Disabled speaker sees red, Celcom staff blush
Fauwaz Abdul Aziz
Jun 20, 07 5:42pm Adjust font size:
A major telecommunications company hosted an event at its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today which, among others, aimed to draw attention to the needs of the disabled.
But Celcom officers were left red faced when one of the key speakers, who is wheelchair-bound, pointed out that they had failed to consider his accessibility to the hall where the celebrity-studded event was to take place.
The event was held to highlight the June 30 ‘Walk and Wheel Campaign: Uniting for Safe Spaces’ organised by the All Women’s Action Society (Awam).
The campaign aims to raise public awareness on safety issues and to empower members of the public, especially women, children, the elderly and the disabled, to reclaim their right to live in safety.
After arriving at the Celcom office and having taken the elevator to the fourth floor, PetPositive president Anthony Thanasayan found himself in a fix.
The wheelchair bound activist could not participate in the press conference as the only way to reach the hall was by descending two flights of stairs.
Much to his disappointment, Thansayan was told that he would be carried down on his wheelchair by several security personnel and Celcom staff.
Despite repeated assurances from Celcom officers that they will be “very careful”, Thanasayan refused to take the risk.
Event shifted to another venue
The Celcom officers apologised profusely for their oversight but Thanasayan continued to see red over the incident.
“I’m very disappointed. I cannot believe that in a huge, modern building such as this, you do not have a room we can use that is accessible for the disabled.
“You say you’ll be very careful, but if we fall, I’ll be the one with the broken bones, if not worse. My bones do not heal as fast as yours,” he told the embarrassed officers.
Following this, several phone calls were made and the event was shifted to the sixth floor.
At the press conference later, Awam president Judith Loh-Koh said the unfortunate incident should not be taken negatively.
“I see it as a positive action, that it is through these challenges that we begin to understand what a disabled person feels,” she added.
Thanasayan also told reporters that all quarters should be sensitive and take the initiative to learn about and appreciate the special needs of the disabled.
The earlier incident, he said, illustrated the need for everyone to learn about the circumstances surrounding the disabled.
A wheelchair, he pointed out, was made to carry a person, and not for it to be carried by others.
Most able-bodied persons are unaware that such chairs - to facilitate dismantling and easy transportation in vehicles - come apart easily when lifted off the ground, he added.
Touching on the issue of safety and security, Thanasayan said the elderly and disabled are most vulnerable to crimes and violence.
Apart from not being able to defend themselves or flee from harm, the police themselves are not equipped to help them.
Citing the lack of disabled-friendly facilities at police stations, Thanasayan said most police officers and personnel are unaware of those who are disabled or elderly in the particular beat or locality that they cover.
Gym for the employees
Met later, Celcom officials who declined to be named, said the company has many disabled employees who have no problems accessing most parts of the building.
There are ramps, they said, and the elevators reach every floor of the 22-storey building.
According to them, the event was moved to the inaccessible venue because an emergency board meeting was taking place at the hall where it was initially slated to take place.
The room is not directly accessible from the elevator as it is actually a gym for the staff, they said.
However, Thanasayan was not placated by this explanation.
“Even if it is a gym for the staff, why is it not accessible for those staff who are disabled? They don’t need exercise is it?” he asked.
Adding salt to the wound, Thanasayan was forced to have his lunch separately as the food for the guests were served on the 3rd floor.
Walk and Wheel
About 1,000 people will take part in the Walk and Wheel event on June 30 in a two-kilometer procession around Dataran Merdeka, said the campaign organisers.
It will culminate in a concert with performances and appearances by such celebrities as Jaclyn Victor, Norrye, Point Blanc, Michael Voon, Evenstarr, Qings and Kweens, Couple, Malaysian Idol finalist Zamil, and award-winning actress Sharifah Amani Syed Zainal Rashid.
Victor, Norrye, Point Blanc, and Qings and Kweens were among the stars present at the press conference today.
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