骨刺導致脊椎骨斷裂

癱瘓青年走出生命低谷

在發生意外前，他不知道骨刺為何物，更不知道短短一根刺，居然可以導致脊椎骨斷裂，甚至改變他的一生。

因為那根刺，歐威成嘗盡脊椎骨斷裂的痛；沒想到醫生在為他動手術後，原本用來固定脊椎骨的鐵鉤居然脫落，導致鐵枝刺到肺部，演變成肺積水，加劇他的病情。

原本可以蹦蹦跳跳的自己卻要依靠輪椅行動，歐威成極度排斥，甚至對家人也產生怨對、足不出戶、自暴自棄，雖然後來曾到殘障學院學習手藝，但還是無法忍受他人異樣的眼光，寧可終日躲在家裡足不出戶。

直到加入美門殘障關懷基金會，他開始與外界接觸，不再懼怕他人眼光，後來擔任該會在甲洞分會的副管理，也在因緣際會下獲得公眾捐贈電單車，開始騎電單車四處走動，協助殘障人士向福利部申請證件或其他物品。

騎電單車脊椎骨裂
頸項骨斷未動手術

騎著電單車，歐威成活動的範圍變大，卻沒想到他那薄如蟬翼的脊椎骨會因為電單車的震動而出現裂痕；加上協助朋友起身時加劇病情和導致頸項的骨斷了，必須動手術，惟最後因他的身體狀況不允許，至今還沒有進行手術。

須靠氧氣筒喘氣

如今，他體內的脊椎骨呈L型，一邊的肺出現硬化，另一邊的肺則剩下40%的功能，但他沒有放棄自己，依然積極面對人生，甚至會因醫生的邀約而北上南下到醫院去為因意外而殘障的公眾輔導，並積極參與美門的活動。

由於肺部功能不佳，所以只要遇到太熱或太冷的天氣，他都會因冷冽或悶熱的空氣透不過氣，而必須輔助氧氣筒才能喘氣。

每次重灌氧氣筒都需要花費約50令吉，並只能用3小時或兩週，長期下來是一筆負擔，所以他希望商家給予贊助，減輕他的負擔。

14歲時脊椎骨移位
動手術後下半身癱瘓

歐威成在14歲時，彎腰幫忙弟弟把走位的床架移回正確位置時，生長在脊椎骨中間的骨刺因彎腰而突出，導致脊椎骨移位。他雖然感覺疼痛，但只是到住家附近的診所看醫生，醫生診斷後推斷說骨折。

脊椎骨彎成S字形

看了醫生後病情沒有好轉，他不以為意；一個月後開始覺得雙腳無力，在家人陪同下前往同善醫院照X光，赫然發現脊椎骨在不知不覺中彎成S字形。

“院方說要即刻動手術，但由於收費高，家人在院方推薦下把我帶到馬大醫院，並在排期了一個月後才看到醫生，醫生看到我的情況，立刻安排我入院排期等動手術。”

當時，他入院第一天還可以走動，第二天走動甚至上廁所時就必須扶著牆壁走，第3天進了廁所後沒有力走出來，第4天才進入手術室動手術。

手術後，歐威成在醫院住了整整5個月，下半身也因脊椎骨已走形而癱瘓，必須依靠輪椅活動。

固定脊椎骨鐵鉤脫落
鐵枝插入肺部肺積水

歐威成原以為動了手術後就可以過回原本的生活，沒想到卻因不斷咳嗽，檢驗下才發現醫生用來固定脊椎骨，全長15公分的鐵鉤從脊椎骨上脫落，導致鐵枝插入肺部，出現肺積水的情況。

由於情況嚴重，加上他身體還虛弱，所以醫生不敢立即為他動手術，只能在他身體開一個洞，讓水排出；他不斷跟醫生跟進病情以確定脊椎骨是否已堅硬，希望可以儘快動手術，卻沒想到這麼一等就等了5年之久。

