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saying that to my team. Both parties
have to play a part. Again, it’s the
drive from the individual.”
Sharifah Adila Surya @ Malai Adila
Surya binti Malai Haji Abdullah,
better known as Didi, is a 31-year-
old mother to two boys with autism.
She is Vice President I and Chief
Executive Officer of Society for the
Management of Autism Related
issues in Training, Education and
Resources (SMARTER) Brunei, a
non-governmental and non-profit
organisation run by parents and
family members exclusively for
individuals with autism.
She currently leads the programme and
services offered to individuals with autism,
while also emphasising advocation
for their rights. She spearheaded her
organisation’s employment programme
and successfully opened a café which
aims to employ 100 per cent individuals
with autism.
‘‘‘Building the Future’ to me essentially
means preparing yourself and the
community for whatever is to come,”
said Didi. “I like to think my role as a
young leader in the differently-abled
community is as someone who is
helping to build the future for inclusivity,
accommodation and appreciation
of those who are neurodiverse. This
means both for the differently-abled
individuals and the mainstream
community.”
Her advice to youth is to know their
worth, be resilient and be passionate,
as well as to have faith in themselves
and their passions even when they feel
like giving up.
She also hopes that people remember
to be inclusive to all, particularly the
vulnerable communities. “In order for
the nation to truly progress, we must
ensure everyone progresses together
and this helps in building the future.”