It is always so inspiring to learn about people overcoming significant personal challenges to achieve great success. As a passionate Neuro-Linguistic Programming practitioner it is also particularly exciting when I learn that those individuals have been coached used powerful personal development skills from fields such as NLP, hypnosis, mind mapping etc. This article caught my eye today because it tells the story of a young austistic man who has started embracing his talent and growing inner confidence to participate in life at an amazing level.
This story reminds me that whatever limitations I think I may have in my own life, there are already people out there breaking the mold and leaping over barriers far higher than my own. There are no excuses for being less than you are capable of being.
Here is the article from the Gulf Daily News website:
THE World Memory Championship (WMC) was an inspirational experience for Bahrain's only competitor, going head-to-head with world-renowned champions. Autistic Karan Beri's ability to remember dates and numbers impressed international organisers so much that they allowed him a seat as a special entrant for the second year in the three-day tournament, which concluded in Bahrain yesterday. The 22-year-old's mother Gopika Beri said she had never given up hope on him since discovering he was autistic when he was four years old.
"I am so proud of Karan, as he has participated in several disciplines, even if he didn't win in any of them," said Ms Beri, who is also Bahrain Society for Training and Development international relations director.
"Participation will inspire my son immensely as well as encourage and motivate parents of autistic children to face the challenges.
"He was tested in 10 different disciplines, some lasting up to three hours.
"These included memorising playing cards, abstract images, binary numbers, historic and future dates, names and faces, random words and spoken numbers."
It was never an easy path for Karan that led up to his participation in the championship, said Ms Beri.
"After Karan failed his high school examinations, he went on to enter India's National Open School (Indian Academy) to pass his exams," she told the GDN.
"He did well in his hotel management and hospitality studies at the Bahrain Institute of Hospitality and Retail through sheer determination.
"He was the first special needs student to complete the course, thanks to the management, teachers and staff there.
"Karan took 30 months to complete the course, as opposed to 24 months by regular students.
"He ended up scoring more than 90 per cent marks in three of the disciplines he studied.
"While it is true that he received valuable support from all of us, including his peers and fellow students at the institute, we cannot take away the fact that he was keen to get this diploma and enter the labour market.
"He has worked very hard and today he stands proud along with his equally proud family."
Ms Beri said that Karan was trained in speed-reading and mind mapping by Phillip Holt, who is an international trainer of Neuro Linguistic Programming, hypnosis, photo reading, mind maps and memory techniques.
"He was also provided two free workshops by the director and senior consultant of the Makeover Experience, Dr Laila Edward, in preparation for the event," she said.
"The event has given my son an opportunity to exhibit his skills and meet people attending the event.
"The main reason I want him to participate in such events is to help him overcome the challenges and feel normal as everyone else."
Ms Beri, who is Bahrain Airport Services training and development acting head, said that she coached Karan when even relatives said she should give up.
"Karan is blessed. For example, he can tell the day of the week of any future or past date in a split second," she said.
Recognition also came in the form of a filmmaker in Delhi, who offered to do a film on Karan and his life, added Ms Beri.
"Karan can cook, do routine shopping and other chores, play musical instruments and is obsessed with cards and calculators, which have been his regular companions since childhood," she said.
"I am happy that my training has really helped him to become what he is today.
"He is now able to meet people from around the world confidently and is ready for the challenges in life."
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