Sia Ling Ling performing a wheelchair dance at the AYA Dream Malaysia Awards last year.SHE was born with muscular dystrophy, a condition that weakens muscles making one unable to walk normally. And her condition will eventually lead to permanent paralysis.
Until then, Sia Ling Ling, winner of the Most Outstanding Youth of the Year Award in 2006, plans to give her all in order to inspire all Malaysians that no feat is impossible.
"Winning the AYA award was was such an encouragement. It was like a sign from God to keep going on. I am now convinced that there is much more in store for me. More people to encourage and changes to bring about.
"I used to lack perspective and self-value. I merely did my best in bringing happiness and not inconveniencing those around me.
"Winning the AYA award led me to realise how important it is to love and help others in society."
After suffering much discrimination in her hometown, the 28-year-old moved to Kuala Lumpur at age 14 to make a living, selling handicrafts. She is currently working at the Beautiful Gate Foundation, helping other disabled people to gain confidence through skills development and employment.
At the Dream Malaysia Awards last year, Sia, who was part of the Beautiful Gate Creative Arts Troupe, performed two wheelchair dances that clearly had the audience moved.
After winning the award, Sia was able to further her studies in mass communication, thanks to a scholarship from one of the awards co-sponsors, Life College.
Sia recently became a part-time announcer with Ai-FM, a new radio station in town. She is also busy coordinating the 15th anniversary celebration of Beautiful Gate, and is planning a performance under her arts troupe.
"A lot of things are happening in my life now and I owe it all to the award. Receiving the award, I now know that that God will continue to use my life to inspire others."
Source: NST Online
MOST of us take for granted as part of daily life, things like travelling and being gainfully employed. Sadly, many people with diabetes cannot do all that they would like to, or even just lead a normal life like the rest of us.
With this mind, Bayer Healthcare Diabetes Care and Pharmaforte Malaysia have co-organised a community drive with the Malaysian Diabetes Association (PDM) and the Beautiful Gate Foundation for The Disabled to help the poor and the disabled with diabetes to monitor and manage their healthcare efforts.
The association and Beautiful Gate recently received the newly-launched No-Coding blood gluco-meters, Contour TS and Breeze 2, for distribution to their members to enable them to undertake con-stant and precise diabetes man-agement, making it easier for them to lead a normal life.
For those living with diabetes: Beautiful Gate Foundation for The Disabled executive director Sia Siew Chin (in wheelchair) receiving the Breeze 2 from Pharmaforte managing director Yeo Ann Chin.
“We believe the national fight against diabetes should be a responsibility shared between NGOs and corporations like Bayer HealthCare Diabetes Care and Pharmaforte,” said the association assistant general secretary K.S. Maniam.
