Mild Mental Retardation.
Celebrated For:
Rasheed Xavier Durham was born in 1993 in Hampton, Virginia, while his parents were serving in the US Army. Rasheed was the perfect baby that every parent asked for. At 11 months old, his family moved to Panama while still serving in the military. It was there in Panama that his mother and a teacher noticed that something was different about Rasheed. Rasheed was 2 years old and still wasn’t talking. After having him tested it was confirmed he was different and would never be a “normal little boy.”
He was able to imitate any animal sound he heard and could follow simple directions but he still didn’t speak. He was first diagnosed with “global developmental delay.” He was immediately enrolled in the Early Childhood Special Education Class in Panama. When he was 3, the family moved again to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He stayed enrolled in the same class but they thought something was different. Although he wasn’t speaking, he was very social. As Rasheed grew older, his “label” was changed to Mild Mental Retardation.
At 14 years old, while living in Houston now, it was determined that Rasheed was more Autistic than anything else. It was also learned that Rasheed understood and could speak Spanish. Although Rasheed loved school and learning new things, he finally graduated from Furr High School in 2015 at the age of 22.
Rasheed likes to swim and ride bikes. He sang in the choir at school and church. He likes to watch YouTube and learned how to play the drums, keyboard and use DJ equipment. He loves basketball and knows how to dribble and do tricks. He likes to dance and doesn’t mind putting on a show at all family gatherings. Rasheed still doesn’t have that spontaneous conversation today, but he loves being in the spotlight, entertaining, and just making everyone happy and smile.
“He likes to watch YouTube and learned how to play the drums, keyboard and use DJ equipment. He loves basketball and knows how to dribble and do tricks.”