Christmas Celebrations (Open House)

BANDAR BARU SELAYANG - Meriah

BANDAR BARU SELAYANG - Meriah

Kemeriahan sekitar Sambutan Hari Orang Kurang Upaya (OKU) Sedunia anjuran Majlis Perbandaran Selayang (MPS), Jabatan Keselamatan Jalan Raya dan Badan Latihan & Hidup Berdikari (ILTC) yang berlangsung di hadapan pekarangan Stadium MPS, di sini minggu lalu. Satu Kempen Keselamatan dan Kesedaran Kemalangan Jalan Raya turut diadakan di mana sebanyak 120 jaket keselamatan dan topi keledar diberikan kepada OKU yang hadir dalam majlis tersebut.

Turut hadir Ahli Parlimen Selayang, William Leong Jee Keen, Yang Dipertua MPS, Zainal Adidin Azim dan Pengarah Jabatan Keselamatan Jalan Raya Selangor, Shah Rizan Mohamad Sirat.

Time to heighten plight of the disabled

Thursday December 4, 2008

Time to heighten plight of the disabled

THE International Day for the Disabled fell on Dec 3 and I wonder how many of us were aware of this.

Malaysians treat the disabled with a curious combination of either disrespect or as morbid objects of curiosity. We still have a long way to go to accept the disabled as useful contributors to society.

In the west, the disabled are taught and encouraged to live independently, with self-respect and integrity. Over here, people are more curious than helpful, with scores of nosey bystanders whenever the disabled dare venture out for everyday chores or visits.

We still have much to learn from the West when it comes to empowering our disabled community.

First of all, we have to heighten the plight of the disabled to the general public. As a community, the disabled can and do make a useful contribution to society, the economy and social issues.

However, many individuals, companies and politicians are not willing to extend full rights to the disabled.

Legislation of laws which will ease the daily life of the disabled are slow to pass. In simple terms, the disabled are treated as second-class citizens.

Job opportunities are still not being made available to the disabled in either the public or private sector, buildings do not incorporate features to help the disabled, transport facilities for the disabled are lacking. Even the provision of special handicap parking badges have recently been turned down.

Most taxis refuse to take a wheelchair users. Even hotels, especially those that are state-run, do not have proper functioning facilities for the disabled.

For instance, cobbled paths that lead to the rooms or ramps that have a steep incline make it impossible for wheelchair users. The devil is in the detail and it is the detail that is sorely lacking at most places.

Our society, maybe even our culture, tends to exclude the disabled from normal life. Politicians only pay lip service to helping the disabled. Some MPs have made unflattering remarks about the disabled rather than treat them with the dignity and the respect they deserve.

If we are serious about being a fully fledged developed nation, then it is time we made a serious effort to promote the interests and well-being of the disabled.

Secondly, politicians should legislate aggressively to help empower the disabled to include them in the mainstream of society. Individuals, companies and organisations could also involve themselves in the development of ideas to counteract the negative perception of society towards the disabled.

Schools should be encouraged to have an after-school activity that makes our children aware that the disabled have the right to live, work and be educated alongside us.

International Day for the Disabled should be a time for us to show our respect, pride and admiration for the disabled in our society.

MARIAM MOKHTAR,

Ipoh.

Failure to fill form costs disabled jobs

2008/12/04

Failure to fill form costs disabled jobs


BANGI: Almost all of the 1,000 disabled who sought government jobs between July and this month were unsuccessful because of their failure to fill a compulsory form.

They had failed to submit a form issued by the Public Services Commission, completing only a form issued by the Social Welfare Department.This led to only five successfully obtaining jobs.

Social Welfare Department division for the development of people with disabilities director Jayalatchumy Cumaraswamy said many applicants were not aware they had to fill out the form issued by the commission.She said this after the launch of a job expo for the disabled.

The form issued by the commission will be available online at www.spa.gov.my. from Jan 1.

Include The Disabled In All Development Efforts - UN Sec-Gen

December 03, 2008 18:41 PM

Include The Disabled In All Development Efforts - UN Sec-Gen
By: Ramjit

By Muin Abdul MajidDUBAI, Dec 3 (Bernama) -- United Nations (UN) secretary-general Ban Ki-moon has urged governments and all stakeholders to ensure the disabled and their organisations are an integral part of all development processes.

"In this way, we can promote integration and pave the way for a better future for all people in society," he said in his message to mark International Day Of Persons with Disabilities on Wednesday.

According to Ban, the UN General Assembly had stressed that to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), those with disabilities must be included in all processes.

"With 80 per cent of the disabled -- more than 400 million people -- living in poor countries, we need to do much more to break the cycle of poverty and disability," he said.

