To prove that disability should not be a hindrance to earning one’s keep, a total of 30 physically-challenged participants showcased their business and artistic acumen at the Photography Exhibition and Disability Employment Aware-ness exhibition at the Sunway Pyramid recently.
Carrying the message, “Productivity Beyond Limitation,” the event was organised by the Beautiful Gate Foundation (BGF) to encourage people with disabilities to promote their products and services.
In her speech, the foundation’s executive director Sia Siew Chin, 42, pointed out that the exhibition was an awareness campaign aimed at highlighting the need for public and private bodies to provide employment for the physically challenged.
It was also to show the obstacles and barriers that are preventing the disabled from being financially and physically independent.
Art without hands: He does her calligraphy by strapping a brush to her right stump.
“When we talk about employment, we are not only talking about jobs, but it is a whole package that involves accessible transportation, housing, employment support system, accessible workplace and other facilities,” she said.
The exhibition, which also acts to symbolise the determination of people with disabilities (PWDs), is one way to acknowledge their capabilities and economic contribution.
The event, said Sia, was a concerted effort to provide a platform for PWDs to create business partnership opportunities in order for them to achieve self reliance and be economically independent.
One of the participants who lauded BGF’s effort was Chinese calligrapher, He Xue Mei.
The 38-year-old who lost both arms at work due to an accident in a fireworks factory at age 18, recalled that the first few months of her recuperation had been full of despair and frustration.
“In the beginning, I had to rely on others to do everything for me, but it did not take me long to realise that I had regained my independence.
“The process of relearning how to function without my hands and picking up a viable skill helped me to snap out of my depressive rut,” said He who hails from Zhuhai, China.
She went on to practice Chinese writing by strapping a brush to her right stump.
Today, the mother of two daughters aged 14 and 9, is a calligraphy teacher when she is not travelling.
“There has to be a sense of purpose in one’s life and this is not possible to have if you cannot sustain yourself financially,” said He.
Unique: Wong Sai Choo’s image of a woman cutting fruits won second place in the adult category of the photography contest.
Dealing with the question of employment has also led wheelchair-bound Raymond Teoh, 26, to the exhibition.
Teoh, whose forte is in web and graphic design, is now the creative director of his own company, At Home Creative, with another fellow PWD, Aw Yot Kong, 35, a graphic designer.
The duo promoted their latest line of merchandise, printed T-shirts carrying an environmental theme, at the exhibition.
“The last thing we want is for people to sympathise with us. Instead, we want them to appreciate us for our creativity,” said Teoh, who operates his business from a rented house in Cheras.
Also displayed at the exhibition were prize-winning photographs of a photography contest on the disabled. For enquiries, call Beautiful Gate Foundation at 03-7873 6579.
Source : The Star
Story and photos by SALINA KHALIDTHERE is more to providing job opportunities to the disabled as the special people require a package deal, said Beautiful Gate Foundation executive director pastor Sia Siew Chin.
“When we talk about employment for the disabled, we are not only talking about jobs. We talk about a whole package deal. It involves accessible transportation, housing, employment support system (like job coaching), accessible workplace and other facilities or equipment,” she said.
She added that many disabled people resort to handicraft-making or providing services through the Internet because they cannot get jobs in the open market.
Although some may get jobs, they choose not to work for long and some although given the opportunity, do not wish to apply for government jobs.
At work: Another entry for the contest showing blind masseurs giving foot massages.
She said it was important that such issues were dealt with in order to help the disabled to achieve self reliance and be economically independent.
She was speaking at the launch of the exhibition on products and services by disabled people held at Sunway Pyramid on Sunday.
Themed Productivity Beyond Limitation, the exhibition was launched by Deputy Unity, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Teng Boon Seng.
Organised by Beautiful Gate Foundation, it was aimed at boosting awareness on the need for employment for the disabled and to highlight the obstacles and barriers faced by these people in getting jobs.
