Beyond Barriers: An Inspiring Success Story of a Person with Special Needs at USM

“Allah has blessed me enough, even in the most difficult times.”

Datu Balaguir Blah, a person who has partially impaired vision due to disability, expressed his delight as he finally finished a degree amidst all the circumstances he went through. 

Being visually impaired, Datu shared that daily activities for him are a lot to bear.  He grew up being bullied by people around him. They told him he was “kawawa” and “sayang” to name a few. In his formative years, he felt different, unattractive, and excluded. 

“I woke up one day and discovered I have a disability; no one briefed me that it would be this difficult. It never dawned on me that I would have a different experience from my peers until I couldn’t do what they could. Of course, I was always in denial. I wanted to fit in, be “normal,” able, and enough.” Blah underscored. 

In an interview, he shared that he had self-doubts, was insecure, and even questioned his existence. But as he narrated, he had grown immune to the challenging situations and learned to fight for his place above the pity. “These experiences and my dreams pushed me to go the extra mile and challenge the odds.” He elaborated. 

Upon entering the University, he was unsure of what lies ahead, but breakthroughs unfolded unexpectedly. He attended several trainings and seminars for students. The leadership academy for PWD in the University also capacitated him as a person, helped him grow in different areas, and aided him in building self-confidence. 

Datu, a former Vice President for Internal Affairs of the USM Muslim Students Association (USMMUSA), participated in the “Campus Journalists’ Training on Media Ethics and Democracy and Action” in 2022. Out of 250 applicants from around the Philippines, Datu was one of the thirty (30) participants to join the program.  Further, he joined the “YouthIN Level Up Youth for Inclusive Democracy” in 2023. These trainings were all sponsored by Ateneo De Manila University. 

Talking on behalf of the PWD community in USM, Datu highlighted the services he received from USM. He was one of the recipients of the beneficial projects of the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) through “PROJECT IKO: Inclusive and Sustainable Future for Everyone”. During the pandemic, when learning was purely online, the LTE pocket Wi-Fi provided by the University aided him in surviving the demand for distance education.  

He shared that his stay in USM was worthwhile because PWDs like him were allowed to experience activities like typical students.

Despite being visually impaired with partial sight, he spends most of his time doing digital designs and photography. In reality, he is a writer. He was the writer and the director for Public Information of the University Student Government in 2023. For him, these abilities are instrumental in earning money as a student with special needs. 

When asked about his message for persons with a disability like him, he said:

“Tiwala sa sarili dapat [ang mayroon ka] talaga kahit saan ka pumunta; alam mo kung ano yung ginagawa mo… hindi hadlang ang pagiging differently abled na tao para makamit [mo] ang [iyong] mga pangarap.”

Finishing a Bachelor of Science in Development Communication, Datu is the first among the five (5) children of Nonoy and Bebao Blah to finish college. 

Datu recently received an invitation from an employer because he attended various trainings and his digital outputs. Excited about what life has to offer next. Datu commits to remain humble because he has proven Allah’s blessings during joyful and difficult circumstances.