Ban said this year's celebration came just a week before the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the UN was commemorating both under the theme, 'Dignity and Justice for All of Us'.

"We have much to celebrate this year. The entry into force of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in May was a turning point."

When the first Conference of the Parties convened in October, participants immediately began considering how the Convention can serve as a tool to achieve the MDGs."

This progress has been made possible, thanks to the active participation and leadership of persons with disabilities, by ensuring that they have access to -- and are included in -- all aspects of our work," said the head of the world body.

Noting that the UN remained committed to this approach, Ban said the renovation of the UN headquarters complex would bring its facilities up to the latest standards of accessibility.

"These advances are long overdue," he added.

BERNAMA

Thursday December 4, 2008

- Lifestyle > Focus


Better facilities
WHEEL POWER
BY ANTHONY THANASAYAN

INTERNATIONAL Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), which was observed yesterday, turned out to be quite a memorable event for a number of disabled persons in the Klang Valley. The theme for this year’s celebrations was Dignity and Justice – two words which matter a great deal to disabled communities all over the world.

On Monday, I was invited as a Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya speaker to a road safety awareness campaign at the MPS stadium in Selayang, Selangor. The event brought together more than a hundred disabled motorists. The campaign, held in conjunction with the UN international disabled day, was targeted at disabled drivers, and organised by the Selayang Municipal Council, together with the Malaysian Road Safety Department and the Independent Living and Training Centre (ILTC).

Francis Siva, president of ILTC, said: “Because of the lack of disabled-friendly public transportation, the handicapped have to find ways to acquire vehicles on their own to earn a living or for hospital visits. As cars are expensive, many of the disabled resort to buying bikes, which are not exactly safe.”

These bikes are modified into four-wheelers or three-wheelers. The four-wheeler looks like a normal bike except that it has three wheels at the back with the usual one wheel in front. The disabled can tie their foldable wheelchairs at the backend of their seats. The three-wheelers come with an attached sidecar. Although the wheelchair can be placed in the sidecar, it would take a strong disabled motorcyclist to lift the wheelchair into the sidecar. Riders with poor balance also risk falling off their bikes.

“There are no driving schools which provide disabled-friendly cars or motorcycles for the handicapped,” said Francis, who became disabled in a driving accident more than 20 years ago.

That did not stop him from driving again 10 years later. He uses a hand-powered car that allows him to control the pedals with his hands. He said the only centre that has two modified cars for disabled persons to learn to drive is at the government Bangi training centre in Kajang, Selangor.

“I often receive complaints that the centre has no instructors to teach disabled drivers,” he said, adding that all driving schools should provide at least one modified car and motorbike for handicapped students.

Francis has a couple of suggestions:

>Make special concessions: Many disabled persons are illiterate because they have not been to school. Others were forced to drop out because schools refused to provide disabled-friendly facilities or there was no transportation available. Special training to handle such persons is required for all staff.

>Many PJ buildings are not disabled-friendly. Its offices in Padang Jawa, Selangor, and Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur, provide services at the disabled car parks. However, there are complaints from the handicapped that the allocated parking lots are not next to entrances, security personnel are never around, and the handicapped are being charged for parking.

Helping hand for the handicapped

Monday December 1, 2008

Helping hand for the handicapped



LIKE most parents, lottery ticket seller Ramesh Moses has many worries concerning his children.

However, his worries are over simple, yet essential, matters like having enough food on the table each day.

The 44-year-old is wheelchair-bound and was handicapped by polio at the age of two. He earns about RM550 a month through the ticket sales.Feeling the pinch: (From left) K. Kaliamma, her son M. Muhilan with Mary and her husband Ramesh at their home in Sri Johor flats in Cheras during the visit by Azman.

His wife R. Mary, 43, is a housewife and they have four children aged between 11 and 18 years old.

They have been living at a Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) flat in Cheras for about 20 years now.

The church they attend also helps out with some RM200 each month.

However, the total is hardly sufficient for a family of four with children in school and other expenditures like the flat rental and utility bills.

“My flat rental is overdue by about 12 months. I only sell tickets three times a week and I go to work at nearby areas such as Maluri and Pandan Jaya, within Cheras so that my cab fare does not exceed RM8 to and fro each time,” he said during a visit to his flat by Bandar Tun Razak MP Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim’s personal assistant Azman Abidin.

Azman also visited a handicapped boy, M. Muhilan, 19, in the area. Muhilan was accompanied by his mother K. Kaliamma Thevi, 44.

Kaliamma said Muhilan and his younger brother M. Anbarasan, 16, were born with Down Syndrome.

“I can’t work because I have to be here and take care of Muhilan while my sister takes care of Anbarasan. Sending them to a day-care centre would be too expensive for me.

