Christmas cheer

Good Tidings For The Disabled Community

CHRISTMAS may be ten days away.

But for people with disabilities (PWDs) in the country, Santa seems to have already crawled down their chimneys early for them – at least as far as good tidings are concerned!

Four representatives of disability groups – including me – made a special visit to the Ministry of Women, Family and the Community Development in Jalan Dato Onn, Kuala Lumpur last week.

We went there to meet personally with the Minister Datuk Seri Sharizat Abdul Jalil.

We had some pressing issues confronting PWDs in our society today to urgently discuss with her.

The national NGOs from KL were: The Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive), Malaysian Parkinson’s Disease Association (MPDA) and Dyslexia Association of Malaysia (PDM).

The fourth group was the Selangor and KL-based Independent Living and Training Centre (ILTC) from Rawang.

Although Sharizat was late for our appointment because she was held up in Parliament, she wasted no time to get down to listening to requests.

She personally led us through the passageway to her meeting room. We were touched that she herself literally opened the doors for our wheelchairs – a sign of the positive things (“opening of doors”) to come at the meeting.

Although they were others waiting to see her, she never hurried us. Instead she quickly fished out her pen and notebook and noted down all that we had to say together with her department officials.

Here’s what we told the Honourable Minister:

• Please get all the local councils (PBTs) everywhere to set up disability committees: This is the only way for significant and positive changes to happen for all disabled persons (OKU) in the country.

Currently there are building bylaws in every state of the nation that requires accessibility for PWDs. However, many PBTs choose to ignore them.

The OKU committee will serve as a driving force for each council to build a disabled friendly environment both inside and outside buildings.

They must represent the full category of PWDs from the blind, people with learning disabilities or their representatives to the blind, Deaf and of course, physically disabled.

They must meet at least once a month if it is to be effective. It is only after pavements are made accessible to wheelchairs and buildings that disabled Malaysians can successfully hold jobs.

They wouldn’t have to travel far to get to them. Children in wheelchairs can also go to schools and be educated instead of becoming a burden to society later on in life.

The Minister had no problem in supporting our point. In fact she reiterated our view by saying that it is only right that PWDs be involved in decision-making processes that involve us.

She even went on to say that “able-bodied people know nuts about the handicapped – and that’s why the disabled’s participation is vital.”

She promised us that the Ministry will start a campaign as soon as possible to get PBTs to set up the special committees. It will start with a major seminar for all PBTs next year.

Meanwhile, head of local councils in Selangor Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew when met earlier by a representative of the same group said he would be sending a directive to all 12 PBTs in the state to set up disability technical groups.

A “starter kit guide” on how to do this is currently being prepared by a town planning expert. It is expected to be handed over to Liu within the next couple of weeks.

MBPJ is currently the only local council in Selangor, and possibly the whole country, to have an active disability committee that meets once a month.

• Please register People with Parkinson’s disease (PwP) as PWDs: Currently PwP can’t qualify for welfare cards and can’t get free treatment.

Sharizat said her ministry will urgently discuss the matter for approval with the Ministry of Health. Once that is given, the event will be launched early next year.

• Other issues: The Minister will look into improving the quality of lives of people with learning disabilities especially in care homes and centres through the coordination of the Ministry of Special Education and Welfare.

She will also look into offering help for the profoundly disabled to get assistance from foreign workers. In some countries, the government pays for the services of caregivers of tetraplegics.

Finally, a special committee will be set up to study ways on how to protect the elderly from abuse and neglect in the family based on the laws in Singapore that allows for court action.

The End

Saturday December 11, 2010

Advocating change for PWDs

By S. INDRAMALAR
indra@thestar.com.my

IF THERE is one thing Norani Haji Mohd Hashim could wish for, it would be that people with disabilities (PWD) have better access to infrastructure and services.

As the Deputy Director-General (Operation) for the Department of Social Welfare, Norani is an advocate for the disabled, a role to which she is fully committed, no matter how fraught it is with challenges.

“If I were to put myself in their shoes, I’d want to be able to walk out of my home and get around like any other person. I’d want to be able to walk, drive and move about freely. I’d like to be able to watch a movie or go shopping with ease.

“At the moment, accessibility for PWDs is just not there. The moment they step out of their homes, there are so many hazards. It’s just not fair to them,” said Norani.

Accessibility is one of the two themes of this year’s national level celebrations of the International Day Of Persons With Disabilities. The other theme is employment.

