My Journey with Artjamila (Part 1)

About the Book

While living with autism can be a challenge, it can also be a gift. For one young girl, a diagnosis of autism would mark the beginning of her and her mother’s journey of discovery. Jamila learns differently and sees the world in a unique perspective, and it would be this gift that would help her and her mother discover new ways of learning and teaching, seeing things in ways others might find unimaginable. In My Journey with Artjamila, author and mother Noorhashimah Noordin shares how she was able to break the standard mold of teaching and learn to adapt to her daughter’s unique way of learning. Using a humanistic form of pedagogy that is centered on the individual and focuses on the emotional and social development of children, Noorhashimah managed to connect and engage with her daughter, helping young Jamila concentrate on her strengths—and on her art. Jamila’s gift turned a challenge into a beautiful adventure and a fascinating experience. In her and her mother’s story, we can learn how important it is to see things from a different perspective, to embrace art as a form of therapy, to treasure memories, and importantly, to see the magical strength of will power.

About the Author

Noorhashimah Noordin is a professional architect and was an associate professor at UiTM. She also ran her own architectural company and has served as a board member and council member for a number of professional associations. After recovering from cancer treatments, Noorhashimah decided to retire from her professional duties, now serving as a personal teacher and art manager for her autistic daughter, Jamila. Jemima Shaiful is Jamila’s sister and the youngest of five siblings. She has cared for Jamila and is a voracious reader, and she has shown an interest in writing since she was very young. At just fourteen years old, in 2018 she became a cowriter to her mother’s book, My Journey with Artjamila.