SOME of the biggest blessings in life often come when one least expects it. Several months ago, a young man popped up at my front gate on an early Sunday morning. I was still in bed.

Not knowing who he was, I scolded him for coming over without first making an appointment. He apologised profusely, but refused to budge no matter how hard I tried to shoo him off.

He told me that he had picked me as a candidate for his leadership programme, and he was here to volunteer his services for the next three months.

What took place after that for the next 90 days or so was nothing short of an incredible journey of two individuals from entirely different worlds as they got to know each other.

That young man’s name is Amir Tayebi, 24. He is now helping out at his family business in Seremban, Negri Sembilan.

Last week, he finally managed to put his thoughts down in writing. So folks, here is Amir’s story, in his own words:

“My three-month leadership training programme under a self-improvement company required that I be of service to a complete stranger. I asked my mum if she had any disabled friends and she suggested Anthony. Although she had lost his contact, she knew exactly where he lived. And that’s why I ended up in his house unannounced. I could hear his dogs barking and my heart beat faster as I’m terrified of dogs.

“We finally met at the porch of his house. I felt a connection with Anthony. I did not know how someone in a wheelchair was going to react to me, especially when I told him of my intention to volunteer my services. Would he be insulted or happy with the idea?

“Anthony was just as excited about the project as I was. We built a relationship of trust and care for one another in no time.

“He told me everything about his disability; he was not shy or embarrassed about his condition. For instance, in addition to his paralysis, he also has incontinence and suffers from frequent pressure sores. However, Anthony takes everything in his stride.

“It was a privilege to accompany Anthony on some of his rounds as MBPJ councillor and as president of Petpositive, an animal-assisted therapy society.

“One of the best outings was taking scores of blind people to a forest reserve on World White Cane Day last year. I learnt how much the blind loved and appreciated the forest even though they couldn’t see. Their keen sense of smell and touch more than made up for their lack of sight.

“I also learnt how mean our society can be towards the disabled at times. Anthony showed me places where non-disabled drivers parked their cars in lots meant for the handicapped.

“When I lent Anthony a hand in the washroom for the disabled, I was shocked to see that many of them were used as storerooms or were in a disgusting state. I realised how able-bodied people take things for granted and are only concerned about themselves. They do not stop to think about other people who use wheelchairs or the white cane.

“It’s often things like these that make a physically challenged individual stay at home rather than go out into the world to interact with society. I have found that it is not them who are disabled but rather society which has made them disabled.

“There were other things that Anthony taught me. I learnt that it is better to sit or squat when talking to a person in a wheelchair for better eye contact, and how to push wheelchairs gently to make it comfortable for the user.

“Although my course has ended, I still continue to volunteer my services to Anthony. Volunteer work has become more than part of a leadership programme; it has become a part of my life.”

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