Symposium On Spinal Cord Injury 2009

Symposium On Spinal Cord Injury 2009 which was held on 14th - 15th November 2009 at Kuala Lumpur International Hotel.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Mr. Chong Tuck Meng, who has invited me to jointly organized this Symposium. We are honored to co-host with other disabled organization, PERWIRA K9 Malaysia.

I am also very happy because this symposium had address many misunderstanding and wrong perceptions of the public on people using wheelchair. Life goes on normal after spinal cord injuries.

This seminar had some opportunity to greater understanding and knowledge on the issues of fertility and sexuality to the disabled community.

This programmed comprised of counseling, health and information technology educations in order for us to be pro-active in the community.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

&

MAY THIS DAY BRING HAPPINESS AND JOY TO ALL OF YOU

LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR CO-OPERATION AND SUPPORT IN FUTURE FOR ILTC.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL

Fomca: Waive credit card tax for the disabled

Tuesday December 22, 2009

Fomca: Waive credit card tax for the disabled

PETALING JAYA: The disabled community should be exempted from the RM50 service tax for principal credit and charge cards, said Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) chief executive officer Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman.

“The Government should look into the needs and situation of the disabled when it comes to imposing such moves,” he said.

Wheelchair-bound Anthony Thanasayan, presi­dent of ­­ Petposi­tive, an animal-assisted therapy society for the disabled and elderly, said the move would only cause “valuable money to be taken away from the disabled.”

Good week

Thursday December 10, 2009

Good week

Persons with disabilities turned up in droves to commemorate a special day.

LAST week was fabulous. I was privileged to be at two events commemorating International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) which this year fell on Dec 3.

Last Saturday, nearly 3,000 people, scores of them in wheelchairs or carrying white canes, turned up at a carnival organised by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry in Kuala Lumpur where Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil delivered an impassioned speech on disability.

Visitors enjoyed exciting games and learnt about the latest services available to the disabled and the good work done by various NGOs.

Two days earlier, more than 200 people gathered at The Curve shopping complex in Petaling Jaya for an event sponsored by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ).

It was graced by Selangor State Welfare, Women Affairs, Science, Technology and Innovation committee chairman Rodziah Ismail, who spoke passionately on the needs of the disabled.

Among the key points raised are:

> The disabled need jobs: Rodziah said it was time that all sectors go all out to employ the handicapped. To do this, there must be a commitment from all parties.

Rodziah pointed out that local councils like the MBPJ had started filling up its 1% quota for employing the disabled.

On her part, Shahrizat said that disabled persons should be seen as people with abilities and talents who can contribute to society.

> Time for local councils to get serious: Shahrizat questioned the lackadaisical attitude of the local councils for not implementing disabled-friendly access at their level, even though by-laws have been gazetted since the early 1990s.

Although it won’t be an easy task, the minister promised to check on local councils and make sure that they create disabled-friendly towns and cities so that the handicapped can go to work and study in schools, among other things.

Rodziah said that for a start, she would get local councils in Selangor to set up a special team to ensure that accessibility of the disabled tops the agenda of local authorities.

> Disability is everyone’s concern: Shahrizat reminded decision-makers on the importance of including disabled people in their committees, especially in matters involving them.

Rodziah reminded the able-bodied that it was prudent to plan for the disabled and elderly as many of us might suffer some disability one day through accident, disease or old age.

One of the highlights at both events was the presenting of special awards to those with learning disabilities.

The MBPJ event, with help from the Dyslexia Association of Malaysia, honoured children in Petaling Jaya who successfully completed their Year Six exams.

They also gave special recognition to young adults with learning difficulties who held down jobs as laundry workers.

As wonderful as both celebrations were, there is still room for improvement for future events.

Here is some of the feedback I received:

> Let’s have some disabled speakers instead of only the able-bodied giving speeches as the day is for the disabled.

> Please cut down on presentations by able-bodied performers no matter how popular they may be, and give undiscovered disabled artistes a chance to showcase their talents. (And please pay them for their services instead of expecting them to do it for free.)

> Kindly provide front seats to the disabled and let the VIPs sit behind the disabled instead for IDPD.

Can we also do away with VIP-eating areas and allow the VIPs to mingle with the disabled?

Disabled To Replace Prof Ismail Salleh In Senate

December 09, 2009 15:54 PM

Disabled To Replace Prof Ismail Salleh In Senate
By: Ramjit

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9 (Bernama) -- The government proposes to appoint a senator from among the disabled to fill the chair vacated by senator Prof Datuk Dr Ismail Md Salleh who died of a heart attack on Aug 27.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil told the Dewan Negara on Wednesday that the list of candidates would be submitted to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for consideration.