脊椎骨再度出現裂痕

2004年，歐威成通過報章的活動獲得公眾捐贈的電單車，於是他便常常騎著電單車去辦事，時間久了，他發現脊椎骨再度出現疼痛跡象，於是他再回到醫院照X光，結果X光片卻把他和醫生嚇壞了。

“我們在X光片上看到之前受傷的六節脊椎骨出現裂痕，於是醫生便問我要不要動手術，但這個手術的風險比較大，就是要移開心臟取出之前脫落的鐵鉤，所以我思前想後一番，還是不要去做這個高風險的手術。”

助朋友起床頸骨斷裂

後來，他持續騎電單車走動，但在某一天，如以往般以前推的方式協助朋友起床時，突然聽到骨頭發出聲響，他本以為自己又扭傷，豈料兩週後左手開始無力，照了X光才知道之前已有裂痕的脊椎骨更多裂痕，就連頸項的骨也斷裂了。

身體不夠強壯未動手術

醫生要他立即動手術，但礙於醫藥費昂貴，所以他拖了一年多，直到通過英文報籌獲款項後，才決定入院動手術，但由於身體不夠強壯，加上肺部功能僅剩下40%，手術非常危險，所以至今仍未動手術。

“醫生曾勸我，若真的無法忍受身體的疼痛才動手術，他們也因為我的身體情況而一再展延我的手術，醫生最近把手術日期挪至明年12月，我也希望可以通過動手術來改善自己的情況。”

生命點滴人物

姓名：歐威成
年齡：30歲
狀況：中學初一的學校假期，因故造成脊椎骨斷裂和延誤就醫而失去行動能力，後來生命又面對一連串考驗，但他沒有放棄自己，反而協助醫生開解因意外失去行動能力的人，讓生命綻放光芒。
聯絡電話：03-6276 3690

星洲日報／大都會‧2008.12.28



歐威成表示，目前其體內的脊椎骨呈L字型，加上一邊的肺部有硬化現象和另一邊肺部僅有40%功能，讓他在面對太冷或太熱的環境須氧氣筒來輔助呼吸。



目前，歐威成在美門殘障關懷基金會的甲洞分會擔任副管理，工作範圍包括協助殘障人士向福利部申請證件或進行文件上的處理。



自脊椎骨的裂痕不斷加深後，醫生囑咐歐威成要每天穿戴 “護架” 來固定脊椎骨，以免脊椎骨因日常生活的運作而加劇病情，所以歐威成坐車外出時都會穿上 “護架”，保護自己。



從旁邊看，歐威成在今年9月照的X光圖顯示體內的脊椎骨呈L型，而之前受傷的六節脊椎骨也斷裂了。



歐威成（左）和同伴曾受邀到新紀元學院進行心路歷程演說，讓與會者更認識殘障人士在日常生活所面對的問題。

失行動能力最後走出黑暗

16歲的青春少艾，都有著無限美好的青春，日子在快樂中渡過。然而，潘銀珠卻因為脊椎骨神經線上不知何時被瘀血壓斷，終斷了她的笑聲，也改變了她的人生。

雙腳失知覺須靠輪椅行動

雙腳失去知覺，餘生注定要靠輪椅行動，她無法接受這突如其來的變化，除了封閉自己和斷絕與外界的來往，還一度割脈自殺。

慶幸的是，潘銀珠的家人都沒有放棄她，母親對她百般包容，加上朋友借她閱讀杏林子的書籍、學校老師紛紛要她復學，校長甚至為了遷就她而把樓上的班級移到樓下，讓她能繼續學習之路。

