Cover of Learning to See: a father's hand holding a small child's hand in morning light
A father's memoir of autism

Learning to See

A journey towards understanding

A heartfelt story of raising a child on the spectrum and finding connection beyond words. Written not by a doctor or a therapist, but by a dad.

Haitham Krimeed

Kindle eBookRead on any phone, tablet or computer13 chapters96 pages

The story of Jad, a gentle, anxious boy who began to fade after his 18‑month vaccination, and of the family who learned to see him.

He lost his language. His behaviour changed. He stopped responding. He would bang his head, bite his hand, and cry in ways his parents couldn't understand. They felt lost in the silence.

This book is about those early years full of fear, confusion and heartbreak, but also filled with moments of quiet hope and powerful, hard‑won breakthroughs. It's about learning to see your son not just with your eyes, but with your heart.

Today, Jad has grown into a remarkable young man. He has friends, goes to the mall, takes walks on his own, and is living his life with growing independence. He dreams of one day working with the RTA, and his family believes he will.

If you're a parent, a friend, or simply someone trying to understand, this story is here to bring you comfort, strength and connection.

You are not alone. Haitham & family

“This is not a textbook. It’s not written by a doctor or a therapist. It’s written by a dad. A father who was confused, scared, heartbroken, and then slowly hopeful, informed, and deeply proud.”
From the foreword
Free preview

Look inside

Read the foreword and the opening of Chapter 1, “A Word That Changed Everything.”

Inside the book

Thirteen chapters, one journey

  1. A Word That Changed EverythingThe moment two parents said it out loud
  2. Mourning the Imaginary ChildLetting go of the life you pictured
  3. Finding the Right HelpDoctors, assessments and first steps
  4. Therapy Changed EverythingWhere the breakthroughs began
  5. Family Life on the SpectrumLove, challenges, growth
  6. For YaraThe sister, the guardian, the light
  7. “Us”What autism taught me about love, marriage and co‑parenting
  8. Finding the Right SchoolNavigating education on the spectrum
  9. Obsessions and SuperpowersEmbracing the uniqueness
  10. The World OutsideFacing society and the public eye
  11. The Power of ObsessionFrom elevators to the RTA dream
  12. A Journey RedefinedLooking ahead with open eyes
  13. Final NoteFrom a father’s heart

For parents

Whose child has just been diagnosed, or who sense that something is different and don't know where to start.

For family & friends

Who want to understand what the spectrum feels like from inside a family, and how to stand beside them.

For teachers & therapists

Who work with children on the spectrum and want to hear a parent's side of the journey.

Haitham Krimeed in a navy suit, smiling
About the author

Haitham Krimeed

“This book was written not to teach, but to connect.”

Haitham Krimeed is a devoted father who never imagined he’d one day write a book about autism. He’s not a doctor or a specialist, just a dad who found himself on an unexpected path and chose to walk it with open eyes and an open heart.

He moved to Dubai in 1997 as a young man looking for work. What he found instead was a new beginning: a place that gave him belonging, a family, and a home.

When his son Jad was diagnosed with autism, everything changed. Through every challenge came a lesson, and somewhere along the way he realised that one parent’s voice could help someone else feel less alone.

His story is not polished or perfect. It’s real, filled with tears, laughter, long nights, small victories, and the kind of love that doesn’t give up.

haithamspeaks.com

Get your copy

For every parent searching for hope: even in the hardest moments, there is still beauty, still light, and above all, still love.

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