Independent travel

Thursday November 20, 2008

Independent travel
By VIVIENNE PAL

One man’s effort in making Malaysia an ideal holiday destination for the disabled.
ASK Helen Jones about one of her most eventful moments in 2003 and, chances are, the Mangrove Swamp Excursion will rank top of her list.

This “excursion” could not be less accessible for Jones; getting into and out of a speedboat and up wet wooden steps proved extremely challenging.

Here’s why: Jones, who has cerebral palsy, is wheelchair-bound.

Accessibility makes touring the Great Wall of China possible for this disabled traveller.

Jones was in Malaysia as part of a team comprising Disability View and representatives from a host of disability organisations based in Britain to inspect how welcoming Malaysia was to disabled travellers.

Disability View, an organisation which provides current and useful information on disability in Britain, had sent its editorial representative to Malaysia on an educational trip jointly organised by Wings on Wheels, a specialist travel company for people with special needs, Malaysia Airlines and Malaysia-based travel agency Diethelm Travel Management.

In its September/October 2003 issue, Disability View’s magazine reported that although it took a considerable amount of “woman-handling” to get Jones in and out of the boat and to lunch, the excursion at the mangrove swamp was “worth the effort” and, according to Jones, “the boat ride to look at some of the country’s marine life was ‘just amazing’.”

The trip, while having assessed at that time the accessibility of most five-star hotels in the heart of Kuala Lumpur (door widths, colour contrasts, ramp gradients, room layouts and positioning of facilities and equipment: all check; with Equatorial Hotel offering the best quality of access), and that transfers from the lifts to their coach were more accessible than the regular train shuttle into the heart of the city, also showed the potential the country has as a tourist destination for the disabled, and how much the disabled want – and should be entitled to – their fun.

But that’s only possible if they are given the means to be independent.

“We usually prefer to be independent when we go on trips so we won’t slow down the group,” says Antony Leopold, who is himself disabled after having been struck with post-poliomyelitis of both legs since 1953. He has moved around with walking aids or on a wheelchair since.

While first-world countries like the United States and many European countries have proven to be accessible holiday destinations, Malaysia still has some way to go.

“Malaysia is quite far from being ‘travel accessible’ although the concept of barrier-free tourism is now gradually being implemented.

“Initially, I thought accessibility elsewhere was like how it is in Malaysia, but when I discovered just how accessible other countries were in comparison, I was inspired to do something,” Leopold says, adding that the disabled include both the handicapped and the elderly who rely on help to move around.

Married with three children, and able to move around independently in his own car, Leopold, 56, wishes to afford the same kind of experience to as many in the disabled tourist community as possible. And W what better way than to use his business as the platform to offer such value-added services?

In 2004, Leopold set up Ace Altair Travels Sdn Bhd after having been in the travel business in various capacities for some 15 years. Besides attending to able-bodied customers, he is determined that the company would realise his dream of providing meaningful holidays for the disabled.

“I’ve always loved travelling. This is the extension of my dream. Initially, I thought travelling would be impossible in the light of my disability because so many places weren’t disabled-friendly.”

As far as Leopold knows, there are no other providers of accessible travel in the country although he knows of cases of disabled travellers being handled by other agents.

He seems to be travelling a lonely road, considering the odds stacked against him.

“If you want to do something, you have to start by doing it on your own,” he replies with spirit.

Leopold developed Travel Assist, a niche value-added service specially designed to identify hotels with rooms for the disabled, and accessible places of interest and attractions, as well as provide transportation and transfers, and accompaniment by specially trained personnel upon request.

Providing such highly specialised services, especially when it’s new, can be tough. In order to market Travel Assist effectively, Leopold has subscribed to Malaysian Tourism Online Unified Reservation System (myTours), a system developed by Creative Advances Technology Sdn Bhd,

A consolidated tourism e-business platform that will unite government agencies, various sectors of the travel industry, and consumers, myTours includes components such as Hotels2Go and Flights2Go, and other travel-related technology integral to the entire supply chain of the tourism industry.

“I believe in the power of technology. The Commerce platform helps me jump-start my online travel business. It helps me connect with other travel agents and suppliers, whether they are inside or outside of Malaysia. This is a great way to promote my service,” he says.