大家看到潘銀珠願意到學校上課，甚至恢復以往的笑靨，以為她走出了陰影，卻不知道對人歡笑的她，其實都把心事埋在心底，更不知道她其實在藉著笑容掩飾心中的痛。

中學畢業後，她來到美門殘障關懷基金會，後來在信仰協助下感覺生命的意義和走出陰影。

在美門任就業與關懷主任

她在修讀電腦相關課程後，選擇在美門擔任就業與關懷主任，協助弱勢人士包括殘障者尋找工作，讓他們找到適合的工作，發揮潛能。

立志要當激勵講師的潘銀珠，除了常閱讀激勵書籍，她也在12月13日的中午12時10分至1時在AI FM電台客串擔任《愛的路上你和我》節目主持人，讓殘障人士運動員與聽眾分享他們的心路歷程，並希望這次主持的經驗，可以協助她邁向激勵講師之路。

睡夢中全身抽痛改變一生

潘銀珠來自雪州適耕莊，個性樂天，除品學兼優，小學時是排球高手，升上中學接觸跆拳道後，就喜歡上跆拳道，才短短3年就從白帶的初學者升上褐帶。

中四那年清明節前夕的晚上，睡夢中的潘銀珠突然覺得全身上下來回抽痛，她原以為疼痛會過去，豈料卻改變了她的一生。

“我從午夜12時忍耐到清晨6時才讓父母知道，父母先把我送入丹絨加弄醫院，後來再轉入巴生醫院；醫生對我的病束手無策，但卻堅持要我留醫一晚檢查。”

須動手術否則成為植物人

第二天，潘銀珠的父母把她送入某醫藥中心，醫生檢驗後表示她的情況危急，必須立即動手術，否則就會成為植物人，但由於延遲送醫，所以能夠康復走路的機率只有5%而已。

潘銀珠病得渾渾噩噩，根本不知道病情的嚴重性，直到完成了手術清醒後，還一心以為自己可以康復出院。

當她從母親口中知道自己將終生依靠輪椅行動時，她沒有辦法接受，除了不斷哭泣，更希望自己可以從殘酷的夢境中醒來。

同學好友被拒於門外

出院後，由於家中的擺設處處佈滿障礙，加上家門口的門檻阻礙輪椅進出，所以她回到家後，終日躲在房間不出來，就連同學好友來訪，也被她拒於門外。

“那時候，我覺得大家都以異樣的眼神來看我，我不想接受她們憐憫的眼神，所以把自己孤立起來，不面對她們才不會覺得自己和他們是不一樣的。”

面對沒有辦法使力的雙腳，潘銀珠覺得很難過和憤怒，甚至在覺得沒有人能分擔自己難過的情緒下，決定割脈自殺，以尋求解脫，但還是從鬼門關走了回來。

封閉在家長達半年
看杏林子書恢復自信

潘銀珠把自己封閉在家裡長達半年後，在杏林子的書籍中慢慢恢復自信，後來還接受老師的建議回到學校重讀中四。

也許因為她之前在學校表現都不錯，所以校長把原本在2樓的中四教室搬到底樓，老師也自動提供補習，讓她追上課業。

老師的用心讓潘銀珠感受到一直在旁給予的默默支持，包括在面對她無理取鬧時，始終不會惡言相向的母親。

“那時候我經常發脾氣，無論是大事小事都會發脾氣一番，直到有一次母親說她寧願自己坐輪椅也不要我承受這樣的痛苦時，我才知道其實母親也和我面對一樣的問題。”

