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| Petpositive buka puasa sponsored by Gapurna |
THE recent open house invitations to celebrate Aidilfitri proved to be an excellent opportunity for Malaysians of all races and religions to get to know each other and share their cultural diversity.
No one more than people with disabilities.
Many of my chums also took the advantage over the holidays to go out with their families and friends to the scores of Raya open houses around town. Others even went by themselves.
Some Raya celebrants even went out of their way to offer transport for the disabled who didn’t have any, or anyone to take them to their open houses. They were sent back promptly afterwards.
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| A steep wheelchair ramp |
At public events, the better prepared Raya organisers made it a point to reserve disabled parking for handicapped drivers. They not only made sure that no able-bodied persons occupied them but met the disabled at their cars and assisted them into their wheelchairs.
Efforts were also made to ensure that the venues had the best disabled-friendly facilities in the restrooms as well as ramps into the building.
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| A light moment with the Menteri Besar |
At the Selangor Menteri Besar’s do, which I attended, the organisers providing special tables for disabled and elderly visitors. A waiter was also provided at each table to help dish out the food to the special guests.
Well done to everyone who took the trouble to look into the special needs of these special groups.
On another note, the recent 53rd birthday of our nation’s celebrations last month did not go down as well as the previous Merdeka events for my pal Chong Tuck Meng from Bentong in Pahang.
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| Chong: Should've been a better Merdeka |
This year was the first time when the 49-year old who has been using a wheelchair since a motor accident in 1982 did not catch any live telecast marching parade on television on his bed at home.
Chong who is paralysed from his neck down recalled his very first Merdeka parade about 10 years ago in Kuala Lumpur in his wheelchair.
He described it as one of his most memorable experiences in his life – even though the crowd kept blocking his view and gave little consideration for his condition.
“Even though our nation is now more than half-a-century-old, there is still much to do in raising awareness of the public about the needs and rights of people with disabilities in Malaysia,” pointed out Chong who serves as adviser for Perwira K9.
Perwira K) is a six year old organisation for the physically disabled with more than 500 members throughout the country.
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| Prof Stephen Hawking |
“Whilst many things have and are changing for the better for the disabled community in overseas countries; especially with their perceptions of disability, it is sad that Malaysia has still a far way to go in catching up with the rest of the world in this area,” he told me on the telephone last week.
“Even in my hometown in Bentong where I reside, I still hardly see any changes for the disabled in our town,” he added.
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| Malaysia's first Universal Design pavement |
Chong went on to say that he feels like a prisoner who is stuck inside his house. This is because the outside environment to the nearby shops and important buildings are mostly inaccessible and hostile to his wheelchair.
“The Government, both at the local and Federal levels, should wake up from its slumber and do everything in its power to correct all these injustices at once so that people like me, can still lead a normal life regardless of our handicapping conditions.
“Because of the gross inaccessibility, the disabled community in Malaysia are among the most backward among all other groups in our society - from our social standing to internet technology and finance, etc.”
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| MBPJ's disabled friendly van |
Chong pointed out that whilst the current festivity and others to come very soon are doing a good thing by remembering to share their celebrations with the disadvantaged, he says everyone should exercise a certain amount of caution over such practises.
“Remembering the disabled during festivities has its plus points as well as its negative sides,” cautioned Chong.
“Festivities can inadvertently turn us into ‘victims’ of charity events especially when they are over and we are forgotten for the rest of the year.
“Instead people with disabilities should be remembered as often as possible and not only during so-called ‘special occasions.’”
Chong also called for a total change in mindset about the handicapped among all those at the top right down to the bottom.
“In TV programmes like the current US popular comedy drama series ‘Glee’ and the recent blockbuster movie ‘Avatar’, characters with disabilities carry a very powerful message of positivity all around.
“When will our local TV or cinema films start portraying disabled characters positively too?
“The only time that we see disabled people now is during a tragedy or a disaster or in a very tearful show.
“It’s only after we first start seeing disability positively, will the rest of the society also start doing the same.” Chong concluded.
The End
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