Disabled fight adversity for education

By LEE YUK PENG

PETALING JAYA: For the sake of a proper education, they have to go through terrible hardship — like attending school in diapers or urinating in bottles.

Gan Mun Wai, 13, from Ipoh and Kenny Lee Man Jun, 13, from Klang are students with special needs studying at SMK Sri Permata near here. Until recently, the school had no toilet facilities for such students.

“We want to achieve our dreams,” said Mun Wai.

Mun Wai, who has suffered from spina bifida (split spine) since birth, was forced to wear pampers to school while Man Jun, who has muscular dystrophy had to urinate into a bottle before pouring it into the toilet.

Special kids: Gan Mun Wai (behind in green tie), Ooi Wai Chong (with a red school bag), Kam Yu Choi, Leong Yao Wen and Kenny Lee Man Jun, getting ready for school.

However, 10 months after both Gan and Lee started starting going to the school, it managed to secure additional allocation to modify a store room into a disabled-friendly toilet.

School principal Ong Hock Thye said the Petaling Utama district education office approved the RM15,000 allocation after several follow-ups.

Next year, another student with special needs, Song Pei Xuan, will be joining the boys in the school.

Pei Xuan has also faced great difficulty in completing her primary school education in SS2 near here.

She had to wear diapers to school and a maid would have to change her diapers during recess everyday as the school also did not have a disabled-friendly toilet.

All three are currently staying at Beautiful Gate Foundation for the Disabled in SS2 and they are sent to school everyday by a disabled-friendly van.

They are among six students — three in primary schools — who are staying at the foundation.

Three other boys, Kam Yu Choi, Leong Yao Wen and Ooi Wai Chang, are currently attending other schools which do not have toilet facilities for students with special needs.

Source: The Star

EASY TARGETS: Disabled must be protected

DR A. SOORIAN, Seremban

IT was shocking to read reports that criminals have no qualms about targeting the disabled and the elderly. We are told that even charity-based centres are not spared.

Also, the blind are not let alone. They are molested, whether on the streets or in the passageways of their abode. When they lodge police reports, they are not taken seriously. Braille is not available to them when it comes to filling forms.

The deaf are also disadvantaged as police officers are not trained in sign language.

Incidents of the disabled being targeted by criminals never emerged on our mainstream radar before but now seem to be commonplace. The saddest part of it all is that these handicapped victims are overly vulnerable to attack and abuse by criminals at large. And they suffer in silence.

Generally, our country is prosperous and its people compassionate. It is high time a national long-term care scheme (including insurance) for the seriously disabled was launched.

We sometimes groan and moan over minor inconveniences we face, but surely these pale into insignificance when compared with the life sentence of agony and victimisation of these disabled and elderly folk.

Most handicapped victims of crime suffer in silence as they often fail to be taken seriously by the police. KUALA LUMPUR. 08.03.08. General Election 2008 SPR helper guide blind voters Lim Chee Wah 48yrs and Oui Kee Heyoh 52yrs to the polling centre at SK methodist Brickfields P-120 Bukit Bintang . pic by S.Sugumaran Sources: NST Online

Move to employ more disabled people in Johor

JOHOR BARU: The state government, with the help of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has set-up a People with Disabilities Employment Unit to encourage more employers to hire people with disabilities.

Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said the unit would provide employers with a data bank of people with disabilities whom they could hire.

It will also act as a support system where those selected will be given training that is suitable for the job.

"The setting up of this unit is one of Johor's efforts to increase the number of people with disabilities in the workforce," he said after opening a national conference on employment and disability here yesterday.

Also present were Social Welfare Department director-general Datuk Meme Zainal Rashid and UNDP assistant resident representative James George Chacko.

Ghani said the setting up of the unit was due to the success of an employment model jointly developed by UNDP and the State Economic Planning Unit. He said the state's immediate target was to fulfil the one per cent quota of employment for people with disabilities in government agencies.

"From there, we hope to expand it to the private sector," he added.

Ghani said for too long, people with disabilities had been discouraged by discriminatory barriers and mistaken assumptions about their capacity to work, causing most of them to withdraw from an active search for jobs and rely on either disability benefits or eke out a livelihood in low value-added work in the informal economy with support from their family.

"With the setting up of this unit, support will be made available to job-seekers with disabilities," he added.

The special unit can be reached at 07-2266618.

Meme said the move by Johor in setting up the unit was a major first step since Malaysia become a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in April last year.

"People with disabilities in this country should no longer be treated as passive recipients of assistance or as a burden to society, but rather as active contributors to society to achieve the goals of development for all," she said.

Meme hoped other states would also follow suit and set up similar units to assist people with disabilities.

Sources: NST Online

Municipal council to provide facilities for disabled in SS15

I AM disabled and have just moved to Subang Jaya from Klang. I am living in SS15. I enjoy living in this area as it has facilities that I need such as banks and restaurants.