父母也面對外人異樣眼光

她慢慢地說，由於新村人迷信的關係，大家都說她突然殘障和父母的行為有關，而發生在她身上的一切都是報應。

那時候，潘銀珠才知道，那些利如刀刃的流言不斷傷害著她的父母，他們也和她一樣面對外人異樣的眼光。

後來，潘銀珠撇開胸懷接受一切，她再度綻放燦爛的笑容，和家人的關係也更為融洽了。

加入美門被選為乒乓選手

加入美門殘障關懷基金會後，潘銀珠以為生活會一直平淡下去，豈料卻被選為乒乓選手，也展開了約一年的練習生涯。

那時候，潘銀珠從完全不會乒乓打法，開始學習接球和開球，而整個學習過程最辛苦的就是要在沒有腰力情況下接球，而不會因此而受傷。

後來，潘銀珠曾陸續代表大馬前往澳洲和英國參加共和聯邦運動會，雖然沒有獲獎，但卻讓她留下深刻的回憶。

星洲日報／大都會‧2008.12.14


雖然行動需要依靠輪椅，但潘銀珠（右3）憑著過去的的運動細胞，被挑選為乒乓選手到國外參加共和聯邦運動會，留下美好回憶。


卸下乒乓選手身份後，潘銀珠的生活雖歸於平淡，但她卻以開朗的心面對未來，往激勵講師方向邁進。


雖然身體面對行動問題，但潘銀珠（中）沒有放棄自己，偶爾也和朋友外出遊玩。照片攝於她和中學好友到熱浪島遊玩，當時她還不會游泳，但後來卻學會了。


潘銀珠在為期一年的訓練中練出精湛的乒乓技術，成就非凡。


年少的潘銀珠（左）活潑好動，她在取得跆拳道褐帶後，原想挑戰跆拳道黑帶一段，豈料卻因意外而無法達成目標。

Lee Pei Sun: A Truly Remarkable Woman

This article won 2nd prize in eHomemakers

Lee Pei Sun fondly remembers a time when life was so good, almost perfect. As a truly radiant bride of 22, soon after, mother to baby Ping Toh and then, beautiful days basking in her dual role as dutiful wife and doting mother. She loved music and travel, held a steady job and her whole life was so promising.

These days, they are just distant memories that she desperately clutches on to as they try to fade away. Pei Sun now lives in a home for the disabled, abandoned by her husband and living each day looking forward to the monthly visits from her two precious children.

Pei Sun was struck with an incurable degenerating disease soon after her first child was born. Her cerebellum, located behind the front section of the brain, began shrinking. As the cerebellum controls the muscles of the body, Pei Sue began losing muscular co-ordination and became wheelchair bound. She was unable to care for her baby and her mother-in-law had to look after him. Pei Sun was forced to resign from her clerical job and became financially dependent on her husband. Three years later, her second son, Hong Hong was delivered by caesarean section.

What followed was nothing short of harrowing. As Pei Sun struggled to cope with her illness while caring for her children, her husband looked for a relationship outside their marriage. On her twenty-seventh birthday, he informed her that he was moving her to a home. Pei Sun was devastated. Added to the humiliation of being cast aside, she was given an ultimatum – to choose between her sons and maintenance. She chose her sons.

When she first came to the home, she spent hours crying. It’s been a year now and divorce proceedings are still pending. Her mother cares for the boys and Pei Sun has to depend on handouts and the generosity of her five siblings. She regrets being a financial burden to her family but she has little choice as she gets no help from her husband. She manages to earn a little money by selling newspapers.

Despite all she endures, she has the added anxiety that Ping Toh exhibits autistic tendencies. But Pei Sun is not defeated. She is grateful that her cousin brings the boys to visit her once a month. Sometimes, Ping Toh spends the night with her in her small room. He sleeps on a mattress on the floor and she amuses him with music from a radio. Sadly, she cannot cope with both her sons staying over.

Meanwhile, she wants nothing but the best for her sons and does everything within her power to brighten their lives. Although her disability prevents her from playing with them, she wants her sons to have happy childhood memories. She takes them to the playground and on shopping trips and indulges them with what little she can afford. She has even taken them to the zoo. It is cumbersome being limited by her wheelchair but she is completely focused on being a good mother for without her children, she has no reason to live.

Pei Sun's illness is relentless but she does not wallow in self-pity. In fact, as her muscles waste away, even her ability to speak is slowly being affected. Yet she preserveres, trying to prevent further deterioration, by faithfully exercising her muscles on a bicycle. The pain is always excruciating but she refuses to give up.