“Diabetes is a chronic disease that requires life-long self-monitoring and we hope to help them undertake constant self-monitoring so they can better manage their condition and enjoy a better quality of life,” said Bayer Healthcare Diabetes Care country head (SEA) Edward Wong.
In conjunction with this event, a paper entitled Glucose Control and Its Impact on Cardiovascular Disease was presented by renowned cardiologist and the Heart Foundation of Malaysia director Datuk Dr Khoo Kah Lin.
The association is located at No. 2, Lorong 11/4E, 46200 Petaling Jaya (tel: 03-7957 4062).
Beautiful Gate is located at No. 92 Jalan SS2/24, 47300PJ (tel: 03-7873 6579).
Source : The Star
鄧文村吁公眾伸援手（雪蘭莪‧八打靈再也）團結、文化、藝術及文物部副部長鄧文村表示，社會人士應給予殘障者精神及物資援助，以便他們有機會融入社會。
他表示，許多殘障者都擁有一定才華，只是沒有機會發揮。
他呼吁所有非政府組織及私人界，在推動所有社會活動時，提供殘障者工作或表演的機會。
“政府要打造一個愛心社會，這點也需要私人界的配合，例如多聘請殘障者。”
他是為美門殘障關懷基金會“爆發潛能，縱橫職場”攝影公開賽主持推介禮後，對記者如此表示。
保持正確生活態度
另一方面，鄧文村也鼓勵殘障者應持有正確的生活態度。
“最重要是心靈要健全，生活的力量來自於內心，只要心不受到限制，生活就可以過得充實和多姿多彩。”
美門8月辦攝影賽
此外，鄧文村勸勉殘障者應學習自立自足，在生活問題獲解決後，就可以從事其他藝術活動，從而發揮本身才華。
美門殘障關懷基金會將在8月1日起至10月1日舉辦攝影公開賽，希望透過攝影藝術進一步展現殘障者的就業能力。
出席推介禮者包括百樂鎮州議員謝永賢、前百樂鎮州議員拿督林春景、八打靈美門中心管理委員會主席黃位周、美門殘障基金會總幹事謝秀貞、大馬影藝協會主席胡航生、《星洲日報》文教部副主任陳慧嬌及活動贊助商代表等。
星洲日報‧2008.07.18
摘自：星洲日报
星洲美門聯辦攝影賽（雪蘭莪‧八打靈再也）星洲日報及美門殘障關懷基金會聯辦的“爆發潛能，縱橫職場”攝影比賽與系列活動，正式推介。
“爆發潛能，縱橫職場”攝影比賽與系列活動是由團結、文化、藝術及文物部副部長鄧文村主持推介禮。此活動的宗旨是透過攝影藝術展示殘障人士的就業能力，並呼吁公共與私人領域提供無障礙設施以方便殘障人士融入職場。
星洲日報副文教主任陳慧嬌在致詞中表示，通過動態的攝影及靜態的展覽，能讓社會大眾更瞭解殘障人士在生活及工作上的困難，同時也讓相關政府部門從中發掘不足之處，並加以改進。
她說，星洲日報作為美門殘障基金會活動的長期合作單位，曾經攜手聯辦幾屆的“陽光天使志工培訓營”活動及“化礙為愛”賀卡的義賣活動。
殘障人照片為主題
“爆發潛能，縱橫職場”的攝影比賽將以殘障人士為照片的主題，目的在於提昇社會人士對殘障人士就業需要與設施的醒覺。比賽共分成三個組別，包括學生組，公開組及殘障人士組，每組各設有冠亞季軍及三分安慰獎，所有獎品皆由大馬Nikon有限公司贊助。
這項攝影比賽從8月1日起開始收件，至10月1日截止。該項比賽公開給所有大馬居民參加，報名費為10令吉。每位參賽者不得超過5張作品，並將作品副本、軟件副本及正式參賽表格一同遞交美門殘障關懷基金會。參賽作品需為不經電腦修改的原創作品。
其餘系列活動包括：8月16日舉行的殘障與攝影工作坊，與即將於11月7日至9日在雙威金字塔購物中心舉行的攝影展及殘障人士手藝與服務展銷會，並與當天同步揭曉攝影比賽成績。
欲知更多比賽詳情，請撥電謝靈霖03-78758609。
星洲日報‧2008.07.18
摘自：星洲日报
鄧文村（中）為“爆發潛能，縱橫職場”攝影公開賽主持推介禮﹔左2及左3：胡航生及謝秀貞﹔左5：陳慧嬌；右6：謝永賢；右排前2及前3：林春景及黃位周。
殘障女生開公司自立她從小就很用心唸書，因為她知道殘障人士在體力和活動方面都輸給健全者，只有在知識上能夠胜出，因此她在學習上無論遇到甚麼困難，都會咬緊牙關去克服。
她是23歲的尤琳荔。從訪談中可以感覺到外表看似性格文靜柔和，其實外弱內剛，尤其她在中學時，遇到種種的困難，都一一克服。
她在中四那年，一次背部很痛，求診時醫生指她脊椎側彎，壓住了心臟和肺，醫生要她多抽時間躺下，不要長時間坐輪椅，否則有生命危險。
可是為了準備明年大馬教育文憑考試，她不想影響學業，所以即使身體再痛，她仍堅持一如以往般繼續溫習功課，可能是皇天不負苦心人吧！最後她還是熬去了，順利完成中學課程，至今身體也無恙。
向同學借筆記
雖然在生病那段日子，她暫時沒有辦法去上課，可是她沒有放棄，仍向同學借筆記來慢慢抄，自己練習。
熬過了身體痛苦，中五那年，她又遇上問題，即所住的伊甸殘障中心出現一些變動，沒有交通工具送她去上學。
重大困難多發生在中學
她探听很多德士公司，可是每天來回的費用都很高，慶幸遇到貴人，身邊朋友答應協助，才暫時解決燃眉之急。
尤琳荔遇到的許多重大困難和美麗的回憶都在中學時期發生，那段時間也是磨練她成長的重要人生部份。
在旁陪伴成長
媽媽是重要“推手”
尤琳荔有一名很偉大的媽媽，媽媽在她背後默默付出，是她成長的重要“推手”；推動她四處去學習，無論是她從家鄉到檳城唸中學或現今在吉隆坡工作，媽媽都隨行照顧。
媽媽為女兒考駕照
早在琳荔還在家鄉唸小學時，媽媽就已為她設想到未來唸中學時可能遇上的交通問題，於是在琳荔唸6年級時，媽媽毅然決定去考汽車駕照，以便將來可以駕車載琳荔去上學。
后來，雖然琳荔去了檳城唸中學，住在伊甸殘障中心，中心有車子載送，尤媽媽的駕駛技術沒派上用場。
直至中心沒有辦法再載送她去上學，尤媽媽才再去複習隔了好多年沒有駕駛的技術，以便自己駕車載送。
尤媽媽是40歲左右考車，接近50歲再去複習駕駛。琳荔在學習路上沒有放棄，她媽媽怎能放棄，即使是年齡已屆中年，學習能力比較弱。
對媽媽感到愧疚
因為有一名偉大的媽媽在旁陪她一路成長，琳荔除了感動，她還有一份愧疚。
“我還有一名哥哥和一名姐姐，為了照顧我，媽媽把所有時間都放在我身上，甚至在我中學時，陪伴我到檳城求學，與在吉打家鄉的爸爸和哥哥姐姐兩地相隔，沒法照顧他們。”
“爸爸是我中五那年考試時期突然病逝，當天剛好是母親節。”
爸爸逝世當晚琳荔沒有在，無法看到父親最后一面，也基於母親要長期照顧她，與父親兩地相隔，聚少離多，爸爸逝世令琳荔感覺到對母親有一份愧疚感。
常用言語打擊信心
遺憾中學校長不友善
琳荔很感謝小學校長對她的關懷和照顧，至於對中學校長對殘障人士的不友善態度則感得遺憾。
“中學校長看不起殘障人士，他常用言語打擊我們的信心，印象最深的是當時校內還有另2名殘障人士，校長的態度令我們很難受。”
她感謝小學校長給她機會上課，當時只要遇到問題，校長都會協助她，包括安排到在底層課室上課，課室又靠近洗手間，並經常借書給她閱讀。
