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Bahrain-based Amena Saltanat has encapsulated her experiences as the parent of a differently-abled young adult into a book, and hopes to spread awareness and encourage acceptance of children of all abilities.
Manifest Differently Abled was published recently and is part-journal, part-guidebook, offering advice to other parents of differently abled children while also inspiring readers to be more accepting and inclusive.
“My message with this book is to encourage parents to stay strong, while also offering them practical advice around less-talked about subjects like travelling with someone who is specially abled and how to make them feel included and welcome,” Amena, 45, a dance and fitness instructor and entrepreneur, told GulfWeekly.
Pakistan Ambassador Muhammad Ayub unveiled the book recently during a special ceremony, attended by Amena, her husband Shahrukh Lali and her son Mohammad Shahzaib Lali, lovingly called Shazu by his parents.
Amena wrote the 178-page book – her first-ever – within eight months during the Covid-19 pandemic, finding that the story of her parenting just flowed when she sat down.
What did take time was finding the right words to convey the spectrum of emotions Amena has gone through, in the last two decades, working with Shazu, 20, to help him navigate his disability.
“The title of the book is something I came up with during a meditation session,” the Pakistani expatriate, who has lived in Bahrain for six years, added.
“When I was young, I was the odd one out and always wanted a non-routine life - for me, Shazu was a manifestation of that desire.
“Writing the book was something my late father had asked me to do and I am proud of being able to chronicle our journey with my son in this book.”
Shazu was born with a spontaneous genetic mutation, which has exhibited itself through a variety of disorders of varying degrees.
He has nonverbal autism, but over the years, has come to be partially independent and express himself non-verbally.
Raising him has helped Amena gain a deeper compassion for all who are differently abled and she has channelled that empathy into volunteer work with the Special Family Support Group.
She also recently conducted a summer camp for those who are differently abled.
A copy of Manifest Differently Abled, selling for BD5 each, can currently be obtained by contacting Amena through email - aamenashahrukh@gmail.com, phone – 3957 1334 or through Instagram
@manifest_differently_abled.