The young mother has also begun a computer journal recording for her sons to read some day. It focuses on her hopes, her dreams and her values so that the two boys will always be guided by her. Meanwhile, Pei Sun draws strength and solace from her religious beliefs. Yet it is her tenacity and resilience that makes her such a remarkable woman.

Source : e-Homemakers

Cannies Tham: A Guardian Angel

Have you seen Pei Sun’s photos when she was younger? She’s a ‘leng lui’, (beautiful girl) you know. I have dressed her up beautifully with my clothes and applied make-up for her so that she looks stunning for her special occasion today,” says Cannies Tham, Lee Pei Sun’s caregiver at the Beautiful Gate, home for the disabled.

The girl seated next to Cannies dressed in a pretty blood red top and matching pants smiles at everyone around her. “Having seen pictures of her when she was a bubbly young girl and now, watching her confined to a wheelchair, unable to speak clearly and move her limbs, makes my heart ache. Despite the physical disabilities, there’s no denying that Pei Sun is still the same beautiful young girl in the photos,” says Cannies. And the minute Cannies speaks about her two young sons, Pei Sun sobs silently. Cannies turns to comfort her.

Recalling the first time she met Pei Sun more than a year ago, Cannies says, “You see how she cries whenever she thinks of her children? This is how she was when I first met her. In fact, it was worse. She was devastated that her husband was leaving her and taking their children along with him. And her family members did not want to care for her either. Her cousin brother contacted me and asked me to meet her,” she says. “I knew then that I had to take her with me to Beautiful Gate so that she can be in my care. I was afraid that in the state she was in, she might do something drastic to herself.” Cannies immediately returned to the home and proceeded to do the necessary to bring Pei Sun to Beautiful Gate.

“During the first month at the home, Pei Sun used to cry all the time. She loves her children more than anything else in this world and was terrified at the thought of losing her sons after the divorce,” Cannies explains. As expected, Pei Sun’s husband soon contacted Beautiful Gate to inform them of his decision to initiate divorce proceedings against his wife. “He told me that he doesn’t want to provide Pei Sun any maintenance and would not even allow her to visit her sons. That made me very angry,” she says.

Cannies calmly but assertively informed Pei Sun’s husband that his decision to abandon his wife would be unfavorable for him. “I told him that it was not Pei Sun’s fault. It was his fault because he now had a girlfriend and therefore, wanted to leave Pei Sun. I told him that the disease struck Pei Sun when she was pregnant with his child. She carried on with the pregnancy because of her love for him, despite knowing that it may be dangerous for her. Today, she is unable to work and fend for herself. I told him that the odds are against him and if he does not agree to pay maintenance and allow her visitation rights, I will consult a lawyer and matters could get worse,” this bold woman tells me.

It must have taken this petite 33-year-old a lot of courage to stand up to Pei Sun’s husband. And Pei Sun should be extremely grateful to have been blessed with a guardian angel like Cannies. After that ‘little’ informal chat with him, Pei Sun’s husband decided to pay her a monthly maintenance of RM200 and allow her to spend time with her 5-year-old and 3-year-old sons once every month.

Cannies’ good sense and her fight for justice did not stop there. She also contacted Pei Sun’s elder brother and advised him to visit his sister. “I told him that just because she was here at the home, it doesn’t mean that he should not visit her.” Cannies strongly feels that family support is very important to build a person’s confidence, especially when the person is either suffering from a chronic illness or is disabled.

As a welfare officer at Beautiful Gate, Cannies is unable to constantly keep an eye on Pei Sun. She has administrative duties to perform as well. “In the early days, I was worried about her. I told her room mates to look out for her. We always let her do things on her own so that she develops the confidence in her own ability,” she says.