琳荔在中學畢業後，就到吉隆坡綠野殘障自強職訓學院唸資訊課程，畢業後直接留在學院工作，較後出外到一間稽查公司上班，去年12月份，在雙福支持下，與幾名殘障朋友開設現有的網頁設計公司。
盼往廣播方面發展
在今年4月份，她還被挑選在AI FM和美門聯合打造的一個中午時段節目擔任廣播員。
此節目主要是探討殘障人士的課題，喚醒社會人士對殘障人士的關注和了解。當時除了她之外，還有3名殘障人士也受邀擔任廣播員，每人負責一個月，整個節目單元共有4個月。
尤琳荔希望未來可以有機會往廣播方面發展，她曾和幾名殘障朋友報讀聲學閣唸廣播。
選擇再做殘障人
如果上天給你一個一切重來的機會，讓你選擇是否要做一名殘障人士，你的答案是甚麼？
一般人應該都會選擇做健全的人，但是尤琳荔卻選擇再做殘障人士，因為殘障的身軀讓她得到更多的祝福和啟示。
她唯一的要求是，希望殘障的程度能輕一點。
知識才能改變命運
尤琳荔覺得殘障人士更應該擁有受教育的權力，只有知識才能改變殘障人士的命運。
所以，自小她就很喜歡唸書，一直以來她的成績都很好，只是礙於經濟能力問題，所以她沒有辦法唸大學。
儘管如此，中學畢業後，她有報讀商業管理課程，過後又到吉隆坡唸電腦課程。過去至今，相信未來也是，她從沒有放棄學習和充實自己的機會，這是她積極的人生態度。
星洲日報／大都會‧2008.07.09
摘自：星洲日报
尤琳荔。
去年杪，在雙福資助下，尤琳荔與幾名殘障朋友開設一間網頁設計公司，他們租下一個公寓單位做辦公室。這種作業方式讓他們可以較輕松，累了就休息，不會太操勞。
THE Beautiful Gate Foundation for the Disabled received a welcome boost when the management staff of leisure and recreation club Camberwell visited the foundation's Petaling Jaya Centre recently.
The visitors spent about an hour with some 20 disabled residents of the centre to gain a better understanding of the challenges and pain encountered by the disabled each day. The residents were also treated to a fast food meal arranged by the staff of Camberwell.
The visitors also brought a RM12,000 donation from the club in Damansara Utama. Camberwell Club senior operations manager Tia Eng Seng handed over a mock cheque for the amount to Beautiful Gate Foundation executive director Sia Siew Chin.
Yummy: The residents enjoying the treat.
Also present at the cheque presentation ceremony was Camberwell deputy general manager for business development, Alex Chai.
Tia said the donation was part of the club’s on-going charity programme to reach out to the less fortunate.
“We are very impressed with the charity work of Beautiful Gate Foundation, which has helped so many disabled people,” Tia said, noting that the foundation had expanded over the years and now had six centres.
“We are truly happy to be able to contribute to this noble cause,” he added.
According to Sia, the donation will be used for the construction of a new lift in the Petaling Jaya centre, which is estimated to cost RM84,000. The existing lift is in bad condition and may pose a danger to its residents. She expressed the hope that more companies would come forward to help fund the new lift.
Welcome aid: (From left) Chai, Tia and Sia (fourth from left) with some of the residents at the cheque presentation ceremony.
The Beautiful Gate Foundation is dedicated to giving the disabled an opportunity to live an independent lifestyle that is integrated with mainstream Malaysian society as much as possible.
Established in 1995, the Beautiful Gate Foundation Petaling Jaya Centre has 40 disabled residents aged between six to 60 years old. The centre provides training in living, working and social skills, educational training, and mobile therapy and other services. Concepts of independent living are used to train the disabled to live independently.
Those who wish to help and donate to foundation may visit the Beautiful Gate Foundation Petaling Jaya Centre at No. 92, Jalan SS2/24, 47300 Petaling Jaya, or call 03-7873 6579 for more details.
Source : The Star
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