During her son, Mateen’s, birth in 1997, the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck, causing a lack of blood flow and oxygen to his brain. Elizabeth and Majid knew that this oxygen deprivation, or birth asphyxia, would forever impact their lives and the life of their son. In 1998, they decided to enroll Mateen in the UCLA Early Intervention Program, an organization that offers educational and therapeutic services to promote development and provide assistance for children with special needs and their families. Elizabeth and Majid believed it was necessary to adapt and plan for the needs of their young child to further enhance Mateen’s quality of life. Elizabeth established an immediate connection with the program, joining the large fundraising team to help promote the organization’s cause. Angela Nazarian, Elizabeth’s longtime friend, suggested that it would be largely beneficial to expand this program’s efforts in the Iranian Jewish community. In order to continue helping the broader special needs community, they developed an independent organization with the main goal of helping children with special needs. Thanks to this coordination between friends and a common goal, Looking Beyond was born.

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