Although Pei Sun’s physical condition is deteriorating day by day, her emotional and mental strength has improved tremendously, says Cannies. “Pei Sun’s main focus now is to get better so that she can be a full-time mother to her two boys. She exercises on the stationary bicycle to keep her muscles from wasting away even though it hurts her.”

Pei Sun’s cousin brings her sons to visit her once every month and the older boy stays with her for a couple of nights. She has a spare mattress and a radio to make them feel comfortable when they visit her in her small room. She squeezes orange juice for them even though it is an effort for her as her fingers are gnarled from the disease.

When they come to visit her, she goes out shopping with them, takes them to the park to play buy them little things that she can afford. “I like to tease Pei Sun when she takes her children shopping. I jokingly ask her why she doesn’t invite me to go along. It makes her laugh. I always keep our conversations light-hearted so that she feels happy all the time. It makes her forget her past, at least for a while,” Cannies says just before the emcee announces the names of all the winners.

Cannies beams with pride as she witnesses Pei Sun being called to receive her prize for winning the second place at the Special Moms Unite! 2006 contest. Much like a mother filled with joy to see her child winning a competition. “Congratulations!” she whispers to Pei Sun, as she proceeds to wheel her up to the stage. Pei Sun's eyes said it all, "Thank you, Cannies, for the tender loving care and attention you continue to provide me. My words will never be enough to express my gratitude".

Source : e-Homemakers

Big plans ahead for mall

By LIM CHIA YING

COLOURFUL displays of decorative lights, string quartets and carolers as well as cartoon characters will usher in the Christmas and New Year celebrations at The Summit Subang USJ.

The mall’s celebration this year, themed Summit Light Up With Love was launched recently, giving shoppers a glimpse of the line-up of events taking place throughout December.

Festive cheer: Ong (second from left) and Adzman Shah (left) with the residents from Beautiful Gate Foundation with the Christmas tree that they have lighted up during the event launch.

Launching the event was Kelana Jaya MCA chairman Ong Chong Swen and DTZ Nawawi Tie Leung Property Consultants director Adzman Shah Mohd Ariffin.

Special guests present were members from the Beautiful Gate Disabled Centre, orphans and children of single parents from the Compassion Home in USJ 1 and needy children from Subang Jaya.

Ong said the members from Beautiful Gate were role models in continuing to live a fulfilled life despite their disability.

Adzman Shah added that while the mall might have been a little frugal in decor this year, however, all efforts were still made to ensure that the festive atmosphere was still present.

“As the new management of The Summit Subang USJ, we are confident of bringing it to greater heights,” he said.

Following the Christmas tree lighting to mark the launch, the Beautiful Gate members performed several dance and singing performances on their wheelchairs, while the Compassion Home children touched the crowd with their soulful rendition of Malay, English, and Chinese songs.

Brothers Isaac Sathiya, 15. and Samuel Kuvinder, 13, from Compassion Home, said they had always enjoyed Christmas and to be part of the occasion at the mall made their day.

Christmas feel: The children from Beautiful Gate Foundation clapping to the performances on stage during the Summit Light Up With Love launch.

Isaac was brought into the home when he was in Year Four and Samuel when he was Year Two.

Both said they enjoyed schooling very much and that they did not have any special Christmas wish.

Meanwhile, a host of activities like Christmas bazaars, Christmas musical singing and dance performances, appearances by Santa Claus, various competitions, as well as mascots and cartoon characters of Ronald McDonald, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Fantastic Four are set to add to the merriment of the festival.

Under the new management, the mall would see a change in new tenants and also upgrading in different phases.

Sources: The Star

PJ set to become disabled-friendly

An example of how the city’s paths can be dangerous to the disabled.

PETALING JAYA: The city council is set to make the city's roads and other facilities more disabled-friendly.

The council will build 150 covered disabled car parks and better walkways, ramps and pedestrian crossings, especially from Jalan Gasing to Jalan Changai.

The improvements are included under the council's budget for next year. According to the council's Engineering Department director Ismail Shafie, the first phase will be completed in March.

