Saturday, September 15, 2012

WEEKEND VIEW: New ID For Disabled - Step In Right Direction


I became the proud owner of a new personal disabled identification card last week.    

And I must say that I am very impressed with it.

I half expected it to look as good as it did when I first applied for it more than a month ago.

It certainly beats my two previous disabled IDs.

They were given to me over time after I registered myself as a handicapped citizen as a teenager.

The disabled signed up back then with the promise that these “magic cards” would give us special recognition and bring along certain benefits.

The latest ID, the size of our normal identity cards, comes in a lovely pink colour.

There is a very noticeable white wheelchair outline with a person sitting on it against a blue backdrop. This is the proper international sign or logo for disabled people.

Below it are these words in English: “Persons with Disabilities” (PWDs). This is the way an increasing number of disabled people wish to be referred to these days.

PWDs who prefer this term argue that the general public are more likely to focus on the person first and their respective disabilities, second.

It is hugely encouraging to see such positive changes – that are taking place in countries around the world – also happening here too.

Not only that but the bold words and colours on the latest disabled ID also helps to add on a certain level of dignity on the card bearers than in the previous ones. The former seemed to give the impression of them as a bunch of people who were merely looking for handouts.

Yes, PWDs generally need a helping hand from society. And that’s because if we care to be honest about it, it is really our fault as a nation for not including PWDs needs and rights from the beginning into much of our infrastructure.

Had we done that long ago, many disabled Malaysians today would be well educated and gainfully employed like their overseas counterparts and certainly be less of a burden in our society.

And it is for this reason why bearers of such cards should be given special consideration in almost every sphere of our lives.

It’s the least that we can do for our “negligence.”

It’s great that some public transport are giving half fares, phone and internet companies subsidising prices, etc, to help handicapped Malaysians to catch up with the rest of the citizens.

However, it mustn’t stop there. They must continue not only to get better but even outdo themselves when it comes to exercising everyone’s social corporate responsibilities to the disadvantaged.

Another giant plus point about the new ID is that it bears some of the nation’s most important logos: 1) The Coat of Arms or Emblem of Malaysia. 2) The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry and 3) The National Welfare Department.
This is a great move that will undoubtedly encourage more and more government bodies and private agencies to conduct campaigns on how everyone can help to register PWDs and see what further steps can and need to be taken to improve the quality of lives of disabled Malaysians.  

Finally, a couple of glitches with the card that needs to be looked into:

1)    The card says it must be returned if the disabled person is no longer disabled. When I asked, I was told it referred to very rare cases where the blind got their sight back through surgery. I think this clause should be removed as it can be misleading to suggest that disabilities can be cured. This not only gives false hopes to PWDs but makes them vulnerable to exploitation from unscrupulous salespeople promising “miracle cures” for diseases instead of helping persons come to terms with their conditions so that they can start moving on with their lives with their disabilities. And what a nightmare it would be for those good people out there who give special benefits for the cards, fearing that it could suddenly be abused. Just cancel the card for the rare cases!
2)    Getting the card was a breeze for me. I passed it on to a friend I knew in the welfare headquarters in Putrajaya who did the needful. However, collecting it was initially another story. I was told I had to turn up at the local welfare office or get a friend to collect it as though friends sort of grew on trees these days. The cold hard fact is it’s hard for disabled people to find friends; let alone to get them to do errands for them! Fortunately, the problem was solved by another call to Putrajaya. I was told that any disabled person who couldn’t make it to the local welfare centres can request that the officers personally come to their homes instead. My glossy card finally arrived at my home where the exchange was over in 60-seconds flat! Imagine that. And the frontline staff at the local welfare thought it couldn’t be done.        
  
The End

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