He learned to write at the age of 18 and became a teacher. Meet Jason Arddy

He has reached the age of eighteen without having the ability to write and is about to turn one New record: The youngest black professor to set foot in one of the greatest universities in the world. The University of Cambridge is the second oldest institution located in England and is ready to see its records broken by a 37-year-old man.

This is the story of Jason Ardai, a young man who turns 18 without knowing how to write. He did not develop speech until he was 11 years old. He was diagnosed with autism when he was 3 years old, and diagnosed with global delay. Doctors announced that the boy—who was stillborn at the time—would need lifelong assistance. With the help of his friend Sandro Sandri, Ardi began to develop speech and writing.

Jason Ardai will be a professor at the University of Cambridge

Today, the man is days away from taking up his position as a professor at Cambridge. On March 6, during the next week, he will take up the position of Professor of Sociology of Education at the university.

He studied Physical Education and Education Studies at the University of Surrey, becoming Professor of Physical Education shortly thereafter. Thus, the academic path was taking its first steps. With a master’s degree and a doctorate in educational studies, the man has reached nearly impossible places.

In 2018, he was awarded the University of Roehampton’s Senior Chair’s Award for submitting his first academic article. This was the step that led Ardi to become Associate Professor of Sociology at Durham University.

This fact is inspiring. Ardi, 37, is reaching places that provide possibilities for others:

“My work is primarily focused on how to open doors to more people from disadvantaged backgrounds and truly democratize higher education,” said Ardi.