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Surfing lessons for disabled children has brought about positive changes, one of which is their surge in self confidence.

THE lesson begins on the beach, in Long Beach, New York, with a youngster lying on a surfboard more than twice her size. After a brief orientation, the child, joined by a world-class surfing coach, is soon paddling about 30m into the ocean.

As a modest wave appears, the coach and his student begin paddling furiously toward shore. In an instant, the coach eases away from the board and implores his charge to “pop up”, and stand on the board.

A shriek explodes from excited parents on the beach who scream with glee as the newcomer stands and rides her first wave to shore.

“I knew what I was doing,” exclaims 14-year-old Meghan Fink, who is vision-impaired. “I was able to stand up on that board and I felt the wind through my hair and the water came over my head a few times. It was just amazing.”

Learning to surf is a rite of passage for teens in seaside communities around the world. But in recent years, children with disabilities ranging from near-blindness to autism have been joining the fun, amazing their parents and themselves by hopping up on surfboards and riding the waves.

Such programmes have been around for about a decade. No one suggests there are therapeutic cures amid the waves, but the surge in self-confidence is easily evident.

“It’s a thrill of being in a situation where you have control of yourself while at the same time working with nature to get some pleasure and enjoyment … that is what surfing is all about,” says Harvey Weisenberg, 50-year veteran lifeguard, who has a 52-year-old developmentally disabled son.

by Frank El Tman.

Read more @ http://thestar.com.my/education/story.asp?file=/2010/9/5/education/6963535&sec=education

Help the disabled to get on board the information super highway.

PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak has invited Malaysians to share their ideas for Budget 2011 which is scheduled to be tabled in Parliament next month.

This news was music to the ears for Yam Tong Woo. Yam used to work as an automotive engineer before he lost his sight in January 2008 following a bacterial infection.

“Fortunately, it wasn’t the end of the road for me, thanks to Internet technology,” said Yam, 52.

“I hope our Prime Minister will seriously consider opening the doors wide for the disabled community so that we, too, can access the information super highway that is revolutionising thousands of lives every day.

“It will take a special and well thought-out budget to make IT accessible to all disabled Malaysians.”

Enabled: A screen reader allows the visually impaired to read text that is displayed on the computer screen, with the help of a speech synthesiser.

Yam who now volunteers his time to help the blind access the Internet through assistive devices and software programmes, laments the fact that money is always an issue.

The blind, for example, are not able to use a computer without a screen reader which can cost as much as RM4,000. What the gizmo does is that it allows the computer to read everything out loud. “A full subsidy for the special software will make it affordable to the blind who have no choice but to purchase a screen reader if they wish to get online,” said Yam.

The other key players are Internet service providers and telcos, said Yam. He added that although some of them do offer discounts for handicapped subscribers, the packages being offered to the able-bodied are far more attractive. Discounts for disabled subscribers often come with unfair limitations which curb their Internet usage rather than encourage it.

Yam pointed out that service providers and telcos should look into their packages for subscribers with disabilities, and stop at nothing in offering them the best.

by Anthony Thanasayan.

Read more @ http://thestar.com.my/columnists/story.asp?col=wheelpower&file=/2010/9/2/columnists/wheelpower/6946713&sec=Wheel%20Power

SEVERAL cases of violence and homicide committed by people with a history of mental illness have been reported by the media recently. It is unfortunate that such incidents happen, which reinforces the stigma associated with the mentally ill.

The truth is that, properly treated, people with serious mental illness, notably schizophrenia, are at no higher risk of violence than the general population.

But studies have shown that non-adherence to medication or defaulting on treatment, as well as concomitant alcohol or substance abuse, increases such risk. There is a need for family members to know the importance of medication adherence which is life-long for serious psychotic illness.

Sometimes, patients themselves can be uncooperative and cannot be persuaded to continue with medication due to various factors such as side effects of the medication.

Although the Health Ministry has taken many steps to increase access to medications by making them available at health clinics besides the hospitals, families need support in cases where patients are uncooperative and become mentally unstable due to discontinuation of medication.

Some of the bigger hospitals provide community psychiatric service but this remains not readily available for many unstable patients showing signs of disturbed behaviour.