It also provides an opportunity for the disabled community to promote their products and services to the public.
The event also included a prize-presentation ceremony for a photography contest on the disabled.
Source : The Star
鄧文村：拓就業空間（雪蘭莪‧八打靈再也）團結、藝術、文化及文物部副部長鄧文村建議，國內各殘障中心向國家工藝美術中心（National Art & Craft Centre）毛遂自薦，推廣來自殘障朋友製作的手工藝品，為他們開拓另一個就業空間。
他指出，國家工藝美術中心是推廣本土工藝美術產品的殿堂，如果殘障朋友們親手製作的藝術品，能獲青睞並陳設在中心內，就等於給他們拓展一個工作空間，讓其他人都能肯定殘障者的用心。
將助美門見有關當局
他今日（週日，11月7日）受邀出席美門殘障關懷基金會，在雙威金字塔舉行的《爆發潛能、縱橫職場》殘障就業醒覺活動後在記者會上允諾，他將協助美門會見國家工藝美術中心。
他說，美門殘障中心成立15年來，在社會上扮演了積極的角色，他們在職場上的要求也逐漸引起民眾關注。
“我認為，美門應設立一個永久性的聯絡網，把成員的資料及他們的技能集合成冊，並把資料提供給商會或企業大機構參考，以便他們能從該聯絡網中，找到適合的人選到他們的機構上班。”
此外，鄧文村也建議殘障中心向旅遊部、航空業及機場等，表達他們欲徵求一個小空間展示殘障者的創意成品，藉此開拓更廣大的就職機會。
他說，殘障中心須要更積極地向社會發出訴求及爭取工作機會，以行動告訴社會他們不是累贅，他們也可像健全者一樣，為社會作出貢獻。
另一方面，他也讚揚美門殘障關懷基金會，把攝影比賽納入其醒覺活動的一部份，有助於公眾進一步瞭解殘障人士在職場上的需求。
應爭取更多展示空間
值得一提的是，多名殘障者殘而不廢，他們發揮自己的潛在才華，利用相機捕抓殘障朋友真善美的一刻，所拍出來的相片令人動容，同時讓公眾更關注殘障社群的發展。
出席該醒覺活動的嘉賓尚有美門殘障關懷基金會八打靈中心主席黃位周、總幹事謝秀貞、AmanSuria及SS2的居協及睦鄰計劃中心的代表等。
摘自：光明日报
鄧文村：非社會累贅（雪蘭莪‧首邦市）由《星洲日報》和美門殘障關懷基金會聯合主辦的“爆發潛能、縱橫職場”殘障就業醒覺運動攝影比賽，讓公眾從攝影作品中瞭解殘障人士在社會工作的基本需求。
團結、文化、藝術及文物部副部長鄧文村今日（週日，11月9日）為“爆發潛能、縱橫職場”殘障就業醒覺運動攝影比賽主持頒獎時表示，公眾人士在瞭解殘障人士在職場的需求後，可盡力提供協助，實踐“殘健一家”的理想。
“殘障人士以行動告訴公眾，他們不是社會的累贅，他們也能為社會作出貢獻。”
鄧文村建議美門殘障關懷基金會將殘障人士的手工藝品交給國家手工藝品中心推銷，並積極地推廣他們的手工藝品至機場和旅游業，擴大市場。
他認為，設立永久的聯絡網，集合殘障人士的才華和技能，並呈交資料給企業機構，可開拓殘障人士的就業機會。
謝秀貞：通過攝影賽表達心聲
另外，美門殘障關懷基金會總幹事謝秀貞希望通過攝影比賽向民眾表達，殘障人士需要大環境和交通才能工作的心聲。
她表示，這攝影比賽在評判遴選出6份佳作後，便通過網絡投票的方式讓公眾人士參與投選工作，以便促進公眾的參與。
摘自：星洲日报
鄧文村（左3）試坐輪椅，進一步瞭解殘障人士的艱難生活。
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