time driver full-time
easier full-time driver full-time secretary supportive colleagues
secretary supportive colleagues
secretary supportive colleagues relations etc but maybe I fancied a
relations etc but maybe I fancied a
relations etc but maybe I fancied a bigger challenge before I tell you about
bigger challenge before I tell you about
bigger challenge before I tell you about that challenge I will tell you something
that challenge I will tell you something
that challenge I will tell you something that I’m over often asked how did I
that I’m over often asked how did I
that I’m over often asked how did I combine the two extremes of mathematics
combine the two extremes of mathematics
combine the two extremes of mathematics on one hand and low on the other hand
on one hand and low on the other hand
on one hand and low on the other hand and
and
and to be honest I don’t consider it to
to be honest I don’t consider it to
to be honest I don’t consider it to extremes both matse law require very
extremes both matse law require very
extremes both matse law require very sharp minds and high levels of logic
sharp minds and high levels of logic
sharp minds and high levels of logic accuracy and meticulousness maybe the
accuracy and meticulousness maybe the
accuracy and meticulousness maybe the difference in mathematics one plus one
difference in mathematics one plus one
difference in mathematics one plus one equals two in law I think one plus one
equals two in law I think one plus one
equals two in law I think one plus one equals whatever a smart lawyer wants it
equals whatever a smart lawyer wants it
equals whatever a smart lawyer wants it to be so if it could be 0 or 2 or 11
to be so if it could be 0 or 2 or 11
to be so if it could be 0 or 2 or 11 that’s that’s up to us the fiddle
that’s that’s up to us the fiddle
that’s that’s up to us the fiddle numbers or the questions okay returning
numbers or the questions okay returning
numbers or the questions okay returning to Yemen I left heaven with my family as
to Yemen I left heaven with my family as
to Yemen I left heaven with my family as a kid giggling to economic and political
a kid giggling to economic and political
a kid giggling to economic and political constraints imposed by the old communist
constraints imposed by the old communist
constraints imposed by the old communist party which you all know about I could
party which you all know about I could
party which you all know about I could have stayed in Dubai but I had the
have stayed in Dubai but I had the
have stayed in Dubai but I had the stains relating to my career for example
stains relating to my career for example
stains relating to my career for example in Dubai being a non-local I could not
in Dubai being a non-local I could not
in Dubai being a non-local I could not open my own office and I could not get
open my own office and I could not get
open my own office and I could not get license to appear before the court so I
license to appear before the court so I
license to appear before the court so I thought okay I’m not local terrorists go
thought okay I’m not local terrorists go
thought okay I’m not local terrorists go back to Yemen be a full local it was
back to Yemen be a full local it was
back to Yemen be a full local it was completely a new environment to me in
completely a new environment to me in
completely a new environment to me in Yemen I had zero knowledge of the of the
Yemen I had zero knowledge of the of the
Yemen I had zero knowledge of the of the environment of the business of the laws
environment of the business of the laws
environment of the business of the laws I was discouraged to open an office 2004
I was discouraged to open an office 2004
I was discouraged to open an office 2004 how will you read how will you go to
how will you read how will you go to
how will you read how will you go to court and how will you compete with
court and how will you compete with
court and how will you compete with lawyers who’ve been practicing for
lawyers who’ve been practicing for
lawyers who’ve been practicing for decades in Yemen to be honest I didn’t
decades in Yemen to be honest I didn’t
decades in Yemen to be honest I didn’t give a damn I put my foot down put my
give a damn I put my foot down put my
give a damn I put my foot down put my socks up and did it I up and look my
socks up and did it I up and look my
socks up and did it I up and look my legal in early 2004 I started with one
legal in early 2004 I started with one
legal in early 2004 I started with one secretary and I took every work that
secretary and I took every work that
secretary and I took every work that came through the door including
came through the door including
came through the door including translations and interpretations for the
translations and interpretations for the
translations and interpretations for the World Bank and other embassies she used
World Bank and other embassies she used
World Bank and other embassies she used to record for me and I would listen to
to record for me and I would listen to
to record for me and I would listen to the tape and type the responses on my
the tape and type the responses on my
the tape and type the responses on my special laptop very often I stated but
special laptop very often I stated but
special laptop very often I stated but one am in the office came back home to
one am in the office came back home to
one am in the office came back home to have a bite and continued again work
have a bite and continued again work
have a bite and continued again work till the morning the legal market was
till the morning the legal market was
till the morning the legal market was very
very
very very difficult in Yemen information is
very difficult in Yemen information is
very difficult in Yemen information is very limited and courts are just as bad
very limited and courts are just as bad
very limited and courts are just as bad and messy as local part markets I’m not
and messy as local part markets I’m not
and messy as local part markets I’m not kidding the oven Bar Association refused
kidding the oven Bar Association refused
kidding the oven Bar Association refused to license me for many years for no
to license me for many years for no
to license me for many years for no reason lawyers from family and friends
reason lawyers from family and friends
reason lawyers from family and friends formed the lobby against me not to be
formed the lobby against me not to be
formed the lobby against me not to be licensed they told me once if we license
licensed they told me once if we license
licensed they told me once if we license you you will compete with us on all of
you you will compete with us on all of
you you will compete with us on all of all the international work and work
all the international work and work
all the international work and work relating to oil and gas companies so I