Attention should be given to those who have defaulted on treatment. Also, community psychiatric outreach services and emergency psychiatric response services should be made more widely available to reduce incidents of harmful violence.

Access to better medications with less side-effects should also be enhanced.

by Datin Dr. Ang Kim Teng.

President, Malaysian Mental Health association.

Read more @ http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/22/focus/6900676&sec=focus

KUALA LUMPUR, — Being blind does not mean that one cannot pursue tertiary education. N. Laxme Preyalatha is testament to this.

She was among 920 Universiti Malaya (UM) graduates who received their masters degree at the second session of the university’s 49th convocation here Tuesday.

Laxme, 34, who has been blind since birth, received her Masters in Education degree from UM Pro-Chancellor Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, who is also the Raja Muda of Perak.

“Although blind, one should always have passion for knowledge because the door to employment for people with disabilities will be opened wider with knowledge,” said the second of three siblings who plans to pursue a doctorate degree in the same field.

Laxme, who teaches Bahasa Malaysia and moral studies at Sekolah Kebangsaan Brickfields 1, also dedicated her success to her late mother who died of dengue, three years ago.

Another graduate with impaired sight, Al’Azifah Mohd Shafie, 30, said her strong passion to compete with normal people in education and employment, had motivated her to get a Masters degree in Syariah.

“From my experience, it is really difficult for a disabled person to land a job. So, to compete with normal people, I need extra knowledge for my advantage,” she said.

The religious teacher at Sekolah Agama Menengah Muhammadiah, Pekan Sabak, Sabak Bernam, who is suffering from pigmented retina, is grateful she has a “very supportive family”.

Al’Azifah said she was now planning to pursue a doctorate degree in Islamic economy.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Shamsuri Muhamad, 28, who was born blind, also dedicated his success in getting a masters degree in counseling, to his family and friends, as well as UM lecturers who had helped him throughout his studies.

He is currently pursuing a doctorate in UM and is active in associations and non-governmental organisations for the blind.

BERNAMA.

Read more @ http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=518628

Physiotherapy at RACS

AS a youth, I had always admired Cheshire Home for its craft and gift items which are beautiful and unique. You could only buy these when the Home had its festival bazaars.

The connection between the skills in craft, physical handicap and economic empowerment did not quite crystallise in my mind, until I actually visited the centre some years ago.

During those visits, I would meet with Datin Paduka Khatijah Suleiman, president of Rumah Amal Cheshire Selangor (RACS). She started as a volunteer 34 years ago and stayed on because she felt that the sick and disabled should be cared for and treated with dignity, a vision she shared with the founder, English Group Captain Leonard Cheshire. Khatijah has taken Cheshire Home Selangor into the new millennium with collaborations and participation from the community, and people who need help — and give back in return.

Now RACS does more than care for the sick and disabled. They run community programmes and train the disabled so they can economically empower themselves and be reintegrated into society. RACS also trains caregivers so that they are more skilled and can quickly assess their ward in a situation and take appropriate action.

“My life is much easier now because I have a strong group of committee members and staff, support from professionals in the field, and smart partnerships with corporations,” said Khatijah.
“We learnt through trial and error. What is important is that we must reach out to those with learning disabilities. There are 30,000 children who are accounted for, but this figure does not include those from special schools, or the undetected and unregistered.”

Leonard Cheshire Disabilities (LCD) worldwide started the Economic Empowerment Project (EEP). It is LCD’s belief that it should support people with disabilities to secure livelihoods through formal employment and self-employment, with particular focus on training in enterprise development and vocational skills. These initiatives are implemented not only in Malaysia but also in Cheshire Homes in the Philippines and China.

by Juneita Johari.

Read more @ http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/Family_Helpingthemtohelpthemselves/Article/

YOUR letter “Catering to the needs of special kids” (StarEducation July 4) tugged at my heart strings for the writer Daphne Ling definitely has empathy for “special” people.

I have a son who suffers from a hearing impairment and wears a pair of hearing aids.

He received his education in a government school and managed to complete his Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM).

About a year ago, he obtained his Diploma in Graphic Design, which was a three-year course in an established college.