One can rest assured the destinations he recommends are places that he and his family have personally scouted. In terms of accessible accommodation, Leopold says that most five- and four-star hotels in major cities in Malaysia have one or two handicapped user-friendly rooms with wider doors, accessible ramps, hand railings and some with roll-in showers.

Some of his trips have turned up unexpected surprises: some small towns offer disabled-friendly accommodation, like the 100-room Hotel Flamingo in the quiet town of Sitiawan!

Apart from the services, Leopold also provides other necessities.

“We will provide crutches and basic wheelchairs in case tourists do not bring their own, and we are planning to get motorised wheelchairs and a specially equipped van for wheelchair-bound travellers. I recently found a travel company that has a 28-seater coach which has a wheelchair lifter. They are very keen to work with me on my proposed services for disabled travel.

“We’ve also ordered portable ramps and I am in touch with an orthopaedic specialist who will advise me on how to best service disabled tourists,” he says, adding that he hoped to cater to small groups of four or five initially.

Leopold estimates start-up costs at RM300,000. He agrees that the infrastructure has to be in place for his venture to be successful.

“If you have the facilities, and help from the Government, the tourists will come. I have the contacts to provide a holiday for disabled travellers – I’ve made it possible for disabled tourists to ride an elephant in Thailand or even go scuba-diving.

“Having said that, we are realistic – there are some places we can’t go; for instance, I couldn’t walk up the Taj Mahal when I was on holiday in India, but being there and seeing it was wonderful enough for me. But, in certain instances, things can be improved. A holiday can be made a little better for the disabled with a ramp placed here or there, or resorts taking that extra step by constructing lanes near pools or by the beach for the disabled to move on.

“I’ll make sure something happens in my lifetime, regardless of whether every other entity comes in to play its part or not,” he says, adding that he hopes Travel Assist would be fully operational by next year.

■ Ace Altair Travels Sdn Bhd is located at Suite 1.12, 1st floor, The AmpWalk, 218, Jalan Ampang, KL. For details, call 03-2166 3755/ 4755.

Public transport: Don't leave disabled out

Public transport: Don't leave disabled out
Sam Wong Nov 21, 08 3:52pm

At last, we are happy to hear that the Selangor government has initiated the transport fund to improve the publish transport in the state. This has shown the state government’s keen interest to increase the rate of people using public transport.

The target is seeing people using public transport go up from 11 percent to 30 percent and setting another goal to reduce the private car to public transport ratio to at least 30:70.

Nevertheless, in the report on this transport fund, we did not see any statement regarding people with disabilities. People with disabilities make up of almost 10 percent of our nation’s population.

They have been the larger marginalised group in our country even though they can contribute to the national economy. Perhaps it is this disabled environment or disabled unfriendly environment that makes them disabled after all.

We should not neglect the ability of people with disabilities; they have long been marginalised in our country. They are eager to contribute to the nation and have even foregone their personal well-being.

However, the environment surrounding has always been unkind. They do not have access to the public areas because these public areas are not designed to be disabled friendly.

I am one of those disabled people. When staying at Petaling Jaya few years ago, I found none of the public amenities were disabled friendly. The public transport services, both in design and in routes, were not accessible to me.

Even normal people found it hard to access to the services. The roads were not jept in good condition with constant digging going on from day to night while the public transport infrastructure itself was more often than not an inconvenience.

The Selangor government has said that it would work together with developers to push the federal government to develop the state’s public transport infrastructure. But I do hope the development will also include the rural areas such as Kuala Selangor, Sungai Besar and Sabak Bernam.

Those areas are also part of Selangor and the state government should also develop the public transport infrastructure there. There should be a plan for all, not only for some areas; we are not building up a Lego city here.

The government must not overlook the needs of people with disabilities. The transport fund has to take into account the community of people with disabilities in Selangor.

When developing public transport infrastructure please please ensure that they are accessible to the disabled.

The increasing ratio of members of the public using public transport always includes the population of people with disabilities. In Hong Kong, 90 percent of population use public transport and this includes people with disabilities.

Finally and just as importantly, some disabled are fortibate enough to have their won personal transport but we need to remember that when they age they may have to depend on public transport more and more.

