Sharing and caring 
Hari Raya open house is a wonderful way to celebrate the country’s cultural diversity.
OPEN house invitations to celebrate Aidilfitri proved to be an excellent opportunity for Malaysians to get to know each other better and rejoice in our cultural diversity.
Many of my friends took advantage of the holidays to go out with their families and friends to the many Hari Raya open houses around town. Others went by themselves.
Some Raya celebrants even offered transport for the disabled to attend their open houses.
At public events, the better prepared organisers made it a point to reserve disabled parking lots for handicapped drivers. They went so far as to meet the disabled at their cars and help them into their wheelchairs.
Effort was also made to ensure that the venues had disabled-friendly facilities in the restrooms as well as ramps into the building.
At the Selangor Mentri Besar’s do which I attended, the organisers provided special tables for disabled and elderly visitors. A waiter was on hand to help serve food to the special guests.
Well done to those who took the trouble to cater to special groups.
On another note, the nation’s 53rd birthday celebrations last month did not go down well with my friend Chong Tuck Meng from Bentong, Pahang.
This year was the first time the 49-year-old did not catch any live telecast of the parade from his home.
Chong has been using a wheelchair since a motor accident in 1982 left him paralysed from the neck down.
He recalled his very first Merdeka parade about 10 years ago in Kuala Lumpur.
He described it as one of his most memorable experiences, even though the crowd blocked his view and gave little consideration for his condition.
“Although our nation is now more than half a century old, there is still much to do in raising public awareness on the needs and rights of people with disabilities,” said Chong who serves as adviser for Perwira K9, an organisation for the physically disabled. “Whilst things are changing for the better for the disabled community in other countries, Malaysia has a lot of catching up to do in this area,” said Chong.
“Even in my hometown Bentong, I hardly see any changes for the disabled.”
Chong went on to say that he feels like a prisoner confined to his house. This is because the nearby shops and buildings are mostly inaccessible to wheelchairs.
“The Government, both at the local and Federal levels, should do everything in its power to correct these injustices so that people like me can lead a normal life.
“Because of the gross inaccessibility, the disabled community in Malaysia is among the most backward groups in society.”
“Remembering the disabled during festivities has its plus points as well as negative side,” cautioned Chong. “Festivities can inadvertently turn us into ‘victims’ of charity events, especially when they are over and we are forgotten for the rest of the year.
“People with disabilities should be remembered as often as possible and not only during special occasions.”
Chong also called for a change in mindset regarding the handicapped.
“TV programmes like the popular comedy drama series, Glee, and the blockbuster movie Avatar, feature characters with disabilities who carry a powerful message.
“When will our local TV shows and movies start portraying disabled characters positively? The only time we see disabled people now is during a tragedy, a disaster or in a tear-jerker.
We need to start viewing disability in a better light so that the rest of society will follow suit,” Chong concluded.
OPEN house invitations to celebrate Aidilfitri proved to be an excellent opportunity for Malaysians to get to know each other better and rejoice in our cultural diversity.
Many of my friends took advantage of the holidays to go out with their families and friends to the many Hari Raya open houses around town. Others went by themselves.
Some Raya celebrants even offered transport for the disabled to attend their open houses.
At public events, the better prepared organisers made it a point to reserve disabled parking lots for handicapped drivers. They went so far as to meet the disabled at their cars and help them into their wheelchairs.
Effort was also made to ensure that the venues had disabled-friendly facilities in the restrooms as well as ramps into the building.
At the Selangor Mentri Besar’s do which I attended, the organisers provided special tables for disabled and elderly visitors. A waiter was on hand to help serve food to the special guests.
Well done to those who took the trouble to cater to special groups.
On another note, the nation’s 53rd birthday celebrations last month did not go down well with my friend Chong Tuck Meng from Bentong, Pahang.
This year was the first time the 49-year-old did not catch any live telecast of the parade from his home.
Chong has been using a wheelchair since a motor accident in 1982 left him paralysed from the neck down.
He recalled his very first Merdeka parade about 10 years ago in Kuala Lumpur.
He described it as one of his most memorable experiences, even though the crowd blocked his view and gave little consideration for his condition.