He can communicate in Bahasa Malaysia and English.

He is not shy about his condition and lets other students know that his hearing impairment can be corrected to a large extent with hearing aids, like those who wear spectacles to correct their impaired vision.

I am sharing this as there are people who often stop and stare at him because of his hearing aids, yet he puts on a brave front and remains positive.

He has also gone to many job interviews, but has yet to get an offer from any of the employers.

I believe that most companies are looking for experienced people without any disabilities.

by M. F. Chow.

Read more @ http://thestar.com.my/education/story.asp?file=/2010/7/18/education/6615787&sec=education

KUALA LUMPUR: Disabled persons pursuing higher education full-time at local institutions of higher learning – both public and private – will receive up to RM5,000 a year or RM20,000 for the entire duration of their course.

Announcing the new policy here yesterday, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the sum covers tuition fees as well as a monthly allowance of RM300.

He said any balance of the money cannot be carried forward.

For long-distance learners and part-time students, however, the policy only applies to the tuition fees. Disabled students already receiving scholarships are only eligible for the allowance .

Before the revision, disabled students at higher education institutions received only the RM300 allowance each month.

Under the new policy, disabled students reading certificate courses are eligible for aid over a two-year period while those pursuing diplomas and degrees will receive it over three and four years respectively.

Master programme students will receive aid for two years while PhD students will be covered over a four-year period.

by Richard Lim.

Read more @ http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/7/8/nation/6624644&sec=nation

GEORGE TOWN: Teenager Yeak Ping Lian has had his paintings exhibited at international art galleries and auctioned off for charity – for as high as RM100,000.

And they are worth every cent. After all, Yeak, 16, is autistic.

Most of his paintings feature architecture such as the Petronas Twin Towers, Christ Church Malacca, Kek Lok Si Temple, Khoo Kongsi, Sydney Opera House and the Darling Harbour.

He also paints sunflowers, dogs, fish, roosters and horses.

One of his earlier paintings, the Ubudiah Mosque I (ink and watercolour on paper), raised RM100,000 in 2004 at a fund-raising auction for the Riding for Disabled Association Malaysia.

Some of Yeak’s works are currently on display at an exhibition at the Golden Sands Resort Cool Lounge in Batu Ferringhi until Wednesday.

The exhibition, organised by the hotel, BMC Travel and The Art Commune, was launched by the Raja Puan Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Hajah Lailatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil yesterday.

Yeak’s mother, Sarah S.H. Lee, said her son had severe fine motor skill problems and was diagnosed with autism when he was four.

She used to train him to trace numbers, alphabets and pictures.

Determined to give her son the best possible life, Lee pored over books on autism and tirelessly attended workshops and resource-sharing sessions with other parents.

When Lee discovered that Yeak could paint when he was eight, she set her sights of making him an artist.

Lee, who has two other children, hired three art tutors to train her youngest child.

by Winnie Yeoh.

Read more @ http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/6/28/nation/6560357&sec=nation

IPOH: Only six government agencies have achieved the target set by the Public Service Department to have at least one per cent of their workforce consisting of disabled people.

The policy had come into force on April 1, 2008.

The target is roughly 4,000 or one per cent of about 400,000 civil servants working in ministries and departments by 2012. The figure, however, does not include the armed forces, enforcement and professional sectors.
According to the director of the Department for the Development of Persons with Disabilities, Norani Mohd Hashim, only 581 disabled people had been employed by the civil service since the PSD circular was issued two years ago.

Stressing that the circular applied equally to all government departments at federal and state levels, she said the Social Welfare Department (JKM) would increase efforts to help the disabled land jobs by helping the departments in the recruitment and placement process.

The Department for the Development of Persons with Disabilities comes under the purview of the JKM, which is in the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development.
“The current figure is quite low, considering the fact that the circular was issued more than two years ago. Only six agencies have complied with the requirement.

“Our aim is to ensure that the target is met by every government department by 2012. That means hitting the 4,000 mark in two years’ time — certainly not an easy mission when we look at the present figures,” she said on the sidelines of a seminar on “Accessibility of Amenities and Buildings by Persons with Disabilities” here yesterday.

Source:

http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/3only/Article