She was replying to a supplementary question from senator Datuk Saripah Aminah Syed Mohamed who wanted to know whether the government would recommend another disabled person to fill the vacancy created by the death of Ismail, 61, who was the first disabled person to be appointed a senator.

Dr Ismail, a economist, was the first blind person to be awarded a doctorate.

BERNAMA

Diocesan Youth Council of the Anglican Church had organized a event at ILTC

The Diocesan Youth Council of the Anglican Church, had organized a camp activity for Diocesan Youth at ILTC which was held on 2nd December (Wednesday).

The theme is: Transformation in the Communities (In conjunction with their Anglican theme this year)

In light of their theme this year, they had organized some activities for their campers to take this opportunity to engage with the communities, spending time with us and learning to care for one another. The campers (youths) have a good combination of Indians and Chinese. Mostly are in the age group of 18 - 25 years old and are all came from different Anglican churches from different states. Based on their biblical principals, which God has called us to love one another and care for our community despite of religion, race and ethnicity, they hope that thru the outing activities at our centre would able to encourage the younger generation to care for their community and their neighbors around them. ILTC’s believed that it is utmost important to instill good values in our younger generations and continue to encourage them in caring and engaging with the communities. The youths had well organized the event by themselves and the activities were also included the disabled person in the wheelchair games, drawing, gotong-royong etc.

Two new categories for disabled people

Sunday December 6, 2009



Two new categories for disabled people

KUALA LUMPUR: Two new categories of disabled people — those with speech and those with mental disability — have been created, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said.

Speaking to reporters after launching the ‘Day For The Handicapped’ at the national level, here yesterday, Shahrizat said the two new categories were created following feedback from government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the disabled people themselves who wanted a more comprehensive handicapped category to be introduced in line with the current requirements and definition adopted in the Persons With Disabilities Act 2008.

“Handicapped people categorised under speech disability are those who have difficulty to speak to the extent of hindering communication when interacting with other people such as aphonia (not having any voice) and dysarthria (unable to speak),” she said.

Mental disability, refers to people suffering from mental illness such as schizophrenia, mood disorder and serious and chronic organic mental disorder and had undergone psychiatric treatment for at least two years.

The existing categories used in registering disabled people are multiple disabilities; people with impaired vision; hearing disability; physical impairment and learning difficulty, said Shahrizat.

She said that in the 2010 Budget, the government had allocated RM224 million for the disabled.

Next year, the ministry would concentrate on creating job opportunities for the handicapped and their accessibility to buildings, she said.

Shahrizat said she was still not satisfied as there were still many offices, public places and public transport that were not disabled-friendly.

Bernama

ILTC - Press Conference - E@Curve, Mutiara Damansara

In conjunction with the International Day of Disabled Persons, ILTC had organized a press conference at e@Curve, Mutiara Damansara.
We highlighted some critical issues to the media.

Awareness of facilities provided for the disabled is still lacking to provide special lifts, ramps and paths for the wheelchairs of disabled.Sensitive and concerned against the plight of the disabled.
Abuse of parking lots designated for the disabled by members of the public who are physically normal.

We do not have an enforcement unit on the abuse of facilities. On facilities for the handicapped at buildings and premises, there were still many of such structures like shopping complexes and banks that failed to provide the utilities for the disabled. PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ACT n Malaysia, there are the Persons With Disabilities Act (PWD Act) and the Act not sufficient to protect the interest of the handicapped.
PWD Act is 'toothless' as there is no enforcement unit. The Act is good for the disabled but it does not spell out the specific penalty for those who committed abused of the facilities for the disabled.

More jobs for the disabled in Selangor

Friday December 4, 2009

More jobs for the disabled in Selangor By YIP YOKE TENG

THE Selangor state government will set aside at least one percent of the posts available in its administration for disabled people. The quota applies not only to all local councils but also contractors taking up government projects.

State executive councillor Rodziah Ismail, who is in charge of the Welfare, Women’s Affairs, Science, Technology and Innovation Committee, said the move would begin in January.

“The state wants to ensure that disabled people are given due opportunities in job placement,” she said after launching the International Day for Disabled Person celebration organised by the Petaling Jaya City Council yesterday at E@Curve, Mutiara Damansara.

Also present at the celebration were mayor Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman as well as councillor Anthony Thanasayan and Chan Chee Kong.

At the function, prizes were presented to special children with good academic results while members from the Dyslexia Association Malaysia presented an interesting opening act. Others took part in a treasure hunt while children were taught handicraft.

