Nadi Choueiri, a sound engineer, DJ instructor and founder of Spin Music, shares how DJing became his lifeline and a transformative tool for his students
Nadi Choueiri beams with pride when talking about a student he teaches at the Al Noor Training Centre for People of Determination (POD) in Dubai. The young boy with autism is discovering the magic of DJing, and it fuels Mr Choueiri’s sense of purpose.
A sound engineer and DJ instructor, Mr Choueiri lives with Stargardt disease, a rare genetic condition causing gradual central vision loss.
Speaking at Aurora50’s Inclusive Workplaces Summit, he describes his world as “a picture blackened in the middle”.
Rather than seeing this as a limitation, the 39-year-old artist uses his heightened sense of sound to create music and teach others.
He has turned his condition into an opportunity to share the transformative power of music with young people with disabilities.
“Music doesn’t see disability,” he says. “When I see my students grow through music and find a sense of belonging, it fills me with joy.
“For them, music isn’t just therapy, it could pave the way for a career.”
Mr Choueiri’s vision began to deteriorate at the age of 12, leading him to “love the world in a different way”.
Music had always been his passion and he decided to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps and pursue it as a career, graduating with a degree in musicology and getting certified by Dubspot, an electronic music and DJ school in New York.
As he first taught himself to DJ 20 years ago in Lebanon, Mr Choueiri had to use a magnifying glass to read the text of song titles from CDs .
Now, he uses advanced tools and software that make it easier for him to work.
“My laptop is like my third arm. It makes accessing my craft seamless,” he says.
“I now use a digital magnifier, which helps me navigate tasks easily every day.”
A few years ago, Mr Choueiri expanded his mission beyond DJing. He began teaching children with disabilities in his hometown before moving to the UAE to continue this work at Al Noor.
“I DJ to inspire and I teach to empower,” he says.
“I work with young adults with disabilities like autism and Down Syndrome. Music transforms their mood and boosts their energy during difficult moments.”
His classes help students disconnect from distractions and focus on the present moment.
“This isn’t just for them – it’s for me too. I’m constantly learning how to support them better so they can succeed,” he adds.
Mr Choueiri is also finalising his new DJ school, Spin Music in Dubai, which will be the first fully accessible and inclusive school for POD in the UAE.
“This is a school for everyone, but my focus is on creating opportunities for people of determination to learn equally,” he explains.
The school is being designed to accommodate physical and intellectual disabilities.
It will feature specialised tools, including motor-friendly equipment, laptops and Braille controllers for visually impaired students.
“I’ll be teaching children aged seven to 17,” says Mr Choueiri.
“The aim is to teach POD along with other students so that we can break barriers and encourage inclusion in a safe space from an early age.”
Lead by example
Inspire action and show the way by doing. Others will follow.
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