“Accessibility and employment are two key aspects of our initiative to integrate persons with disabilities into mainstream society. Improvements in these areas will enable PWDs to become independent,and by default productive citizens as well.

“Many PWDs, because they are given the means and opportunities, are able to support themselves, their families and contribute to the communities they live in. This is what we are aiming for – inclusion and integration of all people, regardless of their abilities.”

The national-level celebrations will take place today in Malacca and will be officiated by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

“Although there are laws and regulations to ensure accessibility for PWDs in public buildings, outdoors and in all new housing projects, enforcement is lacking,” said Norani. State local authorities have to play a more active role in enforcing the existing laws.

“The local authorities in every state must take charge because they are the body that issues licences and approvals. If they are strict, then developers will have to comply and provide for PWDs in all development projects.

“By right, all new buildings are supposed to follow the universal design principals. The provisions are there but the implementation isn’t. This is where the local authorities must step in,” said Norani.

She was referring to the amendment to the Uniform Building Bylaws in 1990 which makes it compulsory for buildings to provide access and facilities for the disabled.

Existing buildings were given three years to make modifications to comply with the bylaw.

In July, Malaysia ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

“This means we are obliged by law to ensure that PWDs have equal access in terms of access in/to public facilities, amenities, buildings, public transport and so on.

“We have to work fast because we have to present a report on our progress to the UN in two years,” said the deputy director-general.

Though there is much to be done, Norani acknowledged that things are changing. The number of companies that are willing to employ PWDs is increasing and the perception of PWDs in society has also changed.

“People are not awkward or shy when they talk about PWDs. They are accepted in society now more than ever,” she noted.

Today’s celebrations is to pay tribute to PWDs and recognise their contribution to society. There will be awards for outstanding PWDs who have courageously triumphed over their disabilities and also certificates for care providers who have worked tirelessly for the disabled.

One of the highlights of the event is an exhibition showcasing the handiwork and products of PWDs.

The exhibition will also highlight programmes run by government agencies, non-governmental organisations and service providers for PWDs, and suggest areas in which the corporate sector can play a part.

There will also be a registration drive to encourage PWDs to register with the Department of Social Welfare.

“A lot of PWDs and their parents are not aware of the services that are available to them. These services include employment assistance and also the access to early rehabilitation programmes.

“In Malaysia, it isn’t compulsory for PWDs to register with the department. But we encourage them to because to be eligible for our services, they have to be registered. That is a criteria,” said Norani.

There are presently about 330,000 PWDs registered with the Department. This, says Norani, is only a small percentage of the total number of PWDs in the country.

“The World Health Organisation estimates that PWDs make up five to 10% of the population of every country. This is a general estimation. The categorisation of PWDs differ ... some countries categorise old people as PWDs as well. In Malaysia, PWDs are divided into seven categories,” said Norani.

The seven categories of disabilities are visual impairment, physical disability, deafness, speech impairment, mental disability, learning disability and multiple disabilities.

“Once they register with us, they will be assessed by experts to determine if they qualify and into which category they best fit,” said Norani.

She explained that Malacca was chosen as the venue of this year’s celebrations for several reasons.

“We really wanted to reach the masses and reach out to PWDs everywhere. The celebrations will be held at Fashion City (at the Melaka International Trade Centre grounds) which is accessible to everyone. Also, this is a tribute to Malacca, which was was recently declared a developed state.”

Norani concluded: “We also wanted to see whether, as a developed state, it would be able to provide for PWDs.

Monday December 13, 2010

Bar: Stricter laws needed to help the disabled

KUALA LUMPUR: There is a need for stricter laws to make facilities for disabled persons at public buildings and properties a must, said Malaysian Bar Council president K. Ragunath.

He added that most public transportation and walkways were not disabled-friendly.

“There is not enough pressure on the government to take the matter seriously,” he said.

He added that the Bar Council planned to set up a committee to advocate the rights of the disabled within the next two months.

The committee would work with the government, various NGOs and town councils to increase awareness on the needs of the community.

“More government intervention is needed to protect the rights of the disabled community especially in terms of employment and accessibility to public property,” he said after the grand finals of the Bar Council Human Rights Debate 2010 last night.

The three-day competition saw participation of debaters from 18 local and international institutions in conjunction with the World Human Rights Day on Saturday.

The winning team will get RM5,000 from the total cash prize of RM30,000, while the remaining RM25,000 will be donated to five charity organisations.

The organisations selected to receive the donation include the National Autism Society of Malaysia and the Society of the Orthopaedically Handicapped Malaysia.