“At least one per cent of government projects will also be offered to disabled people to ensure that they get a fair chance in business, too,” she added.

She said the idea had long been mooted and even practised internally but the announcement was not made yet to officially invite application from disabled peeople.

“Currently, disabled people take up only 0.3% of the posts in our administration throughout the state so we are at the same time offering education and skills training to prepare them for the posts,” she said.

Also, factories in the state have 18,000 jobs to be filled and the government had arranged for the disabled to sit for the interviews because they are skilled.

The state’s next step in improving the welfare for the disabled groups is to have a sign language interpreter at the front desk of government organisations.

“We also want the entire state to be barrier-free as we are having an increasing population of disabled people. So far, Selangor has 20,000 disabled people but many still have not registered with us.

“I would say MBPJ is the champion in making its city accessible to the disabled and it is indeed an excellent example for all other local councils to emulate,” she added.

She said the state would also form a committee made up of disabled people next year. The committee is expected to give its input in all planning discussions and the recommendations will be followed through by the local councils and relevant parties.

Roslan said the council set aside RM3.9mil to make Petaling Jaya a barrier-free city.

“However, the fact is that disabled people face not only physical barrier but also attitude barrier.

The disabled have a right to basic accessibility and the public must not abuse these facilities provided for them,” he said.

To Voice Our Concerns

Yesterday, On the International Disabled Day, that is on Dec 3, 2009 at 2.00pm, we, the disabled had highlighted our plight to the press conference organized by ILTC.

Around 30 of disabled members from ILTC members were gathered at the out side entrance of the Curve (Mutiara Damansara) to voice our concerns.

Wake Up Call To The Malaysian Government - Towards equal treatment for the disabled

Wake Up Call By ILTC To The Malaysian Government

Towards equal treatment for the disabled.

Malaysian disabled people are really suffering from basic fundamental rights because they (Malaysian Government) keeping us still under charity approach.

In December 2007, we (ILTC) and some disabled people from various organisations for the disabled (OKU) had been hanged around in Parliament for last about 3 days.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil tabled the Persons with Disabilities Bill for first reading at the Dewan Rakyat in the presence of several disabled people.

The bill seeks to provide for the registration, protection, rehabilitation, development and well being of persons with disabilities and the creation of the National Council tasked to promote our quality of life.

On the day, we were very happy and welcomed the tabling of the Bill because it is a positive move by the Government and an official recognition that we are part of the community and deserve equal treatment.

However, I personally agreed that taking care of persons with disabilities should start in Parliament itself. On that day, we found wheel-chair accessibility in Parliament is still lacking and we had difficulties getting in. We hope this will improve once the Bill is implemented.

Even we noticed that, there was on punishment for those who breached a disabled person’s rights and having some disappointment that an anti-discrimination law against the disabled was not included.

Now, I honestly feel that we need changes and having another bill for the disabled, namely an anti-discrimination bill to protect our rights.

UNDP lauds Johor for creating jobs for disabled

Tuesday November 24, 2009

UNDP lauds Johor for creating jobs for disabled
By FARIK ZOLKEPLI

JOHOR BARU: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has lauded Johor’s commitment to increase employability for the disabled by being the first state in the country to form a People with Disabilities Employment Unit.

UNDP Malaysia assistant resident representative James George Chacko said the state government was able to create a bridge between the disabled and employers by being the first state to form such a unit.

He added that the pilot project, which started last year, would be able to create more job opportunities for them in the public and private sectors.

Powerful message: Abdul Ghani looking at some exhibits during the National Conference on Employment and Disability in Johor Baru yesterday. Accompanying him is Social Welfare Department director-general Datuk Meme Zainal Rashid

“It has also broken down barriers for disabled people in seeking employment,” he told a press conference after the launch of the National Conference on Employment and Disability here yesterday

Meanwhile, Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, who launched the seminar, said the unit, had so far, managed to supply jobs to 11 disabled people in the Johor Baru City Council and for five people at the Carrefour hypermarket here.

“The unit is also working with other local councils towards creating employment for disabled people,” he said.

Abdul Ghani added that the unit has two job coaches, who were committed towards ensuring employability for the disabled.

Job coaches are those who assist the disabled in their job training and daily work.

He said it aimed to increase the number of job coaches and there were plans to place the disabled with jobs which were nearer to their homes to minimise inconvenience.

Abdul Ghani said tax incentives were also offered to private companies in order to encourage them to hire disabled individuals.

