DEARBORN—Twelve-year-old Firas Abueida was born with
leber’s congenital amaurosis, a rare inherited eye disease that appears at
birth.

Abueida, a sixth grade student at Lincoln Park Elementary
School, is blind and wants to educate people about the visually impaired and
their abilities.

“I just want everyone to know the blind are capable of
more than what many people think,” he said. “I can do the same thing as my
peers and sometimes-even better. Our abilities are not limited.”

According to EyeCare America worldwide, some 180 million
people are blind or visually disabled—the equivalent of two-thirds of the
entire U.S. population. Rates of blindness will double by the year 2020, unless
prevention efforts are intensified.

At the age of 9, Abueida excelled in karate and won
championships.

“I did better in martial arts than a lot of my peers who
were not blind,” he said.

He has also won awards for his academic success.

For Abueida, giving back to the community is a priority.
That is why he is very involved in charitable efforts.

Most recently, he participated in a 5K marathon to help
raise money for the Foundation Fighting Blindness. His team “One Spirit One
Dream” managed to raise more than $1,000. The walk was held to collect money
that will fund hospitals and researchers that are trying to find treatments for
blindness. He wants to someday lead and start a similar marathon group to raise
money for the blind.

“I think it is really important to give back to the
community and I do as much as possible,” he said.

Abueida, a Palestinian American, hopes to some day become
a teacher for the blind.

“I want to help students like me and let them know they
can accomplish anything, despite being visually impaired,” he said. 

“He is really inspiring and has accomplished so much,” said
Ibrahim Abueida, a relative. “He wants to know about everything and everyone
around him. He is a really curious person.”

Ibrahim Abueida encouraged those who have blind friends
and relatives to be patient with them.

“You have to give them time and be patient,” he said.

Khodr Farhat, who is also blind, is Abueida’s mentor. Farhat
is a local community activist and advocate for the blind.

“I saw something special in Firas,” he said.

Farhat is the host of the inspirational radio program “Your
Voice Does Matter” on CINA radio. The program airs at noon every Wednesday and
one of the recent guests was Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein, the
first blind person to serve on the state’s high court.

Farhat also stressed the importance of families supporting
children who are visually impaired.

 “Families should
never be ashamed,” he said.

He encouraged blind people— regardless of their age— to
begin becoming advocates for themselves and community.

“There are a lot of challenges and conflicts in our life,”
Firas Abueida said. “However, if we remain patient and strong we will overcome
all of those issues.”