Behind the Darkness | Dana Nashawati | TEDxCanadianUniversityDubai

hi everyone you’re probably wondering

hi everyone you’re probably wondering why it’s dark in here I wanted you to

why it’s dark in here I wanted you to

why it’s dark in here I wanted you to get a feeling on how I actually see

get a feeling on how I actually see

get a feeling on how I actually see things and I want to relate on the the

things and I want to relate on the the

things and I want to relate on the the topic that I chose and the title that I

topic that I chose and the title that I

topic that I chose and the title that I chose for my presentation behind the

chose for my presentation behind the

chose for my presentation behind the darkness for your comfort I would like

darkness for your comfort I would like

darkness for your comfort I would like to ask the technical team to turn on the

to ask the technical team to turn on the

to ask the technical team to turn on the lights

lights

lights hi everyone this is dan inertia Watty

hi everyone this is dan inertia Watty

hi everyone this is dan inertia Watty I’m here I’m visually impaired I’m here

I’m here I’m visually impaired I’m here

I’m here I’m visually impaired I’m here to take you through a little journey

to take you through a little journey

to take you through a little journey within my life and how I cope to get to

within my life and how I cope to get to

within my life and how I cope to get to today

today

today so basically behind the darkness behind

so basically behind the darkness behind

so basically behind the darkness behind the darkness means light and this is

the darkness means light and this is

the darkness means light and this is what I would like to present today the

what I would like to present today the

what I would like to present today the light of my life I will start with the

light of my life I will start with the

light of my life I will start with the darkness I will start when I lost my

darkness I will start when I lost my

darkness I will start when I lost my eyesight I was 13 years old and when I

eyesight I was 13 years old and when I

eyesight I was 13 years old and when I discovered that I can’t see in my left

discovered that I can’t see in my left

discovered that I can’t see in my left eye I was in my eighth grade I went to

eye I was in my eighth grade I went to

eye I was in my eighth grade I went to my parents like a kid like any other kid

my parents like a kid like any other kid

my parents like a kid like any other kid telling them complaining about me I we

telling them complaining about me I we

telling them complaining about me I we went to the doctor and that was the

went to the doctor and that was the

went to the doctor and that was the shock the doctor said your daughter has

shock the doctor said your daughter has

shock the doctor said your daughter has an infection of the optic nerve in the

an infection of the optic nerve in the

an infection of the optic nerve in the left eye and you can expect a blindness

left eye and you can expect a blindness

left eye and you can expect a blindness within six months and actually this what

within six months and actually this what

within six months and actually this what happened in six months I lost my

happened in six months I lost my

happened in six months I lost my eyesight and the other eye my parents my

eyesight and the other eye my parents my

eyesight and the other eye my parents my family my brother is my sister myself we