Most of the time, I venture out on my own using my wheelchair.

Sometimes, I face difficulties going to certain parts of SS15 because of the curbs, uneven roads and other obstructions.

Is the council planning to make SS15 disabled-friendly to cater to people like me?

Senior citizens will also benefit from the disabled-friendly facilities.

Lim Khiew Wheng


DATUK ADNAN: The commercial area of SS15 was the first phase of development in Subang Jaya that was carried out by Sime UEP at the end of the 1970s.

It is undeniable that in the development plans put forward before 2000, there was no emphasis on the needs and facilities for the disabled.

However, after 2000, the Selangor Town and Country Planning Department, through the Local Agenda 21 programme, stated that the needs and facilities of the disabled must be taken into consideration.

This is stipulated in the development guidelines prepared by the Peninsular Malaysia Town and Country Planning Department.

In the guidelines, the facilities that have to be provided for the disabled include car parks, ramps for wheelchairs in commercial buildings, recreational parks, offices and high-rise residential buildings, as well as disabled-friendly toilets and lifts.

These facilities are stated in the development consent which developers have to adhere to.

In the case of older developed areas such as SS15, the council has identified disabled-friendly facilities that can be provided or upgraded.

These include disabled-friendly facilities at bus stops, pedestrian crossings and walkways from carparks to business premises.

At the moment, we are working with public transport concessionaires, such as Rapid KL and Metro, to build disabled-friendly facilities at existing bus stops to make it easier for the disabled to board buses.

The council is deeply concerned with facilities for the disabled. In 2007, we won the Building and Facilities For The Disabled Award in the government buildings category.

Source: Street, NST Online

TAHANANG WALANG HAGDANAN NEEDS

A call for assistance for the special needs of persons with disabilities from Tahanan Walang Hagdanan. Aside from food and water, residents and other persons with disabilities taking refuge at Tahanan Walang Hagdanan have other needs that others may not know of. There is a need for manpower from able-bodied citizen to reach areas unreachable by those who are in wheelchair. The entire work area and all the tools in them are all damaged. The source of livelihood of TWH is compromised. Others develop athletes foot, PWDs develop additional pressure sores. Catheters rendered useless predispose to urinary tract infection.

Even before the devastation brought by typhoon Ondoy, there is always a certain degree of struggle in every day life. But they are all survivors. An impressive trait shared by everyone is their resiliency. With your help they can get up again.

As per requested by TWH, they need the following:
Medicine:
Antibiotics for UTI, Povidone iodine, Hydrogen peroxide, Alcohol, Paracetamol for adults and children, Meds for cough, colds, fever and diarrhea, Asthma meds, Hypertension and diabetes meds, Oral rehydration solution, Indwelling and straight urinary catheters (French 16, 18, 20), Urine bags, Cotton, Adult diapers, Gauze/bandages, Micropores, Sterile and/ or examination gloves, Water based gel

Other needs:
Mattresses, Blankets, Pillows, Towels, Toiletries, Toothbrush, toothpaste, Bath and laundry soap, Disinfectants, Mops, scrubs, Rubber mops, Pails

Volunteers:
Cleaners, Plumbers, Electricians, those who can fix their livelihood equipment like mig welding machine, pipe bender, compressor, torno and lathe machine, master sander, router, circular saw, woodwork machineries, etc.

You can channel your donations through Life Haven. Please click here.
or direct to Tahanang Walang Hagdanan
175 Aida St., Marick Subd., Cainta, Rizal
Tel #: 6650055/ 6650059/ 6554580/ 6550812
Joy Garcia (Gen. Mgr.) 09189447922
Virgie Montilla (Admin Director) 09206260710

坐輪椅從古城至布城‧20重殘者遊行籌款

* 要聞* 中馬* 地方

2009-09-30 20:24
20名重度殘障人士配合國際殘障人士日，將於12月2至5日突破障礙，參與“一個馬來西亞――從古城至布城輪椅遊行醒覺運動”。（圖：光明日報）


由本地製作的輪椅，除了電板和發動器是由外國進口，其他零件都是大馬製造，只需9000令吉，比進口貨便宜30%。（圖：光明日報）



（吉隆坡）美門殘障基金會負責人謝秀貞披露，20名重度殘障人士配合12月的國際殘障人士日，於12月2至5日突破生心理障礙，參與“一個馬來西亞──從古城至布城輪椅遊行醒覺運動”。

她說，這項為期3天的活動，是由雪蘭莪殘障自立協會、美門殘障基金會及研發輪椅製造的D to D服務有限公司聯辦，用意是提高公眾對殘障人士設施的醒覺，及鼓勵更多殘障朋友融入社區生活。

