DUBAI // At only five years old, Shayaan Qureshi has come up the perfect response to the many people who stare at him - a big, toothy smile.
"I just look straight at people and smile," said the little Bahraini resident, who was born without arms. "I tell them I don't have hands but I can do everything."
Shayaan has dysmelia, a rare, congenital upper-limb disorder. His family was recently in Dubai to meet a support group for people with special needs and their relatives.
Shayaan's mother, Fadia, first connected with the Special Families Support (SFS) group on Facebook.
"I wanted him to meet more people with special needs so he realises there are other children like him," said Fadia, an artist.
Last week, the family went to meet the group and help them celebrate their 12th anniversary, which coincided with Shayaan's birthday on December 9.
More than 60 special-needs children from Ajman, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Dubai crowded around a cake to celebrate his birthday.
Neena Nizar, a volunteer at SFS, said meeting Shayaan was just as encouraging for the other children.
"It was inspiring for the children to see how much Shayaan could do on his own," said Neena, who has Jansen genetic disorder and requires surgeries for joint abnormalities.
"The children realised this boy can do anything with his feet. That realisation was priceless."
Shayaan is always happy to tell strangers about his many talents and break down the barriers of pity and ignorance that surround his condition.
"I know chess, I can play video games, I have super monster cars, I can dress myself, I am learning to swim …" he rattles off.
The family decided that having Shayaan interact with strangers was very important, said Omer, Shayaan's father, who moved from Islamabad in Pakistan to Bahrain for work three years ago.
"Our objective was to take him out constantly," Omer said. "People don't know how to communicate but once he smiles the walls break down, and they want to talk and ask questions."
Shayaan's proud older brother Sheheryar, 11, is also quick to remind people not to judge Shayaan by his appearance. He points out how Shayaan eats independently with a spoon attached to an elastic band on his arm stump.
"I always tell people that he can do everything but just a little differently," Sheheryar said.
During his stay in Dubai, Shayaan also visited Mawaheb from Beautiful People, the studio that teaches art to young adults with special needs. Mawaheb is Arabic for talent.
He won a following when he used sign language with his toes to communicate with hearing-impaired youngsters.
He also beat the students in popular games such as Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja.
As he bent over the iPhone, students watched amazed as he briskly slid his toes back and forth to pass their scores.
"It opened a nice discussion about whether other children looked at him differently," said Margot de Ruiter, a Dutch artist who volunteers at the studio.
"We talked about how, if you are positive in life, you can overcome many things."
An Emirati autistic artist asked why he did not have robotic arms, to which Shayaan's father replied prosthetic limbs were slower and heavier.
That thinking is backed by Frank Letch, a director of Reach, the UK support group started by parents of children missing part of their arms or hands.
"You can do very little with artificial limbs," said Frank, the mayor of the British town of Crediton, who also has dysmelia. He has visited the family in Bahrain to help Shayaan perform tasks independently.
"We cannot put these on ourselves, so right from the start we are dependent on others. It's best to leave the options open, so it's fine if Shayaan uses his feet and fine if he uses a prosthesis."
The Dubai support groups plan to stay in touch with the family.
"We are just a message, a phone call, a flight away," Neena said. "It's a bridge we have built and we hope support groups will sprout up in Bahrain as well."
rtalwar@thenational.ae
Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
Cherry
Directed by: Joe and Anthony Russo
Starring: Tom Holland, Ciara Bravo
1/5
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs: 2019 Jeep Wrangler
Price, base: Dh132,000
Engine: 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 285hp @ 6,400rpm
Torque: 347Nm @ 4,100rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.6L to 10.3L / 100km
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
No.6 Collaborations Project
Ed Sheeran (Atlantic)
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
How it works
Each player begins with one of the great empires of history, from Julius Caesar's Rome to Ramses of Egypt, spread over Europe and the Middle East.
Round by round, the player expands their empire. The more land they have, the more money they can take from their coffers for each go.
As unruled land and soldiers are acquired, players must feed them. When a player comes up against land held by another army, they can choose to battle for supremacy.
A dice-based battle system is used and players can get the edge on their enemy with by deploying a renowned hero on the battlefield.
Players that lose battles and land will find their coffers dwindle and troops go hungry. The end goal? Global domination of course.
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Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week