PJ councillor T. Anthony, who is disabled, said the upgrading works would meet the international standards for facilities for the disabled.

There are more than 250,000 disabled people in the country and their mobility is hampered by unfriendly infrastructure and facilities.

Source: Streets, NST Online

Disabled in Subang Jaya voice their woes

By OH ING YEEN

THE disabled community will have something to look forward next year, Selangor executive councillor Ronnie Liu announced at the recent Dialogue with OKU (people with disablities) that there would be a special welfare programme for the disabled in the state next year.

The objective of the meeting was to provide a platform for people with disabilities living in Subang Jaya to voice out their problems and to seek solutions.

“This dialogue will be useful as we can use it as a reference for the programme,” he said, declining to reveal further information about the programme as it is still in the planning stage.

Disabled-friendly environment needed: Kok telling the difficulties he faces in travelling.

Also present at the meeting were Subang Jaya assemblyman Hannah Yeoh, Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) secretary Slamat Hamzah, Social Welfare Department (JKM) officer Jama’eah Abdul Ghani, sign language interpreter Azlina Mohamad Isa, as well as MPSJ councillors Ng Sze Han, Gary Chong, Sapiyan Mohd Din, Rabiah Omar, Datuk Dr Subramaniam @ Mutu Nadarajan, Joseph Xavier and Chia Yew Ken. Agnes Lee, who is involved in rights for the disabled, was the moderator.

Preceding the meeting was a performance by members of the Beautiful Gate Foundation, which drew cheers from the audience.

Among the issues and suggestions put forward by the disabled and their caretakers were:

• Improvements at the Social Welfare Department in terms of parking and accessibility;
  
• MPSJ to rectify the inconsistency in the distribution of stickers for the disabled and caretakers;
  
• A government hospital in Subang Jaya;
  
• Education and job opportunities for the disabled;
  
• JKM to improve on its services; and
  
• Flexibility in banking in the allowance for the by the JKM.

Awesome: Performers from the Beautiful Gate Foundation drew applause from the audience for their amazing performance.

Alan Kok, who is wheelchair-bound, hoped that Subang Jaya could be a more disabled-friendly place to live in.

“Even if some buses have disabled-user facilities, I have difficulty travelling to the bus stop itself.

“We have a lot to offer; it’s not that we don’t want to work. We can work from home, and in jobs like translating and web-designing,” he said.

Citing the MBPJ Transit OKU as an example, some voiced the need for a similar mode of transport for the disabled in Subang Jaya as well as other municipalities. “This is so that the disabled can travel from one town or city to another without transportation problems,” said Bathmavathi Khrishnan of the Malay­sian Confederation of the Disabled.

She also raised the issue of the need for a government hospital in Subang Jaya and for the public community halls to be more accessible.

Yeoh said while some of the issues could not be solved on the spot, the problems and suggestions would be compiled and looked into.

She added that flaws in the system would be highlighted to the decision makers for action.

She appealed to the media to highlight the need for employers to offer jobs for the disabled.

She also commended the caretakers and was choked with emotion when she related the experience of her bedridden grandfather.

“You are also taxpayers, you are also Malaysians, you deserve every right, just like all of us,” Yeoh told the members of the disabled community who were present.

Jama’eah said the process for the disabled to register with the social welfare department.

“You will be issued a card, which is like a licence, and it is useful when applying for financial assistance, OKU organisation membership, workshops and other benefits.

“For those who are bedridden, the representative can send the application on their behalf.

“A doctor will then verify the category of disability,” she said.

Slamat said that “OKU” should mean “Orang Kuat Usaha” instead of “Orang Kurang Upaya”.

“We will do our best at our level for sustainable planning for every- one,” he said.

“The issues brought up today can be resolved but it will involve various parties, such as the Social Welfare Department, Special Education Department, Works Ministry and other relevant parties,” Liu said.

Source : The Star