“I cannot leave them alone as they need attention all the time, especially since they occasionally have seizures,” she said, adding that her husband, who works for Alam Flora, was a diabetic and was also often ill.

Azman, who provide some monetary help to the two families on behalf of the MP’s office, said there were many low-income, handicapped people living in the DBKL flats.

“The cost of living in KL is quite high and especially during this time of economic crisis, the low-income groups feel the pinch the most.

“I suggest that the government waives the rental for certain low-income, handicapped groups to help them in the long-run and think of ways of helping them sustain themselves,” he said during the visit.

To make contributions to these families call the MP’s office at 03-9172 1200/ 4200.

Ministry To Get Equal Recognition For Disabled Athleles

December 01, 2008 16:10 PM


Ministry To Get Equal Recognition For Disabled Athleles

BERA, Dec 1 (Bernama) -- The Youth and Sports Ministry is trying to get equal recognition for disabled athletes to enjoy the rights and privileges received by their normal counterparts.

Its Minority Sports Development Director, Kamaruzaman Hassan Mansor, said Monday the ministry hoped that the disabled athletes would receive the same incentives because they too had struggled to put Malaysia's name in the world sports arena.

"If a normal athlete gets RM1 million if he or she wins a gold medal in the Olympics, we hope the same reward will be given to the disabled athlete for a gold medal at the Paralympic Games," he said at the closing of the national-level Tasek Bera Kayaking Expedition for the Disabled Challenge 2008, here.

Kamaruzaman Hassan said the ministry would also try to secure pension for disabled athletes who win medals at international sports meets.

He also called for a sports and recreation association for the disabled to be set up soon in each state to take care of the welfare and interests of disabled athletes.

BERNAMA

Segerakan kemudahan bas untuk OKU

Selasa 2-12-2008


Segerakan kemudahan bas untuk OKU

BANDAR BARU SELAYANG – Ahli Parlimen Selayang, William Leong Jee Keen menggesa pihak kerajaan melalui Kementerian Kerja Raya menyegerakan penyediaan kemudahan pengangkutan bas awam untuk golongan orang kurang upaya (OKU) bagi memudahkan kehidupan harian mereka sama seperti masyarakat sempurna fizikal yang lain.

“Pada pandangan saya, kemudahan ini bukanlah sesuatu yang sukar disediakan. Kementerian boleh memanggil semua pihak berkenaan bagi membincangkan perkara ini, termasuk syarikat bas yang boleh mengeluarkan bas khas ini untuk memberikan kemudahan kepada OKU.

“Lihat contoh di Singapura, mereka boleh menyediakan kemudahan bas untuk OKU dan tidak mustahil kita juga boleh meluaskan penggunaan bas berkenaan,” katanya ketika berucap merasmikan Kempen Keselamatan dan Kesedaran Kemalangan Jalan Raya sempena Hari OKU Sedunia di sini, semalam.

William berkata demikian berikutan masih kurangnya kemudahan pengangkutan untuk golongan tersebut, walaupun terdapat kemudahan pengangkutan awam seperti transit aliran ringan (LRT) dan teksi.

Sementara itu mengulas manfaat kempen anjuran Majlis Perbandaran Selayang itu William berkata, usaha Majlis Keselamatan Jalan Raya yang sudi menyumbang sebanyak 120 jaket keselamatan dan topi keledar kepada OKU yang hadir pada majlis tersebut diharap dapat memberikan kesedaran kepada golongan berkenaan mengenai kepentingan mengamalkan pemanduan berhemah dan mengambil langkah terhadap keselamatan di jalan raya.

Katanya, program sebegini amat digalakkan kerana ia secara tidak langsung dapat menerapkan nilai-nilai murni kepada generasi baru supaya tidak mengabaikan tanggungjawab mereka terhadap OKU sekali gus dapat merapatkan hubungan antara masyarakat awam dan pihak berkuasa tempatan (PBT).

“Saya berharap agar lebih ramai pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) dan syarikat-syarikat swasta untuk tampil memberikan bantuan yang terdaya dan saya sentiasa membuka ruang kepada warga OKU untuk sama-sama berkongsi masalah dan pandangan,” katanya.

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DISABLED PERSONS

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DISABLED PERSONS - 3RD DECEMBER 2008

Theme: "Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities : Dignity and Justice for All of Us"

Don’t turn a blind eye to them

Friday November 28, 2008

Don’t turn a blind eye to them
Story and photos by OH ING YEEN

WHAT do you do when a blind candidate attends your company’s job interview?

In conjunction with the International Disabled Day (Hari OKU) on Dec 3, the Society of the Blind in Malaysia held a press conference on “How to interview the visually impaired”.