Speedy Recovery With Good Health

Flash News

Carol is reported to have fallen off her wheelchair when the van made an emergency stop.Carol who suffered internal bleeding was rushed to the trauma ward on the fifth floor of PPUM where she is still in a coma.
CAROL with Y.B. Puan Rodziah Binti Ismail Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Tetap Kebajikan, Hal Ehwal Wanita, Sains, Teknologi Dan Inovasi. This Photo Taken on ILTC Organized “Charity Carnival Bazaar Food & Funfair 2009” and a Charity Show on Saturday, 4th July 2009 between 10.00am to 11.50pm at Sekolah Kebangsaan Rawang, Jalan Kuala Garing, 48000 Rawang, Selangor Darul Ehsan

Due to that, on behalf of our organization, I (President) humbly praying for her successful operation and speedy recovery with good health.

Carol In Critical Condition

Courtesy from Petpositive

DATELINE KUALA LUMPUR

Carol In Critical ConditionPetpositive Member Carol Rasiah who has brittle bones, is fighting for her life at the Intensive Care Unit in University Hospital Medical Centre (PPUM).

The story was broken to us by another Petpositive Member Stanislaus Anthony from Petaling Jaya earlier this afternoon.

Carol who hails from Subang Jaya was reported to have been traveling in a wheelchair-friendly van called Mobility on Tuesday morning when the accident happened.

She is reported to have fallen off her wheelchair when the van made an emergency stop.

Carol who suffered internal bleeding was rushed to the trauma ward on the fifth floor of PPUM where she is still in a coma.

One visitor who saw Carol at the hospital yesterday described her condition as extremely serious. She didn't think that Carol would be able to pull through.

According to her, doctors were waiting to perform surgery on Carol but were being prevented from doing so because she was not in a stable condition.

However at least one Web Forum where Carol regularly chats was more optimistic and hopeful that Carol would recover from her ordeal.

Carol has taken part in several activities of Petpositive to date. They include attending our historic charity concert in June 2007, our Xmas party by Mid Valley Megamall and a special animal-assisted therapy session at the Selangor SPCA last year.

The last we saw Carol was at MBPJ's Dog Forum in PJ in October where she had also traveled in the Mobility Van."Despite being in a wheelchair for all her life, Carol is always cheerful," noted Lynda Merican, special coordinator for Petpositive. "

She would be present at some of the functions I attended and it was always great to bump into her," concluded Lynda, wishing her a speedy recovery.

Many in the disabled community have expressed shock at what had happened to Carol and have called for more improved safety measures for all vehicles that transport disabled and elderly persons.

This should include special training to drivers of special vehicles that transport vulnerable communities.Carol who lives behind The Summit in Subang is active on Facebook and is also a blogger.

Her address is http://blogsportcom-carol.blogspot.com/

"Promote paralympics’, says Najib

Friday November 20, 2009



‘Promote paralympics’, says Najib

KUALA LUMPUR: Voluntary organisations, the corporate sector and disabled athletes should work together to promote the paralympic movement, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said Malaysian sports leaders were playing significant roles in the Asean, Asian and world paralympic movement.Sticking together: Hong Kong athlete Yu Chui Yee accompanying Sidkova Marketa from the Czech Republic at the opening of the 14th International Paralympic Committee general assembly and conference in Kuala Lumpur Thursday.

“This is in recognition of Malaysia’s capabilities in championing the paralympic movement,” he said.

Asked whether Malaysia would host the Paralympic Games, he said that if the country were to do so, it would have to be chosen for the main Olympic Games, “which is a tall order”.

“It will not happen in the foreseeable future. You have to be a strong sports nation, make an impact and be a force to be reckoned with at the global level to be considered,” he said at the opening of the 14th International Paralym­pic Committee general assembly and conference here yesterday.

The United Nations estimates that there are about 500 million persons with disabilities in the world, the majority in developing countries, he said.

“The marginalisation of persons with disabilities is prevalent and in many countries there are few sports opportunities available to them,” Najib added.

On a brighter note, he said there had been increasing support for the participation of persons with disabilities over the past 20 years.

In line with the 1Malaysia concept of “People First, Performance Now”, Najib said it was important to provide opportunities for people from all walks of life, regardless of race, culture and religion.

Easy prey

Thursday November 12, 2009



Easy prey

WHEEL POWERBy ANTHONY THANASAYAN

The disabled are targeted by criminals on the prowl.

CRIMINALS are coming up with more devious ways to rob unsuspecting victims. What is more troubling is that they have no qualms about targeting the disabled and the elderly.