family my brother is my sister myself we

family my brother is my sister myself we were all in denial where wouldn’t we

were all in denial where wouldn’t we

were all in denial where wouldn’t we wouldn’t believe we didn’t accept we

wouldn’t believe we didn’t accept we

wouldn’t believe we didn’t accept we don’t want we didn’t approve we rejected

don’t want we didn’t approve we rejected

don’t want we didn’t approve we rejected you can use all these words we didn’t

you can use all these words we didn’t

you can use all these words we didn’t like the situation I was in denial

like the situation I was in denial

like the situation I was in denial I finished my ninth grade orally and I

I finished my ninth grade orally and I

I finished my ninth grade orally and I stayed home my family were trying to do

stayed home my family were trying to do

stayed home my family were trying to do everything possible to push me forward

everything possible to push me forward

everything possible to push me forward in my life they were trying to take me

in my life they were trying to take me

in my life they were trying to take me to any any possible any possible thing

to any any possible any possible thing

to any any possible any possible thing that can help me however they were

that can help me however they were

that can help me however they were actually in a very real shock we didn’t

actually in a very real shock we didn’t

actually in a very real shock we didn’t have any genetical problem when the

have any genetical problem when the

have any genetical problem when the we didn’t have any experience of

we didn’t have any experience of

we didn’t have any experience of blindness earlier in the family I was

blindness earlier in the family I was

blindness earlier in the family I was the first one so that was a shock

the first one so that was a shock

the first one so that was a shock we went my family were checking my

we went my family were checking my

we went my family were checking my parents my support system my parents

parents my support system my parents

parents my support system my parents they were checking all possible doctors

they were checking all possible doctors

they were checking all possible doctors I traveled to Russia a couple of I

I traveled to Russia a couple of I

I traveled to Russia a couple of I traveled to Russia around 12 years for

traveled to Russia around 12 years for

traveled to Russia around 12 years for my treatment I used to go there annually

my treatment I used to go there annually

my treatment I used to go there annually and this is for my treatment my dad was

and this is for my treatment my dad was

and this is for my treatment my dad was supporting like nothing I was going

supporting like nothing I was going

supporting like nothing I was going every year with my dad to D to my

every year with my dad to D to my

every year with my dad to D to my treatment and then here the delight when

treatment and then here the delight when

treatment and then here the delight when I started understanding that blindness

I started understanding that blindness

I started understanding that blindness is dumped the end of the world blindness

is dumped the end of the world blindness

is dumped the end of the world blindness can be an obstacle but an obstacle to

can be an obstacle but an obstacle to

can be an obstacle but an obstacle to push me forward it challenged to make me

push me forward it challenged to make me

push me forward it challenged to make me be a better person be a better Donna

be a better person be a better Donna

be a better person be a better Donna there when I realized this point when I

there when I realized this point when I

there when I realized this point when I joined the visually impaired Center

joined the visually impaired Center

joined the visually impaired Center which called Temkin it was decently

which called Temkin it was decently

which called Temkin it was decently launched at then I joined there and at

launched at then I joined there and at

launched at then I joined there and at that time I was like huh what am I doing

that time I was like huh what am I doing

that time I was like huh what am I doing here I’m not blind

here I’m not blind

here I’m not blind I’m just a person who lost sight it

I’m just a person who lost sight it

I’m just a person who lost sight it doesn’t call them blindness I’m blind

doesn’t call them blindness I’m blind

doesn’t call them blindness I’m blind I’m not supposed to be here and when I

I’m not supposed to be here and when I

I’m not supposed to be here and when I joined and when I actually seen the

joined and when I actually seen the

joined and when I actually seen the people there I was like I really looked

people there I was like I really looked

people there I was like I really looked down at myself I looked I was like what

down at myself I looked I was like what

down at myself I looked I was like what am i doing in my life I’m doing nothing

am i doing in my life I’m doing nothing

am i doing in my life I’m doing nothing I’m just locked myself I just locked

I’m just locked myself I just locked

I’m just locked myself I just locked myself at home and here I realized that

myself at home and here I realized that

myself at home and here I realized that blindness is just a start for my life I