“Although our nation is now more than half a century old, there is still much to do in raising public awareness on the needs and rights of people with disabilities,” said Chong who serves as adviser for Perwira K9, an organisation for the physically disabled. “Whilst things are changing for the better for the disabled community in other countries, Malaysia has a lot of catching up to do in this area,” said Chong.
“Even in my hometown Bentong, I hardly see any changes for the disabled.”
Chong went on to say that he feels like a prisoner confined to his house. This is because the nearby shops and buildings are mostly inaccessible to wheelchairs.
“The Government, both at the local and Federal levels, should do everything in its power to correct these injustices so that people like me can lead a normal life.
“Because of the gross inaccessibility, the disabled community in Malaysia is among the most backward groups in society.”
“Remembering the disabled during festivities has its plus points as well as negative side,” cautioned Chong. “Festivities can inadvertently turn us into ‘victims’ of charity events, especially when they are over and we are forgotten for the rest of the year.
“People with disabilities should be remembered as often as possible and not only during special occasions.”
Chong also called for a change in mindset regarding the handicapped.
“TV programmes like the popular comedy drama series, Glee, and the blockbuster movie Avatar, feature characters with disabilities who carry a powerful message.
“When will our local TV shows and movies start portraying disabled characters positively? The only time we see disabled people now is during a tragedy, a disaster or in a tear-jerker.
We need to start viewing disability in a better light so that the rest of society will follow suit,” Chong concluded.
International Student from Singapore has been volunteer 5 days at ILTC to engage community service projects.
Hokkaido University of Education located around HokkaidÅ, Sapporo, Japan. It is a national, public university, administered by the government of Japan.
On the day, we had shared our works at ILTC to the Students.
They had a great time at the ILTC 
More than 80 who are blind, Deaf, learning disabilities and with physically handicapped were treated like kings & queens and hosted the event by the Gapurna Group. There were also given Hari Raya cookies in conjunction with the festive season.The occasion was a first-ever Ramadan treat that was put together for members of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive.
Special day: Disabled having a good time at the Ramadan buffet
They organised this buka puasa with us in the hope of spreading and sharing some festive cheer.
This is my first year hosting the event and I hope the tradition will continue in years ahead,” he said. 
We (ILTC) really appreciate the Gapurna Group generosity for indulging the disabled in a wonderful buka puasa. 
The disabled were so thrilled and touched to be invited to such a grand event. 
HUNDREDS of grassroots leaders turned up to have their say on the Selangor Blueprint during the community dialogues in the Selayang Municipal Council on last Friday. (September 3, 2010). 
More than 120 representatives of residents’ associations, NGOs, businessmen and other stakeholders voiced their prime concerns during the Selangor Blueprint dialogue organised by the State Economic Planning Unit (Upen). 
ILTC President were highlighted the problems of welfare of the disabled, Senior Ciziten, underprivileged in Selangor and inefficient public transportation. 
The moderators at the community dialogue compiling feedback from the public at the session held in Selayang. 
This blueprint was the first of such plans for Selangor that would map out development in the state for the next three years. 
The planning of the blueprint takes into account the views of various stakeholders.
All views will be taken into account and documented in the Selangor Blueprint 2011-2013.
These special stickers for the disabled, enabling us to park our vehicles for free in public car parks all over Selangor and the free parking facility was applicable only to the disabled and not their family members and friends. 
It is issued free to those with various types of disabilities, nerve disorders, those with children with learning disabilities and those with a combination of several disabilities.
There are two types of stickers – one which can be displayed in vehicles, and the other, a mobile sticker for us to use if we intend to travel in other vehicles. 
The stickers have multi-coloured dots visible only under ultra-violet rays to prevent forgery. 
Those intending to apply for the stickers, should approach the nearest respective local authority and submit their photocopy of the individual’s MyKad, OKU Card issued by the Welfare Department, driving licence and two passport-sized photographs. 
However, the blind and deaf do not qualify. 
If the sticker is lost or misplaced, respective local authority will impose a RM30 fine and suspend the sticker privileges for three months.
We would also like to congratulate and thanks the local councillors and the MPS staff for making this project such a great success.