Tuesday May 17, 2011

Better access to transport for the disabled

By LEE YEN MUN
yenmun@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: To date, 100 public buses have been upgraded in a move to provide greater access to the disabled community.

Five LRT stations and 12 KTM stops were also upgraded with disabled-friendly facilities last December, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

She added that the Road Transport Department would launch a disabled-friendly bus design guideline for operators next month.

“To be a developed nation, we must provide accessibility and become a barrier-free nation.

“Ultimately, we want to see all public transportation hubs to be disabled-friendly,” she said after meeting representatives of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities here yesterday.

Shahrizat said more ministries had seriously considered its proposals to help the disabled.

They include the setting up of a task force with the Education Ministry to study challenges in the special education and early intervention sector.

She said the Human Resources Ministry would also look at the absorption of more members of the disabled community into the workforce.

“The greatest challenge is to push for a mindset change among employers and the disabled community.

“Although the situation is better today, disabled-friendly infrastructure in our country is still not enough,” she said, adding that employers must enforce affirmative policies to achieve the goal.