blindness is just a start for my life I

blindness is just a start for my life I decided to start my education with the

decided to start my education with the

decided to start my education with the help of my family my support system my

help of my family my support system my

help of my family my support system my parents my mom especially in this field

parents my mom especially in this field

parents my mom especially in this field my mom has really took me forward for my

my mom has really took me forward for my

my mom has really took me forward for my studies I did my 10th and the 11th 12th

studies I did my 10th and the 11th 12th

studies I did my 10th and the 11th 12th grade a home schooling I scored in my

grade a home schooling I scored in my

grade a home schooling I scored in my high school 91% my mom my mom was

high school 91% my mom my mom was

high school 91% my mom my mom was pushing me to continue my education and

pushing me to continue my education and

pushing me to continue my education and my 12th grade I joined work and I

my 12th grade I joined work and I

my 12th grade I joined work and I started working it with Emirates Airline

started working it with Emirates Airline

started working it with Emirates Airline and

and

and customer service as a customer service

customer service as a customer service

customer service as a customer service agent and skywards I worked there and I

agent and skywards I worked there and I

agent and skywards I worked there and I didn’t believe that oh wow I’m actually

didn’t believe that oh wow I’m actually

didn’t believe that oh wow I’m actually doing something I’m actually having a

doing something I’m actually having a

doing something I’m actually having a job and studying I’m working forward a

job and studying I’m working forward a

job and studying I’m working forward a life is moving on and after I finished

life is moving on and after I finished

life is moving on and after I finished mine cried at my high school I

mine cried at my high school I

mine cried at my high school I definitely decided to go for my

definitely decided to go for my

definitely decided to go for my university and that was a complete

university and that was a complete

university and that was a complete different way to continue my life I went

different way to continue my life I went

different way to continue my life I went I approached a lot of universities and

I approached a lot of universities and

I approached a lot of universities and guess what they didn’t accept me my

guess what they didn’t accept me my

guess what they didn’t accept me my admission was rejected I was accepted

admission was rejected I was accepted

admission was rejected I was accepted because I’m blind

because I’m blind

because I’m blind some universities just withdrew my

some universities just withdrew my

some universities just withdrew my application because I ticked the box off

application because I ticked the box off

application because I ticked the box off I’m disabled and other universities

I’m disabled and other universities

I’m disabled and other universities promise me of something to do something

promise me of something to do something

promise me of something to do something for me to help me to cope with the

for me to help me to cope with the

for me to help me to cope with the university and study and again nothing

university and study and again nothing

university and study and again nothing happened they would grow my application

happened they would grow my application

happened they would grow my application afterwards until I my sister used to be

afterwards until I my sister used to be

afterwards until I my sister used to be at the Canadian University of Dubai and

at the Canadian University of Dubai and

at the Canadian University of Dubai and she told me that there is a special

she told me that there is a special

she told me that there is a special needs office only at the university I

needs office only at the university I

needs office only at the university I decided off trying because I’ve been

decided off trying because I’ve been

decided off trying because I’ve been trying a lot of places so why not let’s

trying a lot of places so why not let’s

trying a lot of places so why not let’s try here

try here

try here I came we met we spoke and we agreed on

I came we met we spoke and we agreed on

I came we met we spoke and we agreed on testing each other we agreed that let’s

testing each other we agreed that let’s

testing each other we agreed that let’s give it a try I took three courses the

give it a try I took three courses the

give it a try I took three courses the first semester on trial basis of the

first semester on trial basis of the

first semester on trial basis of the Canadian University and I graduated I

Canadian University and I graduated I

Canadian University and I graduated I finished my bachelor’s degree in human

finished my bachelor’s degree in human

finished my bachelor’s degree in human resource management and three years and

resource management and three years and

resource management and three years and a half instead of four years with the

a half instead of four years with the

a half instead of four years with the GPA of 3.6

GPA of 3.6

GPA of 3.6 [Applause]

