Khamis, 4 Jun 2009

Just sharing...

Positive attitude allows Ong to be an overcomer
Source: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thursday/National/2573666/Article/index_html
USM  acting vice-chancellor Prof Ahmad Shukri Mustapa Kamal (right) chatting with  Ong Boo Siong (left) and other distance learning students in Penang   yesterday. (Inset) Datuk Yahya Hamid
USM acting vice-chancellor Prof Ahmad Shukri Mustapa Kamal (right) chatting with Ong Boo Siong (left) and other distance learning students in Penang yesterday. (Inset) Datuk Yahya Hamid

GEORGE TOWN: Ong Boo Siong has not allowed the fact that he has only one functioning arm to stop him from pursuing his dreams. In fact, it has spurred him on.

The 35-year-old freelance motivational speaker's right arm was not fully developed at birth, ascribed to the fact that his mother had taken the drug Thalidomide during her pregnancy to control severe morning sickness. 

"I have a positive outlook on life. If we think positively, it doesn't matter what happens. I see my situation as a challenge," said Ong, who lives in Puchong with his wife and 2-plus-year-old daughter. 

He said his faith and his parents have helped him to achieve what he has in his life.

He already holds a diploma in information technology from Institut Teknologi Tun Abdul Razak (Ittar) and is now pursuing a degree in anthropology and sociology through Universiti Sains Malaysia's distance learning programme.
Another student, Datuk Yahya Hamid, the managing director of an oil and gas company, is pursuing a degree in political science.

The 55-year-old from Kuala Pilah, Negri Sembilan, says all four of his children, aged 22 to 28, had attended university and now it was his turn to get a degree.

Yahya said he chose the course as part of his job was to understand the culture and behaviour of people.

He said he came across the advertisement for USM's distance learning programme by chance and hoped to complete his degree in four years.

The pair were among 2,192 off-campus students offered places in the distance learning programme in four courses -- Humanities (418 places), Social Science (417), Science (583) and Management (774).

In his speech welcoming the students, acting vice-chancellor Prof Ahmad Shukri Mus-tapa Kamal called on them to use the opportunity well to acquire knowledge and skills.

"Apart from modules, books and notes, such students now have video conferences and e-learning portals at their disposal," adding that the facilities were provided at a relatively low cost.

Khamis, 12 Mac 2009

Help Disabled Become Able to Work

Dear all,

Kelab Kecergasan Ampang Jaya (KKAJ), a nonprofit social agency has setup a Vocational Centre for the Disabled with the aim to help people with disabilities become independent.

The centre provides training facilities for trainees to learn employable skills on handling paper lamination, document binding and packaging.

The centre is located at Dewan Bandar Baru Ampang. Each trainee will get RM200.00 allowance per month for their food and transportation expenses.

For more details, please contact Ms. Anita Lim ( plz call me first at 019-2702 083 to get her contact) as soon as possible.



****************************************************************************************************
PROGRAM USAHA NIAGA HARAPAN
UNTUK GOLONGAN KURANG UPAYA
Kelab Kecergasan Ampang Jaya sedang menawarkan Program Usaha Niaga Harapan untuk Golongan Kurang Upaya.

Program ini bertujuan untuk menyediakan Program Latihan Usaha Niaga melalui bengkel latihan kepada golongan kurang upaya.

Sebagai langkah awal, bengkel ini akan menawarkan kemahiran seperti berikut:-

1. Latihan Menjilid Buku (Book Binding)
2. Latihan Photocopy
3. Latihan Lamination
4. Latihan Membungkus (Packing)


Tiada bayaran akan dikenakan kepada peserta program ini. Malah RM200.00 sebulan akan dibayar sebagai sokongan asas untuk perbelanjaan makanan serta pengangkutan peserta.

Program ini akan dikendalikan di Pusat Latihan Vocational Centre for the Disabled (Kelab Kecergasan Ampang Jaya) bermula bulan Mac 2009.

