When Huda Ahmed Abu Deif Nouh, a mother of two Special Olympics Egypt athletes, shared her family’s journey at the Regional Youth Leadership Summit in Cairo, her story touched someone who understood her experiences in a deeply personal way. Among those listening was Murtada Adnan Tahseen, an 18-year-old youth leader from Special Olympics Iraq who grew up alongside two siblings with autism.
Huda’s story reminded Murtada of his own family’s journey, all the challenges, the responsibility, and the determination to ensure that his siblings had opportunities to learn, grow, and be accepted.
“I have two siblings with autism, Mohamed and Mustafa,” Murtada shared. “At six, I noticed that our family is different.”
As a child, Murtada watched his mother devote herself to supporting his siblings while his father worked hard to provide for the family. Caring for two children with intellectual disabilities required patience, understanding, and daily effort. Although he wanted to help, he sometimes felt helpless, unsure how to respond to situations that were difficult for his family.
One experience, in particular, stayed with him. When Murtada and his brother Mustafa were in the same class, he heard how their teacher and classmates spoke about Mustafa.
“He was just a child, unable to defend himself or explain his situation as other children could,” Murtada recalled. “At the time, I did not know how to respond or help.”
As he grew older, Murtada began to understand more about intellectual disabilities and the importance of supporting people in his community. He helped his mother care for his siblings, balancing his schoolwork with family responsibilities.
“I helped my mother as much as I could and learned responsibility early, balancing my studies with family duties which is a challenge that continues today.”
These responsibilities were not separate from his development. They shaped the person he was becoming and helped him understand the importance of creating a world where his siblings and others like them could be accepted and given opportunities to succeed.
That understanding deepened when he joined Special Olympics Iraq at age 12. His father introduced the family to the program, and Murtada began accompanying his siblings. Through those experiences, he saw how sport could reveal abilities that others might overlook and give athletes opportunities to develop.
What began as a way to support his siblings gradually became a broader commitment to inclusion. At 16, Murtada took another step by founding a youth group called “Their Sky” with fellow youth leaders. The group aims to raise awareness of autism and promote acceptance and understanding, giving young people an opportunity to help change perceptions within their communities.
His advocacy reflects a lesson he first began learning as a child, exclusion often starts when people fail to understand someone else's experience. By sharing his perspective and engaging other young people, Murtada hopes to help create communities where individuals with intellectual disabilities are recognized for their abilities, contributions, and potential.
His family remains at the heart of that ambition. Alongside Mohamed and Mustafa, Murtada has an eight-year-old sister, Farah, whose name means “happiness” in English. He describes the importance of his siblings in his life and hopes each of them will have a future filled with opportunity and joy.
Now 18 and a high school graduate, Murtada is preparing for the next chapter of his own journey. He hopes to attend university, continue developing his abilities, and find ways to support his siblings and other people with intellectual disabilities. Although he has sometimes doubted himself while navigating the demands of family life and his own ambitions, he says these experiences have helped him grow stronger.
His encounter with Huda in Cairo brought these experiences into focus. Their circumstances may differ, but their desire for their family members to be accepted and given the opportunity to thrive is universal.
By sharing his story, Murtada hopes to tell other young people in similar situations: “Do not let your responsibilities keep you from pursuing your dreams or helping others.” It is a message that speaks both to young people supporting family members and to communities that have the power to make inclusion a reality. Murtada knows firsthand that supporting a sibling can be challenging, but he has also seen how the right opportunities, greater understanding, and a supportive community can help families move forward together.