then I still this is not banned of my

then I still this is not banned of my life I wanted to do more I wanted to

life I wanted to do more I wanted to

life I wanted to do more I wanted to study more I wanted to be a better

study more I wanted to be a better

study more I wanted to be a better person and basically a better Donna and

person and basically a better Donna and

person and basically a better Donna and I wanted to go to my master’s degree and

I wanted to go to my master’s degree and

I wanted to go to my master’s degree and that was much easier I just had to give

that was much easier I just had to give

that was much easier I just had to give my papers like a regular student

my papers like a regular student

my papers like a regular student probably because they’ve seen that I’m

probably because they’ve seen that I’m

probably because they’ve seen that I’m capable of working studying so and I

capable of working studying so and I

capable of working studying so and I recently graduated from my bachelor’s I

recently graduated from my bachelor’s I

recently graduated from my bachelor’s I just just gave my papers for the

just just gave my papers for the

just just gave my papers for the admission and I went through they asked

admission and I went through they asked

admission and I went through they asked me for an interview the minute I entered

me for an interview the minute I entered

me for an interview the minute I entered to the office they submitted an

to the office they submitted an

to the office they submitted an acceptance letter for my master’s degree

acceptance letter for my master’s degree

acceptance letter for my master’s degree and I graduated in 2014

and I graduated in 2014

and I graduated in 2014 holding my master’s degree in quality

holding my master’s degree in quality

holding my master’s degree in quality management from the University of

management from the University of

management from the University of Wollongong and again in year 2012 when I

Wollongong and again in year 2012 when I

Wollongong and again in year 2012 when I graduated from my bachelor’s degree

graduated from my bachelor’s degree

graduated from my bachelor’s degree Emirates Airline gave me the promotion

Emirates Airline gave me the promotion

Emirates Airline gave me the promotion of being in the recruitment department

of being in the recruitment department

of being in the recruitment department in the human resource as a human

in the human resource as a human

in the human resource as a human resource coordinator where I am till now

resource coordinator where I am till now

resource coordinator where I am till now till this day I’m still working with

till this day I’m still working with

till this day I’m still working with Emirates Airline as a human resource

Emirates Airline as a human resource

Emirates Airline as a human resource coordinator and I’ll go back for my

coordinator and I’ll go back for my

coordinator and I’ll go back for my treatment my treatment currently I’m

treatment my treatment currently I’m

treatment my treatment currently I’m doing a stem-cell treatment which is a

doing a stem-cell treatment which is a

doing a stem-cell treatment which is a treatment still under research I’ve done

treatment still under research I’ve done

treatment still under research I’ve done two operations and I’m finding some

two operations and I’m finding some

two operations and I’m finding some benefits however it’s slightly moving on

benefits however it’s slightly moving on

benefits however it’s slightly moving on but it’s going on I’m finding some

but it’s going on I’m finding some

but it’s going on I’m finding some changes on my site and definitely vision

changes on my site and definitely vision

changes on my site and definitely vision is something important although I

is something important although I

is something important although I continued and I succeed in my life I

continued and I succeed in my life I

continued and I succeed in my life I definitely wouldn’t be looking forward

definitely wouldn’t be looking forward

definitely wouldn’t be looking forward to get back my eyesight one day at the

to get back my eyesight one day at the

to get back my eyesight one day at the end I would like to thank CD for having

end I would like to thank CD for having

end I would like to thank CD for having me here today I would like to also get

me here today I would like to also get

me here today I would like to also get thanked this opportunity of being part

thanked this opportunity of being part

thanked this opportunity of being part of deaths it’s a very good chance for me

of deaths it’s a very good chance for me

of deaths it’s a very good chance for me it’s a nice opportunity I would like to

it’s a nice opportunity I would like to

it’s a nice opportunity I would like to tell all the students at the University

tell all the students at the University

tell all the students at the University not to give up I learned that I can ride

not to give up I learned that I can ride

not to give up I learned that I can ride the taxi by myself I don’t need to wait

the taxi by myself I don’t need to wait

the taxi by myself I don’t need to wait for someone to drop me or pick me up by

for someone to drop me or pick me up by

for someone to drop me or pick me up by the way when I ride the taxi by myself I

the way when I ride the taxi by myself I

the way when I ride the taxi by myself I give the directions to the taxi exactly

give the directions to the taxi exactly

give the directions to the taxi exactly where to go and have to go without it’s

where to go and have to go without it’s

where to go and have to go without it’s just going on from directions left and

just going on from directions left and

just going on from directions left and right I can’t tell the guys that I have

right I can’t tell the guys that I have

right I can’t tell the guys that I have the taxi and the funny point when I

the taxi and the funny point when I

the taxi and the funny point when I reach to my direction I tell the taxi oh

reach to my direction I tell the taxi oh

reach to my direction I tell the taxi oh can you please wait on the side I’m

can you please wait on the side I’m

can you please wait on the side I’m blind I need someone to help me up so

blind I need someone to help me up so

blind I need someone to help me up so yeah I don’t have to wear my own makeup

yeah I don’t have to wear my own makeup

yeah I don’t have to wear my own makeup on myself I apply my makeup I learned

on myself I apply my makeup I learned

on myself I apply my makeup I learned how to match my clothes I don’t need to

how to match my clothes I don’t need to

how to match my clothes I don’t need to wait for my sister or someone else to

wait for my sister or someone else to

wait for my sister or someone else to come and assist me with the colors

come and assist me with the colors

come and assist me with the colors because I know I can’t see colors or I

because I know I can’t see colors or I

because I know I can’t see colors or I can’t see a little bit of colors but

can’t see a little bit of colors but

can’t see a little bit of colors but this is does not really enable me to be

this is does not really enable me to be

this is does not really enable me to be independent with my clothes and matching

independent with my clothes and matching

independent with my clothes and matching things but I learned how to do that by

things but I learned how to do that by

things but I learned how to do that by myself and even till this day family

myself and even till this day family

myself and even till this day family members and friends they do ask me does

members and friends they do ask me does

members and friends they do ask me does this color matches the other but that

this color matches the other but that

this color matches the other but that color

color

color I learned that technology is always on

I learned that technology is always on

I learned that technology is always on my side and computer has canary dur

my side and computer has canary dur

my side and computer has canary dur which helped me in working and studying

which helped me in working and studying

which helped me in working and studying my iPhone has voiceover aid that helped

my iPhone has voiceover aid that helped

my iPhone has voiceover aid that helped me in reading and going through my

me in reading and going through my

me in reading and going through my messages websites browsing everything

messages websites browsing everything

messages websites browsing everything and being up to date like any other

and being up to date like any other

and being up to date like any other person which I’m not gonna use regular

person which I’m not gonna use regular

person which I’m not gonna use regular person like any other person I can be

person like any other person I can be

person like any other person I can be independent maybe the only thing that I

independent maybe the only thing that I

independent maybe the only thing that I can do is actually walking independently

can do is actually walking independently

can do is actually walking independently however if I want to do it I can do it

however if I want to do it I can do it

however if I want to do it I can do it thank you so much for being here today

thank you so much for being here today

thank you so much for being here today hope you’re lovely Thanks

hope you’re lovely Thanks

hope you’re lovely Thanks [Applause]