Shaquil Aribuk contracted a rare bacterial infection known as necrotizing fasciitis. He lost his two legs and his sight. He has learned to adapt to his new life through the Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Shaquil Aribuk has learned to adapt to his new life through the Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Shaquil Aribuk continues to enjoy passions and is taking assistive technology classes through the Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. His hope is to help others use technology to make their lives easier.
Shaquil Aribuk was born and raised on the island of Palau, where his childhood was filled with the simple joys of fishing, hunting, and playing basketball. However, the limited opportunities on the island prompted Aribuk to pursue a new life in the United States, where he joined his family in Alaska.
Tragedy struck when Aribuk contracted a rare bacterial infection known as necrotizing fasciitis. After suddenly collapsing, he was rushed to the hospital, where he spent 10 days in a coma. When he finally awoke, Aribuk faced an unthinkable reality: he had lost both his legs and his sight. Devastated and overwhelmed, he fell into a deep depression in his late 20s, retreating from the world around him.
In the midst of his darkest days, Aribuk found solace in prayer and began to feel a spark of hope. He believed that his life still had purpose. Determined to rise above his challenges, Aribuk reached out to the Alaska Center for the Blind and Low Vision. It was there that program director Nate Kile introduced him to possibilities to help him adapt to his new life. Inspired by Kile's resilience in the face of his own blindness, Aribuk made the courageous decision not to let his circumstances define him.
Today, Aribuk is thriving in assistive technology classes, mastering the skills needed to navigate smartphones and computers without sight. His ultimate goal is to become an assistive technology instructor, empowering others to overcome similar obstacles. Aribuk now shares his story through motivational speeches, inspiring local organizations and individuals alike. From the depths of despair, Shaquil Aribuk has discovered his true purpose and continues to shine as a beacon of hope for others.
