Khalid Oshman: An example of courage and determination

By Charmaine Vanderhoeven

I had the unique opportunity of meeting this young handsome man when ETD established the world’s first Toastmasters Club for the Sight Impaired. He is sight-impaired, but anyone looking at this young man won’t guess this as he is independent, charming – and so positive!

Khalid was a perfectly sighted individual until, at age 23, he became a victim of fate. This is the age when most young men are in the prime of their lives and looking forward to a great life with dreams of their own. 

Anger, frustration and depression were the first reactions of this boy. Later, having accepted his blindness, he started looking at life in a different angle. He went on to study, whilst seeking to do something for himself.

Khalid took the opportunity and joined the NCC Rainbow Aquatic Club and trained under the world renowned Julian Bolling. He participated in the National Meet conducted by the Paralympics Committee and he won the Bronze medal for the free style 100 meter event. He was the only civilian to compete at this meet. He did not stop there. He went on to participate in the Masters Swimming Championship competing with regular vision participants and won medals in both 100 meter free style and 50 meter free style. 

All this was not easy for Khalid. In his own words, “At first I did not have a very clear idea about distances and would repeatedly knock my head on the walls of the pool.” But now he has conquered all these challenges. 

With these achievements under his sleeve, he dreams of becoming a swimming coach for the visually impaired. He also has aspirations of studying counselling for the sight impaired and is looking for an opportunity to train under someone as he is confident he can inspire courage and determination in those who need such help.

He is a founder member of the ETD Toastmasters Club – the world’s first such club for the sight impaired. As a vibrant member of this club, Khalid always showed initiative and the eagerness to participate, learn more and do better. His positive attitude was an example to others, considering that Khalid, for most of his life, lived in a colourful normal world and had to suddenly adjust to a world of darkness. Currently he is giving motivational speeches in all three languages, sharing his own life stories.

Khalid’s wish is that society will perceive the handicapped differently and look beyond their disability to their abilities. This is also the objective of Enable the Disabled. We must together make Sri Lanka disabled friendly. “This world is as much theirs.” ETD wishes Khalid all the best in his future endeavours 

(The writer is Immediate Past President of Enable the Disabled.)