According to the society’s Employee and Computer Deve-lopment Committee member Dr Wong Huey Siew, 39, the Women, Family and Community Develop-ment Ministry announced that 1% of jobs available in the public sector must be allocated to people with disabilities (PWDs) to ensure that they have equal access to employment.

“There will also be tax incentives for employers to buy suitable support equipment for their workers who are disabled.”

Technology to the rescue: Wong using a computer with a special software that reads out the document for the user.

The objective of the press conference was to inform the blind about the job opportunities available, to raise awareness on how to hire those who are visually-impaired, and to encourage future employers to contact the relevant organisations for more information.

“Many people do not know how to interact with disabled people. At an interview, it’s wrong for interviewers to keep quiet just because they have no experience in interacting with PWDs,” said Wong.

“In order to establish rapport, they should introduce themselves and other interviewers.

“Get to know the candidate. Some interviewers tend to focus on the interviewee’s disabilities instead of their capabilities and strengths. They should access the candidate’s skills, motivation level, past working experiences as well as ask them how they can contribute to the company,” he said in the interview at the society’s headquarters in Brickfields, KL.

He added that the employers should also identify the support systems needed.

“They would need to install a software imported from the United States, which costs about RM4,000, into any computer to enable us to decipher and type documents,” said Wong who uses the system to prepare his lecture notes and write and send e-mails.

“Some employers fear for the disabled person’s safety especially where staircases are concerned.
Going up and down the stairs is not a problem, just give them a day to walk around the office and get accustomed to it,” he said.

On transportation to work, he said, “Almost 100% of the visually-impaired take the public transport to work and they can make it there on time.”

Speaking from personal experience, Wong recalled the disappointment he faced as a visually-impaired person when seeking for jobs before landing his current job as a lecturer.

“I spent three years looking for a job after I completed my master’s and have sent out around 1,000 resumes, some to well-established companies, but I was only called for less than 20 interviews.

He added that among the job options available for the visually-impaired were lawyer, legal adviser, trainer, counsellor, telemarketer, telephonist, editor, writer, lecturer, school teacher and government agency officer.

For details, visit the Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB) http://www.mab.org.my/ or call the Society of the Blind in Malaysia at 03-2274 6162.

DEWAN RAKYAT: No special car stickers

NST Online » Local News

2008/11/26

DEWAN RAKYAT: No special car stickers

THE government has no plan to issue special car stickers for handicapped motorists, Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin said yesterday.

However, a vehicle that had been modified for use by a disabled person was allowed to display a sign -- For Disabled Use. This sign would tell the police, Road Transport Department officers and the public that the vehicle was used by a disabled person, Lajim said in reply to a question by Abd Rahman Bakri (BN-Sabak Bernam)

Make workplace more disabled-friendly

Monday November 24, 2008

Make workplace more disabled-friendly

KUCHING: Infrastructure and an environment that is not disabled-friendly is the reason why many employers find it difficult to hire the disabled, said Sarawak Welfare Department director Kendy Edward.

He said an environment that was not disabled-friendly restricted the movement of this group of people.

“The problem is not the qualifications or job offers, but the lack of a disabled-friendly environment, which should be addressed.

“Many employers are keen to hire the disabled, but the environment is not suitable for them,” she told reporters after the closing the Bicara Bestari smart talk programme on the topic Empowering the Disabled, Outlining Success, Proving Ability here recently.

Edward urged employers to provide disabled-friendly facilities to allow them to carry out their tasks with ease, instead of only offering jobs.

She said the employers must provide facilities such as barrier-free zones, ICT facilities and support equipment to allow them to move freely and do their work well.

“I hope those in the public and private sectors will provide the disabled with suitable jobs based on their qualifications and degree of disability as well as access to the workplace,” she said.

To encourage the private sector to hire more disabled persons, Kendy said the state allowed tax reductions for renovations to make offices disabled-friendly.

There are 19,857 disabled people registered with the Sarawak Welfare Department of whom 2,006 are blind, 2,647 deaf, 7,072 physically disabled, 7,196 slow learners and 936 with cerebral palsy.

The Bicara Bestari programme will present its findings to instil care and respect and promote acceptance and openness towards the disabled. – Bernama

D-Day checklist

Thursday November 27, 2008

The Star - Lifestyle

D-Day checklist
WHEEL POWER WITH ANTHONY THANASAYAN

INTERNATIONAL Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) falls on Dec 3 next week. This year’s theme is Dignity and Justice.

Here’s a checklist to help us make Dec 3 a special day.

Sensitive terminology: Say “persons with disabilities” or “disabled persons”. The latter is based on the position taken by many international disabled activists who see themselves as people who are disabled by society because of the lack of disabled-friendly facilities rather than by their medical conditions.