體溫升高不能排汗

她解釋，因重度殘障者的汗線已遭破壞，在大太陽下活動，體溫升高卻不能排汗，所以參與的朋友都非常辛苦。

她提到，這些參與者為了讓公眾瞭解重度殘障朋友也可獨立自主生活，並為了籌集更多資金購買輔助設備，所以才參與活動。

大會除了邀請婦女、社會及家庭發展部副部長拿汀巴都卡周美芬主持活動推介儀式外，現場也推介由本地製造的電動輪椅。

此外，雪蘭莪殘障自立協會執行秘書黃美娟提到，希望社會人士瞭解重殘人士也可自立生活，並不只是待在家中。

有意參與者可聯絡03-78750943或012-4230604。

由舊路開跑
電動輪椅高速前進

負責全程電動輪椅技術問題的D to D服務有限公司代表陳錦玉說，有關輪椅在遊行時將以高速前進，但輪椅的時速是0―12公里，加上交通法令限制，所以輪椅不能駛上高速大道，活動全由舊路線開跑。

他指出，每架充滿電的電動輪椅如果全速前進，可持續5至6小時，加上這間公司已準備所有配件和電池，確保不會出現技術問題。

他補充，由本地製作的輪椅，除了電板和發動器是由外國進口，其他零件都是大馬製造，只需9000令吉；如果要買相同品質的進口貨，則需多花30%，即逾萬令吉。

歡迎公眾捐款參與

籌委會主席沙福安說，這項活動雖然100%由殘障人士籌辦，但歡迎公眾人士捐款及參與遊行，唯每位參與的公眾需繳付500令吉（包括膳宿）的經費。

他解釋，20名重度殘障朋友將分成5組，每4人一組，以接力方式遊行；每組每次大概會遊行1小時左右，再由另一組接力。

他聲稱，團隊將在12月2日從吉隆坡驅車到馬六甲，過夜後，於3日早聯合當地百多名殘障人士先在馬六甲市內遊行，並呈交備忘錄給當地地方政府。

他補充，大隊將於4日早從馬六甲遊行到芙蓉，再會合當地的逾百名殘障朋友在芙蓉市內遊行並呈交備忘錄後，於當地酒店休息。最後，再從芙蓉遊行到布城。

這次隨行的包括20輛電動輪椅、1輛巴士、1輛羅里、4輛客貨車、3輛汽車和2輛救護車，以確保全程順利進行。

接納殘障者非憐憫

婦女、家庭及社會發展部副部長拿汀巴杜卡周美芬指出，公眾不必同情或憐憫殘障人士，而是應從心中接納他們成為社會一份子，並認真學習如何正確協助他們，才能互相融入彼此生活。

她在甲洞大都會公園推介“一個馬來西亞──從古城至布城輪椅遊行醒覺運動”時說，全國共有26萬1000名正式登記的殘障者，政府也在全國設立了409間技術訓練中心給殘障人士進行各項生活及技訓練，目前國內共有1萬7449名專業培訓人員。

她強調，政府正不斷鼓勵殘障人士自立生活，所以公眾和殘障人士本身都應瞭解到獨立自主精神的重要性。

她宣佈撥款5000令吉給該活動，以讓聯辦團體邀請一些公眾人士前往參與。

此外，馬華甲洞區會主席黃素珠與阿曼蘇利亞支會主席陳艷珍各捐500令吉，並應允即時將全程參與遊行。
光明日報‧2009.09.30

Guidelines for toilets for the disabled

By TAN KARR WEI

THE Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) has come up with design guidelines for toilets meant for the disabled.

According to a statement issued by the MBPJ public relations department, the guidelines were prepared as a result of a site visit by the MBPJ Disabled Technical Committee to several old folk’s and handicapped children’s homes in Petaling Jaya.

The committee had discovered that the toilet facilities provided by many of these homes did not comply with the specifications set by the Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (Sirim).

Among the problems identified were that the size of the toilets were too small, there were no hand rails, the toilet bowls were too high or too low and some cubicles were not equipped with emergency alarms.

The MBPJ guidelines were drafted according to the exist­­ing Malaysian Standard (MS 1184 : 2002) - Code of Practice on Access for Disabled Persons to Public Buildings by Sirim, the Guidelines on Buildings Requirements For Disabled Persons and overseas design samples.

The design requirements for the toilets are:

·The size of the toilets should be at least 4.5 sq metres and the minimum size should be 2.13m by 2.13m;

·Toilet doors should be at least 900mm in width;

·Toilet seats should be 475mm from the floor;

·Wall mirror should be 1.15m from the floor and at a slant of between 5° and 10° (this requirement is not mentioned in the MS 1184 guideline)

·Hand rails by the toilet seat should be at 800mm from the floor and should be adjustable;

·Door handles must be 500m from the floor and the length of the handles should be 900m and fixed at the edge of the door;

·Emergency alarms must be fitted, with one emergency cord next to the toilet seat and one by the sink, an emergency siren and light beacon fitted inside of the toilet;

·Tissue holders should be next to the toilet seat, at a distance of 500mm

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Source: The Star