All the more reson that our public transport infrastructure be holistically demand to cater for the needs of the entire population, disabled included.

An unexpected bouquet

An unexpected bouquet
Tuesday November 18, 2008

Truly an eye-opening read

I WISH to thank The Star for giving the opportunity to columnist Anthony Thanasayan who writes the Wheel Power column.

I have no idea when Anthony first started writing. I must have been too busy with my career and everything around me because I was an able-bodied person who could go anywhere at any time.

Then suddenly my lifestyle changed. Due to disease, disability slowly crept in since 2001. I don’t remember when I started reading Anthony’s articles but I know that it was definitely after 2002 when I started using his articles to teach my students.

Anthony being disabled, writes about the disabled and describes everything so vividly about the life of the disabled, the challenges they go through and the insensitivities they put up with, so much so, I feel he is talking about me. But then again, I know that many other disabled people feel that Anthony is talking about them, too.

If The Star has not given such an opportunity to a disabled columnist, many people like me would be voiceless. That is the power of the pen.

So, thank you for making the disabled community come to light instead of being shunned like lepers. I am sure The Star has contributed in the making of a MBPJ councillor.

I hope more disabled people will start living their life with whatever disability they have. I have been going through a lot of frustrations especially caused by able-bodied people who just don’t seem to care or understand what I am going through.

Many times, I just gave up. I felt unwanted, useless, and have no purpose in living. But Anthony’s articles are an eye-opener. They make me realise that the disabled have a right to learn, to work and to be independent.

I reckon that, all of us, the disabled, do not want sympathy or donations. What we want is the right to live among the able-bodied people.

I hope educators, employers, colleagues, family members, relatives and friends will always pave the way for the disabled to live independently. I know many able-bodied people read Anthony’s articles and some of them even use the articles when teaching.

Such people, unlike me, need not wait to be disabled in order to discover about the disabled world. They discovered Anthony instead.

JANET KOCHAPPAN,
Seri Kembangan, Selangor.

Their ‘Dream’: China Disabled People’s Performing Arts Troupe

Their ‘Dream’: One World One Dream - China Disabled People’s Performing Arts Troupe

In Malaysia, THE China Disabled People’s Performing Art Troupe who recently performed at the KLCC Convention Centre on Nov 8 and 9, Plenary Hall, Kuala Lumpur. The audience turnout was great.

The charity show performed from China and our very own Malaysian disabled, DeafBeat from YMCA Kuala Lumpur, the Independent Living and Training Centre and the Creative Stars.

The “My Dream” featuring singing, dance, acrobatics and music and poetry communicated through sign language.

It is possible that many members of the Malaysian community still have not heard of the troupe, nor know how surprisingly high its artistic skills are, with or without disabilities. This troupe has performed in over 50 countries and often to full houses.

Dancers from the China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe await their turn to raise and move their arms during a dance on stage in KLCC on November 08, 2008.

Dancers from the China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe - the unique troupe features a cast of more than 30 dancers and performers with physical disabilities, some who cannot hear.

Dancers from the China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe performed the "Thousand-hand Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva".

Handicapped duo show they can, despite the odds

Thursday November 13, 2008

Handicapped duo show they can, despite the odds

PEKAN: Parents with disabled children are bound to despair over their future.
Thoughts of the hardships awaiting their children will haunt them.

Such was the predicament for Othman Ali, 75, and his wife Juliah Ismail, 71, from Kampung Tanjong Pulai, whose son Mohd Khairi was born with incomplete limbs.

Now aged 31 years, Mohd Khairi is physically challenged with stunted hands and legs.
Great dexterity: Mohd Khairi carring a feed container to feed the fish in Kampung Tanjong Pulai, Pekan, recently.

He has proved to his parents that they have no reason to worry over his future.

His parents sigh in relief as their son is not only able to take care of himself, but is also a promising entrepreneur.

One may be surprised by how a man with physical limitations can venture into aquaculture, which involves significant physical ability.

It started eight years ago when Mohd Khairi was persuaded by his cousin Abdul Rashid Nordin to try aqua farming in Sungai Pahang.

His love for angling spurred him to borrow a fish enclosure from his cousin to breed tilapia.

