Asma, 35, is a remarkable Special Olympics athlete from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In addition to being autistic, she is an artist, poet, scriptwriter, and entrepreneur. She uses her talent to show that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have different abilities and can contribute to the general society.
Asma has a broad range of creative skills. She wrote a short story “A Case Unsolved” which gained acclaim when published in the book Traveler’s Tales. She also authored the poetry book Heart & Mind, sharing her life experiences through poetic expression. She actively manages her animation studio where she makes her animation productions. Her artwork opened doors for her to collaborate with renowned brand houses and her pieces were exhibited at art festivities including the Dubai International Airport.
Special Olympics UAE became another platform where Asma could serve. She was a member of the organizing and steering committee for Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi, in March 2019. Recently, she was selected and trained as a Special Olympics UAE Health Messenger. The topics covered in her training include nutrition, physical activity, emotional health, and effective social media utilization—all aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles. As a Health Messenger, Asma delivers speeches to promote tolerance and inclusion for people with IDD. Her audiences include people in schools, corporations, and cultural centers. She has spoken at special events, including ProjectKahlo—GirlUpUAE and Livewell with Nakheel.
Life was not always smooth for Asma. In 2011, she was in deep depression after her dad passed away. She resorted to creating the heart people drawings to make memories of the stories her dad and grandmother told her. It was a way that helped her remember that she was never alone, even if she felt that way.
Health Messengers 2024
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Rimi Ando
Special Olympics Nippon -
Jennifer Stephanie López Avelar
Special Olympics El Salvador -
Asma Baker
Special Olympics United Arab Emirates -
Gerard Diedhiou
Special Olympics Senegal -
Tyler Griswold
Special Olympics Kansas -
Sharon Johnson
Special Olympics Arkansas -
Lam Wai Kwan
Special Olympics Hong Kong -
Patricia Larkin
Special Olympics Ireland -
Daniel Fernando Velasquez Lecointe
Special Olympics Guatemala -
Michael León
Special Olympics Southern California -
Banele Makhonco
Special Olympics South Africa -
Sam Micallef
Special Olympics Malta -
Odion-Imafidon Osatohamwen
Special Olympics Nigeria -
Elbegzaya Purev
Special Olympics Mongolia -
Adéla Šavlová
Special Olympics Czech Republic -
Enma Maria Madrid Vallecillo
Special Olympics Honduras -
Ying Yung
Special Olympics Chinese Taipei
