At 18, I could not read, now I’m a Cambridge professor
Jason uttered his first word when he was eleven years old and could not read or write until he was eighteen. He’s now Cambridge University’s youngest ever black professor.
Born and raised in Clapham, south-west London, Jason Arday was diagnosed with autism and global development delay at the age of three. He was unable to speak until he was 11 years old and could not read or write until he was 18. He was told that he would never amount to anything. But Jason had different ideas. With the help of his family and an influential college tutor called Sandro Sandri, Jason’s nascent abilities started to be realised. It took him to places he never imagined possible. Now aged 37, he is the youngest black person ever to be appointed to a professorship at the University of Cambridge.
Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producer: Eric Mugaju
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com
Photo: Professor Jason Arday. Credit: Graeme Robertson)
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