Ranwa Yehia and her husband Ali has taken their son to every pediatrician and child development specialist they could find in order to find out what's wrong with their boy. Until one educational psychologist from Cairo, Dahlia Soliman was able to tell them the answer. Now they are spreading autism awareness all over Egypt by lighting the pyramids blue.
Npr.com featured the story of Nadeem, a boy 3 years of age. It was an unusual thing to observe for the mother Ranwa, when for the last three months that Nadeem was able to mention the word "cat." He couldn't say it anymore. Soon enough, they are not sending their son to school without a shadow teacher next to him.
When he was being assessed, the questions asked of his parents were, "Does he point with his feet often?" Does he respond to requests?" How often does he hug you during the day?" These specific questions later on gave the conclusion that Nadeem is on the Spectrum.
Autism spectrum is a condition that Yehia had heard before, but she knew so little about it. To add insult to injury, autism in the Egyptian society is pretty much a tough issue. People in the part of the globe according to their beliefs is that his condition is a curse. However, an Egyptian Leader Mohab Mamish, told the public that his grandson has autism. It stunned them of course but it has created awareness.
Thanks to Dahlia Soliman, now people in Egypt have a better understanding about the Autism Spectrum Disorder. Before they only thought of it as a mental disorder.
Now, Egypt was able to celebrate, Autism Awareness Month. Just because of the story of this little boy. Egypt Independent also printed an article about this little boy and Dahlia Soliman. Every April on the year, the Pyramids of Giza would light up in Blue. The advocacy helped in encouraging President Adbel, Fattah el-Sisi to build more autism centers all over Egypt.