Never use the word “normal” when referring to yourself if you are not a disabled person. Use “non-disabled” instead. Ban all negative labels such as “deformed” and “crippled” from your vocabulary.

Cope vs cure: Except for those who have been disabled recently, most disabled persons are not looking for a cure to their conditions because there is no cure for the majority of disabilities.

Acceptance of one’s condition is the key to positive living with disabilities. Rather than a cure, for instance, the handicapped want jobs so that they can live like anyone else.

Be careful when referring to disabilities as a “tragedy” or an “unfortunate state”. Disabled people do not feel that they are second to non-disabled persons. Many of them even celebrate being disabled, which is what IDPD is all about.

Be a pal: Befriend a disabled person today. Not only will he or she be thrilled when you approach them, the experience will enrich you, too. Don’t ask him about his disability. Save that question for later. By then, it probably won’t matter to you.

There are things you can do such as help them pay their utility bills, collect their medication and clean their room or home periodically.

Service providers: Phone companies, how about coming up with a package for the handicapped? How about free calls or low flat rates? Phones are not a luxury item but a basic necessity for the disabled. They are also life-savers during emergencies.

As for the Internet, how about a RM1 token monthly fee? Helping the handicapped to get online will significantly up their chances to get educated and find jobs that they can do at home.

Others: Banks, why don’t you reserve the parking lot nearest to your entrance for disabled and elderly customers? Please make it a covered facility so that they can also perform quick transactions on the site. The provision will be a temporary measure as you upgrade your banks in stages to become disabled-friendly.

The UN says about 10% of the world’s population, or 650 million people, live with disabilities.
About 80% to 90% of disabled persons of working age in developing countries like Malaysia are unemployed.

According to Unesco, 90% of children with disabilities also do not attend school.

With such stark realities, it is imperative that countries the world over take three significant steps to improve the lives of disabled persons in their nations. They must sign, ratify and implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol.

To my knowledge, Malaysia has to date made the first move only in this all-important pathway that will make a great difference to all disabled Malaysians.

Independent travel

Thursday November 20, 2008

Independent travel
By VIVIENNE PAL

One man’s effort in making Malaysia an ideal holiday destination for the disabled.
ASK Helen Jones about one of her most eventful moments in 2003 and, chances are, the Mangrove Swamp Excursion will rank top of her list.

This “excursion” could not be less accessible for Jones; getting into and out of a speedboat and up wet wooden steps proved extremely challenging.

Here’s why: Jones, who has cerebral palsy, is wheelchair-bound.

Accessibility makes touring the Great Wall of China possible for this disabled traveller.

Jones was in Malaysia as part of a team comprising Disability View and representatives from a host of disability organisations based in Britain to inspect how welcoming Malaysia was to disabled travellers.

Disability View, an organisation which provides current and useful information on disability in Britain, had sent its editorial representative to Malaysia on an educational trip jointly organised by Wings on Wheels, a specialist travel company for people with special needs, Malaysia Airlines and Malaysia-based travel agency Diethelm Travel Management.

In its September/October 2003 issue, Disability View’s magazine reported that although it took a considerable amount of “woman-handling” to get Jones in and out of the boat and to lunch, the excursion at the mangrove swamp was “worth the effort” and, according to Jones, “the boat ride to look at some of the country’s marine life was ‘just amazing’.”

The trip, while having assessed at that time the accessibility of most five-star hotels in the heart of Kuala Lumpur (door widths, colour contrasts, ramp gradients, room layouts and positioning of facilities and equipment: all check; with Equatorial Hotel offering the best quality of access), and that transfers from the lifts to their coach were more accessible than the regular train shuttle into the heart of the city, also showed the potential the country has as a tourist destination for the disabled, and how much the disabled want – and should be entitled to – their fun.

But that’s only possible if they are given the means to be independent.

“We usually prefer to be independent when we go on trips so we won’t slow down the group,” says Antony Leopold, who is himself disabled after having been struck with post-poliomyelitis of both legs since 1953. He has moved around with walking aids or on a wheelchair since.

While first-world countries like the United States and many European countries have proven to be accessible holiday destinations, Malaysia still has some way to go.

“Malaysia is quite far from being ‘travel accessible’ although the concept of barrier-free tourism is now gradually being implemented.

“Initially, I thought accessibility elsewhere was like how it is in Malaysia, but when I discovered just how accessible other countries were in comparison, I was inspired to do something,” Leopold says, adding that the disabled include both the handicapped and the elderly who rely on help to move around.

Married with three children, and able to move around independently in his own car, Leopold, 56, wishes to afford the same kind of experience to as many in the disabled tourist community as possible. And W what better way than to use his business as the platform to offer such value-added services?

