Egyptian expat Nabil Al Sharqawi has been very busy lately. With Dubai hosting the first-ever Dubai Deaf Fest, the 36-year-old’s services as a sign language interpreter are in peak demand.
Talking to Gulf News exclusively ahead of the event, he lets on that he is a mechanical engineer by qualification.
“I choose to work as a sign language interpreter as I just love being among the deaf,” he says.
“You see, both my parents are deaf,” he shares.
“Most children grow up learning the regular alphabet at home. In my case, sign language is my first language. I was raised with sign language and it profoundly shaped my understanding of deaf culture and communication. I was deeply involved with the deaf community and I acted as an interpreter for my deaf parents, navigating challenges like inaccessible public spaces and services. These experiences shaped my understanding of the importance of accessibility,” he narrates.
Source: Gulf News
