Lifestyle
Published:
Thursday August 15, 2013 MYT 12:00:00 AM
Updated: Thursday August 15, 2013 MYT 7:30:42 AM
Updated: Thursday August 15, 2013 MYT 7:30:42 AM
Fun on wheels
Having a handicap need not stop a person from living life to the hilt.
I HAD a marvellous time during the Aidil Fitri celebrations last week. I never realised how a good time out with some special friends can bring so much happiness, and teach us a thing or two about the finer points of life that we ought to value.
On the first day of Hari Raya, I went to the open house celebration of Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.
Although it was not my first time there, I did something different this time. I invited three teenagers whom I had befriended earlier this month at a social event. What impressed me most about the lads was their indomitable spirit. Despite coming from broken families, these boys were delightfully bright, talented and eager to take on the world.
Although they are not disabled, they reminded me so much of myself when I was their age, growing up in a wheelchair. I longed to take on the world, too, but had hardly any opportunities then and no one to guide me.
The only lesson I learnt from that unfortunate circumstance is that nobody should ever be in such a position.
I thought that since I was going to the Mentri Besar’s do, it would be a good idea to bring the boys along. The boys were delighted by the invitation. It was also a great way to get young people sensitised to persons with disabilities.
The moment I got there, the boys took turns to handle my wheelchair. They learnt where to place my wheelchair’s foot- and armrests, and how to keep my wheelchair moving in a straight line. We didn’t have to worry about where to sit because as a councillor, I got the VIP seat. We were quite a sight, having filled up half the VIP table. What’s more, we were served by a waiter.
We had a good laugh when one of the guests came up to us and asked: “May I know which (charity) home you are from?”
He became white in the face and left in a hurry when the boys told him that I was an MBPJ councillor and they were my special escorts.
It’s funny how some people stereotype those in wheelchairs and see them as objects of charity. (By the way, special seating and parking were reserved for handicapped visitors at the event.)
After our visit, we dropped by a shopping mall and the local park.
At the mall, the boys suddenly transformed my wheelchair into a “powered” version. I found myself being raced up and down the mall, taking a couple of sharp corners like an F1 car.
I assure you, no shoppers were hurt in the process. We had so much fun. It helped the boys realise that having a handicap doesn’t stop a person from having a great time.
Later, they dropped by my house. We picked up Zhar, my service Doberman, and headed to the park.
I was surprised how quickly Zhar took to the boys, lavishing them with generous licks on the face.
We even had a sing-a-long session at the park, thanks to one of the boys who brought his guitar along. After dinner, the boys took the bus back to their respective homes, leaving me glowing over the day’s events.
I am glad that despite all the problems we face in society today, there is hope yet for all of us, thanks to the lessons learnt from my young friends.
I HAD a marvellous time during the Aidil Fitri celebrations last week. I never realised how a good time out with some special friends can bring so much happiness, and teach us a thing or two about the finer points of life that we ought to value.
On the first day of Hari Raya, I went to the open house celebration of Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.
Although it was not my first time there, I did something different this time. I invited three teenagers whom I had befriended earlier this month at a social event. What impressed me most about the lads was their indomitable spirit. Despite coming from broken families, these boys were delightfully bright, talented and eager to take on the world.
Although they are not disabled, they reminded me so much of myself when I was their age, growing up in a wheelchair. I longed to take on the world, too, but had hardly any opportunities then and no one to guide me.
The only lesson I learnt from that unfortunate circumstance is that nobody should ever be in such a position.
I thought that since I was going to the Mentri Besar’s do, it would be a good idea to bring the boys along. The boys were delighted by the invitation. It was also a great way to get young people sensitised to persons with disabilities.
The moment I got there, the boys took turns to handle my wheelchair. They learnt where to place my wheelchair’s foot- and armrests, and how to keep my wheelchair moving in a straight line. We didn’t have to worry about where to sit because as a councillor, I got the VIP seat. We were quite a sight, having filled up half the VIP table. What’s more, we were served by a waiter.
We had a good laugh when one of the guests came up to us and asked: “May I know which (charity) home you are from?”
He became white in the face and left in a hurry when the boys told him that I was an MBPJ councillor and they were my special escorts.
It’s funny how some people stereotype those in wheelchairs and see them as objects of charity. (By the way, special seating and parking were reserved for handicapped visitors at the event.)
After our visit, we dropped by a shopping mall and the local park.
At the mall, the boys suddenly transformed my wheelchair into a “powered” version. I found myself being raced up and down the mall, taking a couple of sharp corners like an F1 car.
I assure you, no shoppers were hurt in the process. We had so much fun. It helped the boys realise that having a handicap doesn’t stop a person from having a great time.
Later, they dropped by my house. We picked up Zhar, my service Doberman, and headed to the park.
I was surprised how quickly Zhar took to the boys, lavishing them with generous licks on the face.
We even had a sing-a-long session at the park, thanks to one of the boys who brought his guitar along. After dinner, the boys took the bus back to their respective homes, leaving me glowing over the day’s events.
I am glad that despite all the problems we face in society today, there is hope yet for all of us, thanks to the lessons learnt from my young friends.
PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 250,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.org You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!
No comments:
Post a Comment