In 2004, Leopold set up Ace Altair Travels Sdn Bhd after having been in the travel business in various capacities for some 15 years. Besides attending to able-bodied customers, he is determined that the company would realise his dream of providing meaningful holidays for the disabled.

“I’ve always loved travelling. This is the extension of my dream. Initially, I thought travelling would be impossible in the light of my disability because so many places weren’t disabled-friendly.”

As far as Leopold knows, there are no other providers of accessible travel in the country although he knows of cases of disabled travellers being handled by other agents.

He seems to be travelling a lonely road, considering the odds stacked against him.

“If you want to do something, you have to start by doing it on your own,” he replies with spirit.

Leopold developed Travel Assist, a niche value-added service specially designed to identify hotels with rooms for the disabled, and accessible places of interest and attractions, as well as provide transportation and transfers, and accompaniment by specially trained personnel upon request.

Providing such highly specialised services, especially when it’s new, can be tough. In order to market Travel Assist effectively, Leopold has subscribed to Malaysian Tourism Online Unified Reservation System (myTours), a system developed by Creative Advances Technology Sdn Bhd,

A consolidated tourism e-business platform that will unite government agencies, various sectors of the travel industry, and consumers, myTours includes components such as Hotels2Go and Flights2Go, and other travel-related technology integral to the entire supply chain of the tourism industry.

“I believe in the power of technology. The Commerce platform helps me jump-start my online travel business. It helps me connect with other travel agents and suppliers, whether they are inside or outside of Malaysia. This is a great way to promote my service,” he says.

One can rest assured the destinations he recommends are places that he and his family have personally scouted. In terms of accessible accommodation, Leopold says that most five- and four-star hotels in major cities in Malaysia have one or two handicapped user-friendly rooms with wider doors, accessible ramps, hand railings and some with roll-in showers.

Some of his trips have turned up unexpected surprises: some small towns offer disabled-friendly accommodation, like the 100-room Hotel Flamingo in the quiet town of Sitiawan!

Apart from the services, Leopold also provides other necessities.

“We will provide crutches and basic wheelchairs in case tourists do not bring their own, and we are planning to get motorised wheelchairs and a specially equipped van for wheelchair-bound travellers. I recently found a travel company that has a 28-seater coach which has a wheelchair lifter. They are very keen to work with me on my proposed services for disabled travel.

“We’ve also ordered portable ramps and I am in touch with an orthopaedic specialist who will advise me on how to best service disabled tourists,” he says, adding that he hoped to cater to small groups of four or five initially.

Leopold estimates start-up costs at RM300,000. He agrees that the infrastructure has to be in place for his venture to be successful.

“If you have the facilities, and help from the Government, the tourists will come. I have the contacts to provide a holiday for disabled travellers – I’ve made it possible for disabled tourists to ride an elephant in Thailand or even go scuba-diving.

“Having said that, we are realistic – there are some places we can’t go; for instance, I couldn’t walk up the Taj Mahal when I was on holiday in India, but being there and seeing it was wonderful enough for me. But, in certain instances, things can be improved. A holiday can be made a little better for the disabled with a ramp placed here or there, or resorts taking that extra step by constructing lanes near pools or by the beach for the disabled to move on.

“I’ll make sure something happens in my lifetime, regardless of whether every other entity comes in to play its part or not,” he says, adding that he hopes Travel Assist would be fully operational by next year.

■ Ace Altair Travels Sdn Bhd is located at Suite 1.12, 1st floor, The AmpWalk, 218, Jalan Ampang, KL. For details, call 03-2166 3755/ 4755.

Public transport: Don't leave disabled out

Public transport: Don't leave disabled out
Sam Wong Nov 21, 08 3:52pm

At last, we are happy to hear that the Selangor government has initiated the transport fund to improve the publish transport in the state. This has shown the state government’s keen interest to increase the rate of people using public transport.

The target is seeing people using public transport go up from 11 percent to 30 percent and setting another goal to reduce the private car to public transport ratio to at least 30:70.

Nevertheless, in the report on this transport fund, we did not see any statement regarding people with disabilities. People with disabilities make up of almost 10 percent of our nation’s population.

They have been the larger marginalised group in our country even though they can contribute to the national economy. Perhaps it is this disabled environment or disabled unfriendly environment that makes them disabled after all.

We should not neglect the ability of people with disabilities; they have long been marginalised in our country. They are eager to contribute to the nation and have even foregone their personal well-being.

However, the environment surrounding has always been unkind. They do not have access to the public areas because these public areas are not designed to be disabled friendly.

I am one of those disabled people. When staying at Petaling Jaya few years ago, I found none of the public amenities were disabled friendly. The public transport services, both in design and in routes, were not accessible to me.