Even charity-based centres meant to help such people are not spared. Residents of the self-help Independent Living and Training Centre (ILTC) in Rawang, Selangor, were among the latest victims of a broad daylight robbery.

A couple of men in their late 20s posing as potential donors made an unscheduled visit to the disabled residential home one morning. Upon discovering that there were only three persons in the centre at the time – a woman in a wheelchair, a young man with epilepsy and a foreign female volunteer – they yanked out a machete and demanded money.

The robbers relieved the victims at knife-point of cash and valuables. They then walked out calmly so as not to arouse suspicion. The police arrived soon after they were called.

Investigations to nab those responsible for the crime are under way.

“It is regrettable that the handicapped are becoming targets of criminals because we are considered easy prey,” said Francis Siva, president of the ILTC.

Francis, a tetraplegic, was not at the centre when the incident took place. By the time he rushed back, the thieves had long gone. “The disabled (and the elderly) are the most vulnerable to crime and we urge the authorities to prioritise our safety by stepping up measures to protect us,” he added.

Ironically, the president of the ILTC was at a special meeting with the police a couple of weeks earlier to discuss security issues for persons with disabilities.

The gathering which included representatives of the learning disabled. the Deaf and blind, was specially arranged by the Welfare Department in Kuala Lumpur.

The following were some of the main points which were raised with the law enforcement authorities. The blind are especially vulnerable to crime on the streets. Several cases were cited involving so-called “helpful” strangers who offered to help the blind cross the streets.

They either help themselves to the purses, handbags and other personal belongings of their victims right in the streets, or do so after helping them halfway across the street. Whilst the stunned and disoriented victim is left screaming in fear in the middle of the road, the thieves quickly make their disappearance. Cries of help have often fallen on deaf ears.

Massage parlours operated by the blind experience frequent break-ins during the weekends and on holidays. Imposters acting as law enforcement officers present an ID to the blind operators which they can’t verify for authenticity for obvious reasons. They then direct the workers into a room whilst they grab all the valuables and make a run for it.

Blind women are frequent victims of molestations whether it is on the street, in a crowded place or in the passageways of their flats. They find mysterious hands touching their privates. Some of the molestations are repeated regularly, often at the same venue.

Such abuse have occurred so frequently that the blind are terrified to go out of their houses, especially those living alone.

The blind are also frustrated when they are asked to describe their assailants’ identity. They claim that because they are unable to provide such details, their reports are not taken seriously. Report forms given to them to fill up are not in Braille.

The Deaf also face difficulty when dealing with police officers who are not trained in sign language. Hence, they are unable to take down the reports of the Deaf and carry out further investigations. The physically disabled complain that there are no disabled-friendly carparks at police stations. Some of them were asked to park outside the police stations and walk with their crutches all the way to the building.

Here are some of the suggestions made by the disabled groups:

> The crime fighting force should be better educated about the needs of the handicapped.

> Set up special hotlines for the disabled and the elderly so that they can get immediate response when they are in trouble.

> When the police make their rounds in the neighbourhood, they should take a special interest in homes where people with disabilities live, especially those who live alone.

OKU trauma diacu parang

Khamis 12-11-2009

OKU trauma diacu parang

RAWANG – Sungguh tidak berhari perut apabila orang kelainan upaya (OKU) turut dijadikan mangsa penjenayah, seperti yang berlaku ke atas kakitangan Badan Latihan dan Hidup Berdikari (ILTC), Taman Garing, di sini.

Setiausaha ILTC, P Gurdip Kaur @Rina, yang berdepan situasi cemas itu berkata, sehingga kini dia masih trauma dengan kejadian diacu parang dan dirompak pada 30 Oktober lalu.

Menurutnya, selain kesukaran melelapkan mata pada waktu malam, pusat ILTC nya kini sentiasa berkunci rapi dan dia sendiri sukar untuk bertemu dan bercakap dengan individu tidak dikenali.

“Saya fikir dalam keadaan sosial dan ekonomi sekarang, penjenayah tidak lagi mengambil peduli latar belakang mangsa.

Bagi mereka, indi-vidu lemah seperti kami ini lebih mudah diambil kesempatan. “Sekarang golongan seperti kami perlu lebih berhati-hati.

Selama ini jika orang hendak datang melawat dan sumbangkan apa-apa kita tidak menolak. Tetapi kini kami sering berasa curiga,” katanya.

Dia berkata demikian dalam lawatan Ahli Parlimen Selayang, William Leong Jee Keen; Setiausaha Politik Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Rawang, Azman Mohd Noor dan Ahli Majlis Perbandaran Selayang (MPS) Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji, susulan kejadian menimpanya.