Tuesday, December 05, 2006

FESPIC Games New Straits Times

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Letters

Show them that we really care
05 Dec 2006
ANTHONY THANASAYAN, President Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association, Kuala Lumpur


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ATHLETES with disabilities have shown Asia and the world that just like any other sporting event, the medals should really be for trying and for the camaraderie shared with one another. That makes every one a winner.

This could be achieved no matter what type of disability or multiple handicaps one might have.

Everyone who witnessed the Ninth Far East and South Pacific Disabled Games Federation (FESPIC) meet in Kuala Lumpur would have not only marvelled at what the disabled are capable of, but also realise that it is attitude and other factors — rather than one’s personal disability — that divide people and inhibit the handicapped from achieving their full potential.

Not every disabled person can become a sportsman or woman. The majority of handicapped Malaysians are never seen in a glittering sports arena or in photographs in the media.

However, just because they remain unseen, it doesn’t mean that their lives are less important than our very able disabled-bodied sportsmen.

These people need cheering on too: People with spinal injuries or polio, those paralysed from their necks down and lying on their beds, children with profound learning disabilities, adults with mental illness, older citizens with Parkinson’s disease or stroke, young Malaysians with epilepsy and neurological conditions, the list is endless.

For these "undiscovered" Malaysians, the ability to get around in their wheelchairs, white canes and walking aids is a constant, daily struggle in the real world.

They need educators to stop labelling them as "uneducatable" as people do with the learning disabled.

They need only an opportunity for someone to say "yes" and include them in the workforce.

Even if they never get to be national and international sportsmen and sportswomen, when they have jobs and find themselves in a position to get married, at least their children perhaps can be.

We received reports that the disabled-friendly facilities in some of the hotels that put up the athletes were not up to the mark.

Transport services, taking the athletes from the hotels to the sporting venue, were also poor.

And finally, judging from visuals on TV and photographs in the print media, we regret that the lighting during the closing ceremony appeared inadequate for persons with low and poor vision.

With Visit Malaysia Year 2007 just around the corner, let’s really do something so that persons with disabilities will also be among the tourists we expect to receive next year.
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