Being disabled makes it challenging to live a normal life. It is even more challenging if the disability involves missing limbs, either arms or legs, or paralysis that will limit movement.

Public’s perception towards people of this category must be changed. They need to be loved, not be left out.

The life of Mohammad Zulhilmi Mohd Raduwan, 21, changed after taking part in the Special Ability Diver 2019 programme organized by UMT at Pulau Bidong recently.

Zulhilmi, the third of six siblings, has nerve defects.        

He said that he had never considered his disability as an obstacle to doing outdoor activities.

“I enjoy outdoor activities and love challenging myself. Although I’m wheelchair-bound, I can do activities that are physically challenging,” Zulhilmi said.

With the help from his close friends at UMT, he felt motivated, said Zulhilmi, a second-year student studying Economics (Natural Resources) at UMT.

When he found out about the scuba diving event from the organizer, Zulhilmi immediately decided to take part in it. He said that although his family was worried, he was able to prove that he could do the activities successfully.

Zulhilmi has participated in many activities at various levels. He took part in the university’s archery competitions, and he planned to compete in Paralympic SUKMA.

“To me, the disabled must be confident and must show our abilities so that the society is also confident in our abilities,” he said.

Zulhilmi is willing to share his experiences especially with people of similar disability as motivation to be successful in their lives.

He expressed thanks to those who had been supporting him and making him believe in his ability, particularly UMT management and his friends who had been helping with his daily moving about in campus.

Published by:

Corporate Communication Centre

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu