Fine Tuning Disabled Transport

Fine tuning disabled transport - http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/opinion/anthony-sb-thanasayan/article/fine-tuning-disabled-transport

Getting a wrong thing right

Anthony SB Thanasayan

Anthony SB Thanasayan is a wheelchair user who is powered by his service dogs who help him stay on top of life. He is president of Malaysia's first and only animal-assisted therapy society called Petpositive.

Anthony SB Thanasayan

Published: 2 March 2015

 

There's a new problem in town lately. Whether or not it will be a real one, is left to be seen. And it isn't only my disabled friends who are worried sick over it.
 

It's regarding all this talk on the media – both in the electronic and printed press (as well as in the social circles) – about whether or not pharmacies should be the only ones to dispense medication.
Currently, the practice here is patients can get their medication from their doctors after visits to their clinics.

All of my able-bodied friends whom I talked to, don't think that passing over that sole responsibility to the pharmacies is a good idea at all. 

 

It's already bad enough, they say, to have to crawl out of bed when one is terribly sick in order to go and see a doctor.
And when they finally do, all they want next is to get the consultation session all over with.
 

Then, quickly grab their medication – and get home as fast as their feet and cars will take them, in order to try and sleep the whole thing off.
 

But it would be nothing short of a nightmare, they say, if their trip doesn't end at the clinic.
 

The dreaded thought of having to go and look for a pharmacist afterwards, in order to complete their doctors' visits in packed towns and cities with scarce parking around would be enough to make them even more sick than when they started their day.
 

For people with disabilities, it's horrendously worse.
 

It is true that disabled people usually go to government hospitals for regular checkups. 

 

However, if you think that the experiences they face are a "bed of roses", you are very mistaken.
 

One of the chief problems is finding a disabled friendly car park.
Wheelchair user S Jeyaraj from Rawang, who makes frequent visits to his specialist, points out that disabled car parks which should be totally convenient to disabled patients often never are.
 

"Not only are our car parks abused by the able-bodied, but they have no shelter (unlike the able-bodied hospitals' directors') to protect us from the sun and rain," he laments.
 

Other issues include steep ramps, excruciating waiting hours, and lack of physical help from hospital staff when patients have no choice, but to come without a friend or family member to help them.
 

Sometimes it is much easier to go to the nearest clinic to your home for quick help. These include for emergencies like a fever, stomach upset or a migraine.
 

Some kind doctors will oblige wheelchair patients by entertaining their phone calls. They will even step out from their clinics and attend to you in your car. This makes it a whole lot easier than attempting to get into private clinics which often lack wheelchair access.
 

When compared to a government hospital, at least the disabled are able to get to some sort of emergency help faster.
 

It's not unusual for a disabled patient to be ticked off by a doctor in a government emergency centre for not seeing a doctor during the regular hospital hours instead of turning up for treatment during off hours where emergency cases are a priority.
 

A noble point, but sometimes disabled people find it hard to get their families to accompany them during their own commitments, and thus can only come when their helpers are free. Hospitals should make some room for these situations.
 

As for non-wheelchair accessibility, local councils have also to take the blame. Clinics and banks are great places to start with sheltered car parks, along with the necessary wheelchair ramps.
 

Excuse me, but isn't this already an obvious thing for our governments to do with an increasing disabled and elderly population?
 

Pharmacies, if you ask me, are no better. 

 

There are many pharmacies which sell wheelchairs, but provide no wheelchair access whatsoever to users who visit them to buy their products, whether they be persons with walking difficulties, wheelchair users or the elderly.
 

Often their wheelchairs are kept upstairs and out of sight. Potential buyers are unable to physically test them out before making a purchase, even though some of them can cost RM1,500 and above.
 

We are showed pictures of them in brochures instead.
 

This also goes for medications and other types of products.
Instead of being able to get right to them where I can see and examine a whole array of selections in order to make a right choice, 

 

I am forced into a situation where I have to depend on a salesperson or shop assistant to bring them down to me.
 

They usually don't bring them all down, but what they think are the "best three", even though they have no clue as to what I need.
Then I am forced to make a decision, even though I am dissatisfied with them, because I feel "guilty" for having made them walk up and down for me for the products.
 

A customer in a wheelchair should never be subjected to situations like these which is wrong and unethical.
 

Shouldn't it be their moral and social responsibility to provide wheelchair friendly facilities to us, especially as disabled people, we are often the end users of their products from which they make good profit?
 

Also to the fact that we will keep coming again and again as repeat buyers?
 

On the subject of medication, there have been times when a pharmacist had suggested another medication which he claimed was an "improved product" instead of the one prescribed to me by a government doctor. 

 

It was for a particular pressure sore that I had.
 

There was no way where I could call up the specialist there and then to check if the cream suggested by the pharmacist was "better" for my wound instead.
 

Weeks later when I met the specialist on my appointment day, I was told that the one recommended by the pharmacist was a wrong one and that I should stop using it at once as it was eating away at my skin.
 

In conclusion, the planners and policy makers should spend more time in urgently and significantly working hard to get such basic wrongs in our society and infrastructure RIGHT before thinking of any outlandish measures for the next generation. – March 2, 2015.
 

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/opinion/anthony-sb-thanasayan/article/getting-wrong-thing-right#sthash.wBayvKFV.dpuf

Getting a wrong thing right

Anthony SB Thanasayan

Anthony SB Thanasayan is a wheelchair user who is powered by his service dogs who help him stay on top of life. He is president of Malaysia's first and only animal-assisted therapy society called Petpositive.

Anthony SB Thanasayan

Published: 2 March 2015

There's a new problem in town lately. Whether or not it will be a real one, is left to be seen. And it isn't only my disabled friends who are worried sick over it.
It's regarding all this talk on the media – both in the electronic and printed press (as well as in the social circles) – about whether or not pharmacies should be the only ones to dispense medication.
Currently, the practice here is patients can get their medication from their doctors after visits to their clinics.

All of my able-bodied friends whom I talked to, don't think that passing over that sole responsibility to the pharmacies is a good idea at all. It's already bad enough, they say, to have to crawl out of bed when one is terribly sick in order to go and see a doctor.
And when they finally do, all they want next is to get the consultation session all over with.
Then, quickly grab their medication – and get home as fast as their feet and cars will take them, in order to try and sleep the whole thing off.
But it would be nothing short of a nightmare, they say, if their trip doesn't end at the clinic.
The dreaded thought of having to go and look for a pharmacist afterwards, in order to complete their doctors' visits in packed towns and cities with scarce parking around would be enough to make them even more sick than when they started their day.
For people with disabilities, it's horrendously worse.
It is true that disabled people usually go to government hospitals for regular checkups. However, if you think that the experiences they face are a "bed of roses", you are very mistaken.
One of the chief problems is finding a disabled friendly car park.
Wheelchair user S Jeyaraj from Rawang, who makes frequent visits to his specialist, points out that disabled car parks which should be totally convenient to disabled patients often never are.
"Not only are our car parks abused by the able-bodied, but they have no shelter (unlike the able-bodied hospitals' directors') to protect us from the sun and rain," he laments.
Other issues include steep ramps, excruciating waiting hours, and lack of physical help from hospital staff when patients have no choice, but to come without a friend or family member to help them.
Sometimes it is much easier to go to the nearest clinic to your home for quick help. These include for emergencies like a fever, stomach upset or a migraine.
Some kind doctors will oblige wheelchair patients by entertaining their phone calls. They will even step out from their clinics and attend to you in your car. This makes it a whole lot easier than attempting to get into private clinics which often lack wheelchair access.
When compared to a government hospital, at least the disabled are able to get to some sort of emergency help faster.
It's not unusual for a disabled patient to be ticked off by a doctor in a government emergency centre for not seeing a doctor during the regular hospital hours instead of turning up for treatment during off hours where emergency cases are a priority.
A noble point, but sometimes disabled people find it hard to get their families to accompany them during their own commitments, and thus can only come when their helpers are free. Hospitals should make some room for these situations.
As for non-wheelchair accessibility, local councils have also to take the blame. Clinics and banks are great places to start with sheltered car parks, along with the necessary wheelchair ramps.
Excuse me, but isn't this already an obvious thing for our governments to do with an increasing disabled and elderly population?
Pharmacies, if you ask me, are no better. There are many pharmacies which sell wheelchairs, but provide no wheelchair access whatsoever to users who visit them to buy their products, whether they be persons with walking difficulties, wheelchair users or the elderly.
Often their wheelchairs are kept upstairs and out of sight. Potential buyers are unable to physically test them out before making a purchase, even though some of them can cost RM1,500 and above.
We are showed pictures of them in brochures instead.
This also goes for medications and other types of products.
Instead of being able to get right to them where I can see and examine a whole array of selections in order to make a right choice, I am forced into a situation where I have to depend on a salesperson or shop assistant to bring them down to me.
They usually don't bring them all down, but what they think are the "best three", even though they have no clue as to what I need.
Then I am forced to make a decision, even though I am dissatisfied with them, because I feel "guilty" for having made them walk up and down for me for the products.
A customer in a wheelchair should never be subjected to situations like these which is wrong and unethical.
Shouldn't it be their moral and social responsibility to provide wheelchair friendly facilities to us, especially as disabled people, we are often the end users of their products from which they make good profit?
Also to the fact that we will keep coming again and again as repeat buyers?
On the subject of medication, there have been times when a pharmacist had suggested another medication which he claimed was an "improved product" instead of the one prescribed to me by a government doctor. It was for a particular pressure sore that I had.
There was no way where I could call up the specialist there and then to check if the cream suggested by the pharmacist was "better" for my wound instead.
Weeks later when I met the specialist on my appointment day, I was told that the one recommended by the pharmacist was a wrong one and that I should stop using it at once as it was eating away at my skin.
In conclusion, the planners and policy makers should spend more time in urgently and significantly working hard to get such basic wrongs in our society and infrastructure RIGHT before thinking of any outlandish measures for the next generation. – March 2, 2015.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/opinion/anthony-sb-thanasayan/article/getting-wrong-thing-right#sthash.wBayvKFV.dpuf

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!

Building A Disabled-Friendly Petaling Jaya

PETPOSITIVE NEWS UPDATE!

DATELINE: SECTION 52, PETALING JAYA, SELANGOR.

I WAS at a popular local pharmacy here last Thursday to see how a wheelchair ramp could be built into the shop. 

The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) had received several complaints from disabled residents wanting a ramp to be built next to the pharmacy for easy accessibility. 

So as Councillor for the area, I managed to "summon" the

Me and my intrepid accessibility team

planning and engineering department to meet me over at the site to see how the problem could best be solved.

It turned out to be a cinch. The owner of the business agreed to pay for the ramp once MBPJ had provided him with the correct specifications of the ramp.

It is always a joy with supportive people like this. Little by little, we will build a disabled-friendly city in Petaling Jaya!
 
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 150,000 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.com.my 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!

Swedish Experience Of Accessibility In Kuala Lumpur

ACCESSIBILITY is very much the buzz word in the disability community these days.

So it was no wonder why more than 200 participants jam-packed a training centre’s seminar hall in a special forum on the subject last week in Kuala Lumpur.

Called “Towards An Accessible City,” the event was a joint collaboration between the Swedish Embassy – through its commercial body Business Sweden - and City Hall of KL.

This was the second time that such an initiative was held by both countries. The first was a similar forum held in February of last year focusing on Deaf people in the society.

“Only with active participation, awareness and support from the local authorities and citizens, this idea (of an accessible city for all) can become a concept that would later lead to a lifestyle,” noted Mr Bengt G Carlsson, Swedish Ambassador to Malaysia at the seminar during its opening.  

The full-day event comprising expert speakers from Sweden on disabled-friendly facilities tackled the thorny but essential issues of how to transform a non-friendly city into an accessible one.

Sweden then went on to share their stories of success of how the country started getting in tune with its disabled residents over the years and providing for their special needs.

It was hoped that the inputs provided could help Malaysia develop helpful ideas and strategies in building a barrier-free environment too.

These include coming up with concepts of making more and more areas wheelchair and white cane friendly.

Other areas include helping handicapped people to communicate more easily and have access to useful and vital information about themselves no matter where they came from.

It is also important to ensure that people with disabilities are treated with respect and dignity – including in how facilities are made for them, have the same rights to education as non disabled people and be able to hold jobs successfully in order to support themselves and their families.

They must also be able to function normally like any other residents in a city and have access to recreational facilities like the non disabled all over the country.

Sweden for example has invested enormously in tourism. This includes where the disabled and the elderly can also successfully participate in it.

The seminar revealed that extensive accessibility programmes have been conducted in Stockholm since the beginning of 2000.

One of the notable success stories of that initiative was a project in May 2011 called, “Stockholm – A City For Everyone.”

The city began consciously creating an environment for people with a wide range of disabilities and not just strictly for wheelchair users alone.

These include people with communicative impairments to the elderly who go around the city with a walking frame as an aid to mobility.

Also persons who use crutches after an accident, young parents with strollers and even those with a suitcase on wheels.

It was not surprising why a year later in December Stockholm’s initiatives went on to become one of the top three cities that was awarded the European City Award for their extensive work on accessibility.

Other notable nuggets from the Swedish experience from the March 5^th seminar disclosed how there was a good structure of the Swedish authorities administration procedure of responsible implementation, coordination and monitoring of disability policy in the country.

The availability of assistive technologies for disabled persons in accordance to the standards laid out by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities – which Malaysia is also a proud signatory of – is also widely available in Sweden.  

Many of these innovative technology and services are not only available in the public and at work but also in the home environment as well.

The afternoon session was particular interesting as many of the Swedish companies presented their solutions and products to greater disability access for facilities for the physically handicapped to the blind. An all-day exhibition of these technologies was also provided to curious participants who wanted to know more about them.

A couple of these were from the company called Scania’s very latest version of an accessible city bus, Prisma Teknik “push button” for pedestrian safety as well as safe crossing for blind and low vision people.

But what was particularly interesting was the presentation by HAGS. They successfully illustrated how playground activities can be made accessible for kids and grown-ups in wheelchairs.

Sandpits, for instance, can be raised to the wheelchair level for disabled kids and planting in the same way can be accessible to elderly persons with walking difficulties.

Another company Artico showcased their different lift systems that can be installed in public places, stores, shopping malls and work places. They can be fitted using very little space and are also more affordable.

The forum which was opened by the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur Y.Bhg Dato' Hj. Ahmad Phesal bin Hj. Talib certainly opened the eyes of many about the limitless possibilities that every can contribute to provide greater accessibility for an ever increasing disabled population.

It’s what happens AFTER such insightful events that really matters. Fingers crossed everyone.  

The End.

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 150,000 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.com.my 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!

One Of A Kind Disabled Facility In Taman Medan Service Centre

PETPOSITIVE NEWSFLASH!

DATELINE TAMAN MEDAN PETALING JAYA:

ABOUT 80 PERSONS turned up at the launch this morning of a disabled-friendly car park and ramp here. It was built by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) for access to the service centre of State Assemblyperson Haniza Talha.

The project which began in October of last year was finally finished last week. A lot of details had gone into the ramp to make it fully disabled-friendly.

The event was launched by Selangor State Exco Rodziah Ismail. Head of MBPJ planning Sharipah Marhaini attended the occasion. Many of them included disabled people around the area.

The ramp and special car park is believed to be the only one of its kind made in a state assemblyperson's office. 

More on this soon.   


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 150,000 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.com.my 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!

How To Get Your Wheelchair On The Beach

PETPOSITIVE PICTURE FLASH!

Here's a ingenious idea of making beaches and sandy areas accessible to people in wheelchairs. 

We'd love to hear from you. Write and tell us what you think. Can you think of other better ideas? What do you think about disabled people's right to access outside areas? 

Don't forget to become PET+BLOGSPOT's Follower if you have joined us for the first time. 

Have a good day and thank you for reading.  



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 150,000 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.com.my 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!

MBPJ Breaks Down Barriers For People With Disabilities

StarMetro Friday December 14, 2012

MBPJ holds event to create caring society

Story and photo by VINCENT TAN
vincent.tan@thestar.com.my

A favourite figure: A clown making balloon sculptures for the children from the Kota Damansara lowcost housing area who came to participate in the celebrations.

NEARLY 300 celebrants, both able and the disabled, gathered at the ground level entrance of 1Utama’s New Wing complex to celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities recently.
The event was organised by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) with the international theme “Removing barriers to create an inclusive and accessible society for all”.

Health, Plantation Workers, Poverty and Compassionate Government committee chairman Dr Xavier Jeyakumar officiated at the launch of the celebrations, together with Damansara Utama assemblyman Dr Cheah Wing Yin and acting Petaling Jaya mayor Puasa Md Taib. MBPJ councillors Anthony Thanasayan and Azri Mohamad Arish were also present.

In the opening speeches, Anthony said he was overwhelmed by the large crowd which had turned up for the celebrations.

“We are here today not to be ashamed of our disabilities. We do not have to hide, but are here to celebrate,” said Anthony who also related his experience growing up as a wheelchair-bound child in a city with a lack of disabled-friendly facilities. The councillor now heads an MBPJ committee which looks into infrastructure and facilities issues faced by disabled persons.

Dr Xavier praised MBPJ’s efforts in turning Petaling Jaya into a “barrier-free” city, with initiatives such as the free transit service for disabled persons, tactile walkways for the visually-impaired, as well as free medical treatment at MBPJ community clinics, among others.

“I have also been approached by several non-governmental organisations and agencies, where they are willing to help fund infrastructure for the disabled in the low-cost housing areas. This is a good idea, as both the state and the NGOs become jointly responsible for the area’s disabled facilities,”said Dr Xavier.

In addition, he added that he would be pushing for a joint fund financed by local authorities to push for such projects.

It was not just all speeches, as the audience was also treated to a line dance performance by members from MAB (Malaysian Association of the Blind) and a musical recital on the guitar and harmonica.
Nor Hidayah Abd Halim, 24, blind since birth, now works a telephone receptionist with the MAB. Nonetheless, she said a day such as this was good in further raising the profile of disabled persons in society.

“By and large, people respect us for what we do, but at times, it is also difficult to fight through people’s prejudice when they look down on you,” said Nor Hidayah.

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities has been promoted by the United Nations every Dec 3 since 1998, is aimed at promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.

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 150,000 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.com.my 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!

China To Become More Disabled Friendly

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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 150,000 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.com.my 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!

Recognition For Barrier-Free Efforts

CAPAM AWARD:MBPJ is among top three finalists under the Innovations in Citizen Engagement and Dialogue category

Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman helping to wheel a disabled resident in barrier-free Petaling Jaya. Pic by Nurul Shafina Jemenon

1 / 1

THE Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) has been shortlisted as one of the top three finalists for the Commonwealth Association For Public Administration and Management (CAPAM) award under the category for Innovations in Citizen Engagement and Dialogue.
Petaling Jaya mayor, Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman, is delighted over this and hopes to emerge  victorious.

The CAPAM International Innovations awards celebrates the spirit of innovation in the public service by recognising organisations that have made significant contributions to improve governance and services in the public sector.

Recipients of the award are from Commonwealth countries and judges are experts from around the world.

The council was shortlisted for its efforts in creating a barrier-free city under its "Barrier-free Petaling Jaya: Lifting the urban disability stigma" project.

Sharipah Marhaini Syed Ali, the Planning Development Department  director, said the council has a unique approach in catering to the needs of the disabled.

"Other councils may be providing similar amenities. However, MBPJ allows the disabled to tell us how things should be done," said Sharipah.

"We have engaged the disabled in our audits and surveys  whenever new facilities are planned for. We are serious in getting it right the first time and not building something only to  break it later because it is dysfunctional."

Sharipah said MBPJ officers would  also go to the ground in order to understand how the disabled use certain facilities.

"There is the continuous drive to help improve the lives of disabled residents," said Sharipah.

"We can't just have a one-off event and hope everything changes. There must be continuous efforts and the council staff must also be well-trained."

The most significant move by the council was to appoint disabled rights activist,  T. Anthony Siva Balan, as a city councillor. Anthony leads the Technical Advisory Committee for Disabled Accessibility.

Anthony said he was among the activists who used to "fight" from outside the council building.

"Today, the council has recognised the importance of working with the community. If the council doesn't provide what's necessary, we will become a burden to the society. Those who are disabled don't want that," he said.

The council hopes to win the  award  by focusing on four innovation strategies currently practised, to achieve the goal of a barrier free city.

These are the formation of a technical advisory committee to develop disabled facilities in the city, modification of existing infrastructure or buildings, raising public awareness on the needs of the disabled, and organising more technical training and implementing specific area-based projects for the disabled.

The results will be announced at the 2012 CAPAM Biennial Conference in Delhi, India, in October.

Read more: Recognition for barrier-free efforts - Central - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/streets/central/recognition-for-barrier-free-efforts-1.118511#ixzz22N5x674e

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 150,000 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.com.my 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!

Worst Toilet Found In Welfare Department

RECENTLY a small group of us came together to attempt the unimaginable – check out the public toilets in town!

We all know the kind of nightmarish encounters such a task would, more often than not, entail. Un-flushed toilet bowls, broken or missing taps and toilet seats, tissues that are nowhere in sight; you get the picture.

However, fortunately there was a special twist in our particular mission.

We were – thank heavens – to only look out for disabled-friendly loos.

Our target: some of the most important government buildings that the members of the public frequent. 

And so an unlikely pair of journalists – a writer by the name of Priya Menon and Munirah Muzamer, a photographer – together with another wheelchair user like me, Francis Siva, we took off to our destinations.  

Francis and I made a sort of a perfect combination between us because he was paralysed from his neck down and I, from the waist below.

Our feedback towards the exercise would be more comprehensive with our varied and specific needs, we thought.

As council members of the city of Petaling Jaya’s (MBPJ) disability technical committee, our first stop was naturally at the PJ Civic Centre.

Needless to say the architects who designed this landmark building in its original form had obviously never dreamt of disabled and elderly people patronising the building.

And although years later a ramp was constructed outside and inside the building, no attention was given to the restroom even though a wider cubicle of sorts that can squeeze in wheelchairs are available both at the men’s and women’s section.

To access the restrooms, however, one had to contend with a step with his or her wheelchair until recently, when a ramp was installed.

But sad to say the ramp is still not suitable because of its steepness.

The good news, however, is that planning has already been underway at MBPJ over the past several months to overcome all the challenges presented by the older designs.

The Civic centre will be undergoing some major renovations very soon where all the facilities will be revised to become more user-friendly.

For the first time in the building’s history, a special place in one of the best spots in the auditorium where performances are held has been specially reserved so that at least two wheelchairs can be “parked” there.

Our second stop at the Kelana Jaya Swimming Pool was most frustrating as wheelchairs had to be carried up and down a flight of steep steps to get to the pool area.

Once inside, there were more steps to the changing rooms and toilets.

What is ironical is that I am told that a few disabled swimming championships have been held at the very pool where makeshift ramps and other alternatives were included to facilitate wheelchair-using athletes.

It is high time that MBPJ took up the challenge to overcome the various obstacles in the building to incorporate permanent structures so that even the ordinary disabled member of the public can use the pool without difficulty.

For those who are unfamiliar, people who are paralysed in their legs can still swim with their hands. It is not only an excellent all-rounder exercise for them but it also provides a great source of therapy by allowing them to move about in the pool without the need for wheelchairs. 

       

At the national registration and immigration offices in Damansara in Kuala Lumpur, we made the shocking discovery that no handicapped toilets could be found.

The only one that they said was accessible was too far away for us to even try because it was several blocks away.            

But an even bigger horror awaited us at the KL Social Welfare Department which was located at the ninth floor of the Grand Seasons Avenue in Jalan Pahang.

Here is where people in wheelchairs and the elderly frequent to get aid from the government.

We couldn’t believe our eyes when we came across the toilets for disabled men and women in separate sections that used mere shower curtains as a door and to make up one side of the walls.

There was no way that a person using it could not expose himself or herself to the able-bodied others in the restrooms.  

There was hardly any room to manoeuvre a wheelchair and no grab bars in sight posing an extremely dangerous situation of handicapped users falling down and injuring themselves. 

I couldn’t believe that here was an institution that was supposed to be caring and looking into the needs of the disabled – and yet, obviously having no qualms about allowing such a situation to go on for several years.

When asked, their reply was “they couldn’t do anything about it as the building didn’t belong to them”.

However, as soon as I reached home I received a piece of good news on the telephone from the top management of the building.

They had learnt of our visit at their premise and informed me that a proper toilet will be built for the disabled at both the men’s and women’s section.

The toilets should ready by this week. 

The End

PET+BLOGSPOT is the official online blog of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive). Our contents are ACCURATE, RELIABLE and THE LATEST. 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 is 45,000 hits and counting. PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly take note that views expressed in this blog are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my

PJ Mosque To Become Disabled-Friendly

DATELINE MASJID JUMHURIYAH, TAMAN DATO HARUN:

Worshippers with disabilities as well as the elderly at the well-known mosque here will soon be able to fulfill their religious obligations with greater comfort. 

The good news was revealed last Saturday. 

This was after a team of experts from the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) visited the house of worship for Muslims to check on its disabled-friendly facilities.

The access-audit began from the point worshippers approached the building to how they would go inside.   

Thanasayan thrilled by ramp at the front of the mosque

The group was led by the director of planning Puan Sharipah Marhaini and councillor Anthony SB Thanasayan.

"Although the present ramp into the mosque isn't a hundred percent perfect, most people will still be able to use it without much difficulty," observed a pleased Thanasayan after he and the team spent about 45 minutes assessing the building. 

"I'm absolutely thrilled that the ramp was built at the main entrance of the mosque and not hidden away at the back as this adds on to the dignity of the disabled and elderly whose entrances must always be in front of the building," added Thanasayan who also serves as chairman of the disability expert team in the local council.

Puan Sharipah tackled the carpark area to the mosque. 

Assisted by Mr Francis Siva, a tetraplegic, from the Independent Living and Training Centre (ILTC) in Rawang, Selangor who also sits in MBPJ's disability expert team, the director of planning managed to identify a suitable spot at the entrance of the mosque's compound to place the handicapped parking.

"Users with special needs will be protected from the elements to make life easier for them" - Sharipah 

She promised to get it duly covered too, so as to protect users from the harsh elements such as the sun and rain. 

However, the major addition to the mosque that day would be a handicapped-friendly restroom each for men and women.

"Instead of subjecting our target groups to share a toilet, a separate toilet for both sexes would further add to the dignity of the person," said Dr Melasutra Md Dali who is the councillor- in-charge of the area.

Also present with her were fellow MBPJ councillors Encik Halimey Bin Abu Bakar from Zone 24 and R Selvarajan from Zone 14.

The visit to the mosque was part of a major outreach event by MBPJ last week to reach out to the poor, disabled and the elderly in Petaling Jaya.

It was initiated by the State Assemblyman for Taman Medan Haniza Mohd Talha.

The first-time effort will see MBPJ literally knocking on the doors of the poorest houses in PJ in an attempt to reach out to the most unfortunate communities.

The effort has drawn lots of praises from many quarters.

Note: Pictures courtesy from ILTC.   

PET+BLOGSPOT is the official online blog of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive). Our contents are ACCURATE, RELIABLE and THE LATEST. 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 is 40,000 hits and counting. PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly take note that views expressed in this blog are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my