Even normal people found it hard to access to the services. The roads were not jept in good condition with constant digging going on from day to night while the public transport infrastructure itself was more often than not an inconvenience.

The Selangor government has said that it would work together with developers to push the federal government to develop the state’s public transport infrastructure. But I do hope the development will also include the rural areas such as Kuala Selangor, Sungai Besar and Sabak Bernam.

Those areas are also part of Selangor and the state government should also develop the public transport infrastructure there. There should be a plan for all, not only for some areas; we are not building up a Lego city here.

The government must not overlook the needs of people with disabilities. The transport fund has to take into account the community of people with disabilities in Selangor.

When developing public transport infrastructure please please ensure that they are accessible to the disabled.

The increasing ratio of members of the public using public transport always includes the population of people with disabilities. In Hong Kong, 90 percent of population use public transport and this includes people with disabilities.

Finally and just as importantly, some disabled are fortibate enough to have their won personal transport but we need to remember that when they age they may have to depend on public transport more and more.

All the more reson that our public transport infrastructure be holistically demand to cater for the needs of the entire population, disabled included.

An unexpected bouquet

An unexpected bouquet
Tuesday November 18, 2008

Truly an eye-opening read

I WISH to thank The Star for giving the opportunity to columnist Anthony Thanasayan who writes the Wheel Power column.

I have no idea when Anthony first started writing. I must have been too busy with my career and everything around me because I was an able-bodied person who could go anywhere at any time.

Then suddenly my lifestyle changed. Due to disease, disability slowly crept in since 2001. I don’t remember when I started reading Anthony’s articles but I know that it was definitely after 2002 when I started using his articles to teach my students.

Anthony being disabled, writes about the disabled and describes everything so vividly about the life of the disabled, the challenges they go through and the insensitivities they put up with, so much so, I feel he is talking about me. But then again, I know that many other disabled people feel that Anthony is talking about them, too.

If The Star has not given such an opportunity to a disabled columnist, many people like me would be voiceless. That is the power of the pen.

So, thank you for making the disabled community come to light instead of being shunned like lepers. I am sure The Star has contributed in the making of a MBPJ councillor.

I hope more disabled people will start living their life with whatever disability they have. I have been going through a lot of frustrations especially caused by able-bodied people who just don’t seem to care or understand what I am going through.

Many times, I just gave up. I felt unwanted, useless, and have no purpose in living. But Anthony’s articles are an eye-opener. They make me realise that the disabled have a right to learn, to work and to be independent.

I reckon that, all of us, the disabled, do not want sympathy or donations. What we want is the right to live among the able-bodied people.

I hope educators, employers, colleagues, family members, relatives and friends will always pave the way for the disabled to live independently. I know many able-bodied people read Anthony’s articles and some of them even use the articles when teaching.

Such people, unlike me, need not wait to be disabled in order to discover about the disabled world. They discovered Anthony instead.

JANET KOCHAPPAN,
Seri Kembangan, Selangor.

Their ‘Dream’: China Disabled People’s Performing Arts Troupe

Their ‘Dream’: One World One Dream - China Disabled People’s Performing Arts Troupe

In Malaysia, THE China Disabled People’s Performing Art Troupe who recently performed at the KLCC Convention Centre on Nov 8 and 9, Plenary Hall, Kuala Lumpur. The audience turnout was great.

The charity show performed from China and our very own Malaysian disabled, DeafBeat from YMCA Kuala Lumpur, the Independent Living and Training Centre and the Creative Stars.

The “My Dream” featuring singing, dance, acrobatics and music and poetry communicated through sign language.

It is possible that many members of the Malaysian community still have not heard of the troupe, nor know how surprisingly high its artistic skills are, with or without disabilities. This troupe has performed in over 50 countries and often to full houses.

Dancers from the China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe await their turn to raise and move their arms during a dance on stage in KLCC on November 08, 2008.

Dancers from the China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe - the unique troupe features a cast of more than 30 dancers and performers with physical disabilities, some who cannot hear.

Dancers from the China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe performed the "Thousand-hand Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva".

Handicapped duo show they can, despite the odds

Thursday November 13, 2008

Handicapped duo show they can, despite the odds

PEKAN: Parents with disabled children are bound to despair over their future.
Thoughts of the hardships awaiting their children will haunt them.

Such was the predicament for Othman Ali, 75, and his wife Juliah Ismail, 71, from Kampung Tanjong Pulai, whose son Mohd Khairi was born with incomplete limbs.

Now aged 31 years, Mohd Khairi is physically challenged with stunted hands and legs.
Great dexterity: Mohd Khairi carring a feed container to feed the fish in Kampung Tanjong Pulai, Pekan, recently.

