Visually-impaired student in Baghdad excels in psychology, aspires to earn a PhD

BAGHDAD — Rasoul Ali has relied on the Braille system to pursue his studies from a young age. He continued his academic journey through Al-Hikma Secondary School and Hussein Ismail Al-Sadr High School in Kadhimiya, Baghdad, excelling at every milestone.

Born in 1998, Rasoul overcame the challenges of being visually-impaired with the unwavering support of his family, eventually graduating with a degree in psychology from the University of Baghdad.

Speaking to 964media, Rasoul shared, “Psychology is one of the most challenging fields, but I developed a passion for it during my undergraduate studies. It is an important field in all aspects of daily life.”

He continued, “My dream is to pursue a PhD in Psychology at the University of Baghdad. I also ask the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs to add my Master’s degree to my employment record, as it would serve as a significant motivation for me to continue my academic journey.”

Rasoul was employed by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs under Law No. 67, designated for top-ranking graduates. He later pursued a Master’s degree.

In 2024, Rasoul became the first visually-impaired student at the University of Baghdad to earn a Master’s degree in Psychology, focusing his thesis on pre-retirement employee behavior after observing a general reluctance among older colleagues to embrace retirement.

Rasoul’s father, Ali Farhan, highlighted the challenges faced by people with disabilities, particularly the visually-impaired, in the workforce.

“It is essential for government agencies to pay attention to people with disabilities in general, and the visually-impaired in particular, as this group cannot work in the same way as sighted individuals,” he stated, hoping that his son will serve as an example for young people to follow in achieving their goals.