relating to oil and gas companies so I
relating to oil and gas companies so I said okay fine I continued without a
said okay fine I continued without a
said okay fine I continued without a license in 2006 and only two years after
license in 2006 and only two years after
license in 2006 and only two years after establishing LACMA legal I was ranked by
establishing LACMA legal I was ranked by
establishing LACMA legal I was ranked by an international organization in band
an international organization in band
an international organization in band one in Yemen as one of the top three
one in Yemen as one of the top three
one in Yemen as one of the top three international lawyers in the country in
international lawyers in the country in
international lawyers in the country in 2007 I appeared before the first
2007 I appeared before the first
2007 I appeared before the first international court in Stockholm in
international court in Stockholm in
international court in Stockholm in Sweden I continued with continued on a
Sweden I continued with continued on a
Sweden I continued with continued on a very fast pace and I guess my colleagues
very fast pace and I guess my colleagues
very fast pace and I guess my colleagues will put something on the overhead
will put something on the overhead
will put something on the overhead relating to the international
relating to the international
relating to the international recognitions and testimonies we received
recognitions and testimonies we received
recognitions and testimonies we received I am happy now that I represent the
I am happy now that I represent the
I am happy now that I represent the biggest international clients in the
biggest international clients in the
biggest international clients in the world before local and international
world before local and international
world before local and international courts in Paris London and Sweden right
courts in Paris London and Sweden right
courts in Paris London and Sweden right now to summarize I am really pleased
now to summarize I am really pleased
now to summarize I am really pleased that I have managed to overcome many of
that I have managed to overcome many of
that I have managed to overcome many of the challenges of childhood and
the challenges of childhood and
the challenges of childhood and adulthood but I tell you very frankly
adulthood but I tell you very frankly
adulthood but I tell you very frankly they never finish every day something
they never finish every day something
they never finish every day something crops up and sometimes their shattering
crops up and sometimes their shattering
crops up and sometimes their shattering but other times they are easier to
but other times they are easier to
but other times they are easier to overcome and in all events I have to
overcome and in all events I have to
overcome and in all events I have to sign up on my feet again I’m very
sign up on my feet again I’m very
sign up on my feet again I’m very blessed hamdillah to have great family
blessed hamdillah to have great family
blessed hamdillah to have great family supportive friends and social circle
supportive friends and social circle
supportive friends and social circle serve circles which helped me very big
serve circles which helped me very big
serve circles which helped me very big deal going
deal going
deal going through this life and through their eyes
through this life and through their eyes
through this life and through their eyes I still exercise my crazy hobbies such
I still exercise my crazy hobbies such
I still exercise my crazy hobbies such as horse riding cycling and driving by
as horse riding cycling and driving by
as horse riding cycling and driving by the way if anybody wants me to try the
the way if anybody wants me to try the
the way if anybody wants me to try the car I’ll be more than happy to do so for
car I’ll be more than happy to do so for
car I’ll be more than happy to do so for your charge my why my son Mohammed
your charge my why my son Mohammed
your charge my why my son Mohammed completes his law degree next summer I
completes his law degree next summer I
completes his law degree next summer I did not impose on him studying law and I
did not impose on him studying law and I
did not impose on him studying law and I should not impose it on his brothers
should not impose it on his brothers
should not impose it on his brothers mercy and hamza although as a father I
mercy and hamza although as a father I
mercy and hamza although as a father I would love it if they follow suit and
would love it if they follow suit and
would love it if they follow suit and together we can continue the great look
together we can continue the great look
together we can continue the great look my legal for generations to come ladies
my legal for generations to come ladies
my legal for generations to come ladies and gentlemen when I was young I used to
and gentlemen when I was young I used to
and gentlemen when I was young I used to get embarrassed when somebody would hold
get embarrassed when somebody would hold
get embarrassed when somebody would hold my hand and walk me through social
my hand and walk me through social
my hand and walk me through social events I knew that everybody would be
events I knew that everybody would be
events I knew that everybody would be looking at me in a funny way today I
looking at me in a funny way today I
looking at me in a funny way today I feel very proud and I walk with my head
feel very proud and I walk with my head
feel very proud and I walk with my head up through the same events knowing that
up through the same events knowing that
up through the same events knowing that the minute I sit down I will impress
the minute I sit down I will impress
the minute I sit down I will impress everybody and thank you and one last
everybody and thank you and one last
everybody and thank you and one last word when somebody walks me through
word when somebody walks me through
word when somebody walks me through devans in Yemen busy demands and
devans in Yemen busy demands and
devans in Yemen busy demands and somebody’s what is holding me to sit
somebody’s what is holding me to sit
somebody’s what is holding me to sit somewhere I hear people saying miss Kean
somewhere I hear people saying miss Kean
somewhere I hear people saying miss Kean research oh poor guy is his blind and I
research oh poor guy is his blind and I
research oh poor guy is his blind and I say in my heart poor you who think this
say in my heart poor you who think this
say in my heart poor you who think this great lawyer is blind
you you may see just around you but I
you you may see just around you but I see up to the sky and the sky has no
see up to the sky and the sky has no
see up to the sky and the sky has no limit thank you thank you
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] you
”
Be First to Comment