University aids disabled

Thursday April 30, 2009

University aids disabled

DISABLED students at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) in Sintok, Kedah, received a big morale boost when the university introduced a disabled-friendly van recently to help them move about in campus.

The van, costing RM140,000, is fitted with hydraulic gadgets to enable wheelchair bound students to get in and out of the vehicle.

Disabled students will be able to use the van, managed by UUM’s Student Affairs Welfare Unit, throughout their stay in the university.

Muhammad Ihsan Abdullah, 23, a third year information technology student, said it was a great relief to have such a facility.

“I can now arrive at my destination on time for classes. I used to take about 30 minutes to wheel myself from my hostel to the lecture theatre and at times when it rains heavily, I had to skip classes.

Another disabled student, Mazlina Mohd Madlan, 21, said the facility was a positive move by the university to assist students like her.

Student Affairs and Alumni deputy vice chancellor Datuk Dr Ahmad Faiz Hamid said the university was always concerned with the welfare of its students, especially those who are disabled.