When Will Disabled Malaysians Take People To Court Too?

PETPOSITIVE SAYS:

Here is a picture of US president Barack Obama greeting his guests on the south lawn of the White House in Washington DC on Monday, 27 July, 2010. 

The occasion was to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) - a powerful piece of legislature that brought about major changes for the disabled in America to eliminate discrimination against people with disabilities by making buildings more accessible by wheelchair, among other things. (Picture credit: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite in The Star, Malaysia)

The ADA, incidentally, covers service animals and dogs. It gives these special companions the right to accompany their human partners into public places. 

Most people in Malaysia are unaware that America was much the same like Malaysia - and other nations - that really do very little or none at all where disabled rights are concerned.

All these changed when ordinary Americans went out into the streets and protested until the Government was forced to take notice of them. Many were arrested in their wheelchairs and even put in jail. 

Malaysia has a disabilities act. However, it is largely worthless because no one can be taken to court because the document has no teeth. It was formulated with the best of intentions but it is rather unrealistic to expect the situation for the disabled in Malaysia to change based on the goodwill of the people. 

If that were true, then why do we have punitive laws at all in our country? 

Your thoughts please, on this subject. Please include them in the comments section at the bottom of this page.

PET+BLOGSPOT 

FROM THE STAR

Published: Tuesday July 27, 2010 MYT 10:08:00 AM
Updated: Tuesday July 27, 2010 MYT 10:09:28 AM

Obama marks 20th anniversary of Disabilities Act

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama marked Monday's 20th anniversary of a landmark law barring discrimination against people with disabilities by promising to boost government efforts at recruiting, hiring and retaining people with physical and mental limitations.

In a ceremony on the White House South Lawn, Obama signed an executive order requiring the federal personnel agency to develop model guidelines for hiring people with disabilities. Progress reports would have to be posted online.

The ceremony, attended by White House officials, Cabinet secretaries, members of Congress, community leaders and people with disabilities, featured a reading through a sign language interpreter by actress Marlee Matlin, who is deaf, and an emotional performance by singer Patti LaBelle, who has diabetes.

Obama also announced that the Justice Department was publishing new rules to prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities by more than 80,000 state and local government entities and 7 million private businesses.

He also said that, beginning in 2012, all new construction must meet new standards for the design of doors, windows, elevators and bathrooms.

The requirement covers everything from stores and restaurants to schools, stadiums, hospitals, hotels and theaters, Obama said.

Attorney-General Eric Holder is also preparing new rules to ensure people with disabilities have access to websites, Obama said.

"Not dependence, but independence," the president said. "That's what the ADA was all about."

The Americans with Disabilities Act became law on July 26, 1990, signed by President George H.W. Bush to ban workplace discrimination against qualified people with disabilities and require improved access to public places and transportation.

Bush was unable to attend Monday's ceremony, but he and Obama spoke by telephone before the event.

"He was very humble about his own role, but I think it's worth acknowledging the great work that he did," Obama said.

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