Mogamad Salie has written a book about his childhood which hopes will help to bridge the gap in understanding people with autism.
A Salt River man wants to show that there is more to life than his autism and encourage people on the spectrum to not give up.
Mogamad Salie, 52, a self-published author, former electrical engineer and mixed-martial-arts instructor, was only diagnosed with autism when he was in his 40s, but growing up, he knew he was different and did not quite fit in.
At school, he says, he found himself on the outskirts but worked hard and excelled in academics, especially maths and sports. And while his parents did not know that he was autistic, they encouraged him to be himself and not “mimic” what is considered “normal behaviour”.
“I thank my parents for the role they played in shaping me. And while I did not and still don’t understand social cues, my mother taught me about consequences and how every action has a reaction, and this is what I have carried with me.”
Mr Salie, a husband and father of three, went on to work as an engineer in Switzerland for 15 years. When he was diagnosed with cervical degenerative disc disease, the family decided to return home in 2016 as he could not work full-time.
“I found myself lost and in a depressive state at the age of 48 and decided to start writing to help me cope, like I did when I was a child.”
The book, Chicken Legs, centres around his childhood and tells of growing up during apartheid with his family in Wynberg in the 1970s. He wrote the book to reflect on his past but also to help his children understand him better.
“I wanted to share more on my constant battle to belong but also to show people on the spectrum to not give up. I wanted to bridge the gap in understanding people with autism.”
Mr Salie says he has high-functioning autism, but although he has a high IQ and excelled in academics, he is limited in his ability to interact with others, and people often thought he was arrogant because he was very direct and lacked social empathy.
“I don’t understand sarcasm or why people ask how you are. In social settings, it’s hard for me to know what I can or can’t say or what would affect someone else. And this is where the breakdown comes in for me and why I avoid it.”
Keeping active and teaching mixed martial arts and jiu-jitsu is what grounds Mr Salie. He started jiu-jitsu when he was a child and is one of the first people in the province to receive a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
“For me and my mental health, it is very important to stay active and this is a message I want to bring across - the importance of physical activity for mental health.”
Mr Salie is currently working on two more books. One is a work of fiction and the other is a follow-up memoir. His book is available from Ebook, Amazon or email Mogamadsalie@yahoo.com