Mohd Khairi continued in this undertaking and today owns 17 enclosures full of tilapia and ikan patin.

He said, on every breeding cycle, he could harvest 600kg to 700kg of fish worth RM4,000.

The fish is sold at markets in Pekan, and each cycle takes five months.

Though his average monthly income is only RM800, it makes a big difference for Mohd Khairi as he has an income to help him and his aged parents.

His daily routine begins with a wheelchair ride to the riverbank, where he uses his arms and thighs to descend the steps into the water and reach the enclosures.

He feeds the fishes by holding a food-pallet container under his armpit. He even carries the sacks of food pallets to the enclosures.

Other than feeding the fishes, he cleans the breeding area of debris washed into the enclosure.

The feeding and cleaning is conducted daily in the mornings and evenings.

“Due to my physical limitations, there are many hurdles to overcome, but I’m used to it,” said Mohd Khairi.

He seeks assistance from friends and relatives in harvesting and selling the fish.

Another disabled person, Mohamed Mahidin, 38, from Kampung Kiambang in Ganchong near here does not see his disability as an impediment to venturing into aquaculture.

A former silver-medal winner in the high jump event at the 1998 Asian Paralympics in Bangkok, he has 18 enclosures with tilapia and patin.

Mohamed, who has a deformed right leg, took up the venture six years ago and earns between RM1,000 and RM1,500 monthly.

He said his fishes were in demand, especially in the Kuantan wet market.

Speaking about enduring hardships, Mohamed said he had no choice but to face it.

“I was brought up in a kampung environment and am used to rivers,” he said.

The biggest challenge, he added, was the wet spell when aqua farming had to be stopped temporarily.

Mohd Khairi’s and Mohamed’s achievements stand as testimony that being handicapped poses no hindrance in getting on with life.

Their venture has received the attention of the Malaysian Fisheries Department.

On Oct 23, the department’s aquaculture development division director Ismail Abu Hassan provided the duo with assistance through the Aquaculture Support Services Scheme.

The aid will not only help them alleviate their financial burdens but also expand their venture through better infrastructure and support services.

Mohd Khairi is confident that he is on a better footing to increase his fish output while Mohamed is planning to venture into downstream activities like frozen fish products, pekasam (fish pickled in brine) and keropok (fish fritters).
Both of them overcame their physical shortcomings and turned into successful entrepreneurs as described by the adage: Where there is a will, there is a way. — Bernama
But he has never been deterred by his limitations in leading an independent life.

Getting in and out of buses a breeze for the disabled

Thursday November 13, 2008

Getting in and out of buses a breeze for the disabled
Story and photos by CHARLES FERNANDEZ

FIFTEEN new Nadi Putra buses fitted with special lifters for the disabled or orang kurang upaya (OKU) were recently added to the current fleet of 55 buses servicing Putrajaya.

The newly-introduced buses will display the OKU sticker for easy identification and they come in four colours.

Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique received the buses on behalf of the Putrajaya Corporation (PJC), witnessed by PJC president Tan Sri Samsuddin Osman, FT Deputy Minister Datuk M. Saravanan and FT Ministry secretary-general Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talib.

Boost for disabled: A passenger is being lifted onto the bus.

The lifter is placed at the back door and is controlled by the driver and the whole proceeding is viewed via a CCTV network fitted in the bus.

“Before the delivery of the new buses, Nadi Putra had 55 buses with 51 powered by NGV and four diesel-driven ones. Since June 2006 we use NGV for all buses operating here,’’ said Zulhasnan.

He said the 15 buses would service new housing areas in Precincts 5, 6, 15 and 18 to complement the current fleet of buses running the routes in Precincts 9 and 14.

“However, the numbers are still not enough to satisfy the needs of the residents and working community here who are encouraged to use the ‘Park and Ride’ system already in place,’’ added Zulhasnan.

As for long-term plans, Zulhasnan said the government had approved RM70mil for the purchase of another 104 buses which would be introduced in stages within the next two years.

When asked if the disabled community could use the services for free, Samsuddin said for the moment it was free.

“The fare is already subsided. It is only 50 sen,’’ he said.

Samsuddin added that the number of passengers using the Nadi Putra services had also increased from 100,000 in May last year to 230,000 until the end of October this year.