He has proved to his parents that they have no reason to worry over his future.

His parents sigh in relief as their son is not only able to take care of himself, but is also a promising entrepreneur.

One may be surprised by how a man with physical limitations can venture into aquaculture, which involves significant physical ability.

It started eight years ago when Mohd Khairi was persuaded by his cousin Abdul Rashid Nordin to try aqua farming in Sungai Pahang.

His love for angling spurred him to borrow a fish enclosure from his cousin to breed tilapia.

Mohd Khairi continued in this undertaking and today owns 17 enclosures full of tilapia and ikan patin.

He said, on every breeding cycle, he could harvest 600kg to 700kg of fish worth RM4,000.

The fish is sold at markets in Pekan, and each cycle takes five months.

Though his average monthly income is only RM800, it makes a big difference for Mohd Khairi as he has an income to help him and his aged parents.

His daily routine begins with a wheelchair ride to the riverbank, where he uses his arms and thighs to descend the steps into the water and reach the enclosures.

He feeds the fishes by holding a food-pallet container under his armpit. He even carries the sacks of food pallets to the enclosures.

Other than feeding the fishes, he cleans the breeding area of debris washed into the enclosure.

The feeding and cleaning is conducted daily in the mornings and evenings.

“Due to my physical limitations, there are many hurdles to overcome, but I’m used to it,” said Mohd Khairi.

He seeks assistance from friends and relatives in harvesting and selling the fish.

Another disabled person, Mohamed Mahidin, 38, from Kampung Kiambang in Ganchong near here does not see his disability as an impediment to venturing into aquaculture.

A former silver-medal winner in the high jump event at the 1998 Asian Paralympics in Bangkok, he has 18 enclosures with tilapia and patin.

Mohamed, who has a deformed right leg, took up the venture six years ago and earns between RM1,000 and RM1,500 monthly.

He said his fishes were in demand, especially in the Kuantan wet market.

Speaking about enduring hardships, Mohamed said he had no choice but to face it.

“I was brought up in a kampung environment and am used to rivers,” he said.

The biggest challenge, he added, was the wet spell when aqua farming had to be stopped temporarily.

Mohd Khairi’s and Mohamed’s achievements stand as testimony that being handicapped poses no hindrance in getting on with life.

Their venture has received the attention of the Malaysian Fisheries Department.

On Oct 23, the department’s aquaculture development division director Ismail Abu Hassan provided the duo with assistance through the Aquaculture Support Services Scheme.

The aid will not only help them alleviate their financial burdens but also expand their venture through better infrastructure and support services.

Mohd Khairi is confident that he is on a better footing to increase his fish output while Mohamed is planning to venture into downstream activities like frozen fish products, pekasam (fish pickled in brine) and keropok (fish fritters).
Both of them overcame their physical shortcomings and turned into successful entrepreneurs as described by the adage: Where there is a will, there is a way. — Bernama
But he has never been deterred by his limitations in leading an independent life.

Getting in and out of buses a breeze for the disabled

Thursday November 13, 2008

Getting in and out of buses a breeze for the disabled
Story and photos by CHARLES FERNANDEZ

FIFTEEN new Nadi Putra buses fitted with special lifters for the disabled or orang kurang upaya (OKU) were recently added to the current fleet of 55 buses servicing Putrajaya.

The newly-introduced buses will display the OKU sticker for easy identification and they come in four colours.

Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique received the buses on behalf of the Putrajaya Corporation (PJC), witnessed by PJC president Tan Sri Samsuddin Osman, FT Deputy Minister Datuk M. Saravanan and FT Ministry secretary-general Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talib.

Boost for disabled: A passenger is being lifted onto the bus.

The lifter is placed at the back door and is controlled by the driver and the whole proceeding is viewed via a CCTV network fitted in the bus.

“Before the delivery of the new buses, Nadi Putra had 55 buses with 51 powered by NGV and four diesel-driven ones. Since June 2006 we use NGV for all buses operating here,’’ said Zulhasnan.

He said the 15 buses would service new housing areas in Precincts 5, 6, 15 and 18 to complement the current fleet of buses running the routes in Precincts 9 and 14.

“However, the numbers are still not enough to satisfy the needs of the residents and working community here who are encouraged to use the ‘Park and Ride’ system already in place,’’ added Zulhasnan.

As for long-term plans, Zulhasnan said the government had approved RM70mil for the purchase of another 104 buses which would be introduced in stages within the next two years.

When asked if the disabled community could use the services for free, Samsuddin said for the moment it was free.

“The fare is already subsided. It is only 50 sen,’’ he said.

Samsuddin added that the number of passengers using the Nadi Putra services had also increased from 100,000 in May last year to 230,000 until the end of October this year.