Kepada mereka yang berminat, sila hubungi Cik. Anita Lim ( sila hubungi saya terlebih dahulu 019-2702083 untuk mendapat no. beliau) secepat mungkin.

Sekian, terima kasih


Yang Berusaha,
MD RODZI BIN SAAD
Ketua Jawatankuasa Pengelola
Program Usaha Niaga Harapan OKU
merangkap Bendahari
Kelab Kecergasan Ampang Jaya

Khamis, 22 Januari 2009

Proton diminta keluarkan teksi ala Malaysia

Dari http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2009&dt=0122&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Terkini&pg=bt_18.htm
22/01/2009 6:52pm


KUALA LUMPUR 22 Jan. — Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak hari ini meminta syarikat kereta nasional Proton mengeluarkan kenderaan khusus untuk dijadikan teksi ala Malaysia yang menjadi kebanggaan negara.

Beliau berkata, kenderaan itu harus mempunyai keluasan yang bersesuaian dengan pasaran, selain memiliki ciri-ciri keselamatan serta menggunakan teknologi canggih khususnya untuk pembayaran.

“Saya ingin mencadangkan supaya Proton mereka bentuk teksi yang luas dan selesa untuk disesuaikan dengan pelbagai saiz penumpang, selain memiliki penghadang antara pemandu dan penumpang serta boleh menggunakan pembayaran secara elektronik (e-pembayaran),” katanya. - Bernama
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Saya ingin mengambil peluang di sini untuk mengucapkan syabas kepada bakal Perdana Menteri kita, Datuk Seri Najib atas 'keperihatinan' beliau akan keperluan peningkatan taraf teksi di negara ini...canggih betul teksi ala Malaysia nanti! Saja nak tanya di sini..."kereta teksi ala Malaysia tu nanti mesra OKU tak? Maksudnya boleh masuk kerusi roda untuk membawa penumpang yang berkerusi roda...kata orang putih Barrier-Free Taxi ataupun Wheelchair Accessible Taxi. Kalau tak boleh, rasanya kawan-kawan kita yang berkerusi roda tidak dapat menikmati satu lagi kemajuan negara...nampaknya tahap keperihatinan masih lagi di takuk lama...orang Pinang kata PI MAI PI MAI TANG TU! Ore Kelate pulok kato NOK WAK GUANO MUGO LAGU TU DOH!" Fikir-fikirkanlah...
p/s: Tapi saya rasa maksud "...bentuk teksi yang luas dan selesa untuk disesuaikan dengan pelbagai saiz penumpang..." mungkin Datuk Seri Najib telah merujuk kepada keluasan dan keperluan untuk penumpang yang berkerusiroda, kan gitu kawan-kawan?

Isnin, 12 Januari 2009

Tuesday January 13, 2009

Bar Council to hold forum on Disabilities Act
KUALA LUMPUR: The Bar Council Law Reform and Special Areas Committee is organising a half-day forum, Persons with Disabilities Act 2008 – What Next, on Saturday.
The forum, from 8.30am to 1pm, is aimed at educating the disabled, their families, care-givers and members of the public on the legal rights of the disabled as enshrined in the Persons with Disabilities Act 2008, said a statement from the committee yesterday.
The speakers will focus on the civil and criminal aspects of the Act, and the adequacy for the needs of the disabled to lead a life of quality.
The importance of implementation of relevant provisions in the Act regarding employment, vocational training and others to cope with the increasing number of disabled adults in the community will also be highlighted.
Family, Women and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen will open the forum at the Bar Council Auditorium, at 13/15/17, Lebuh Pasar Besar, here.
For more information, call 03-2031 3003 (Sumitha, ext 194 or Sathya, ext 177) or e-mail sumitha @malaysianbar.org.my or satha@malaysianbar.org.my.

Khamis, 9 Oktober 2008

Disabled to Disabled Services

Kecekalan OKU merupakan nadi yang memastikan seseorang OKU itu mampu menempuhi segala rintangan. Apatah lagi sekiranya seseorang yang cukup sifat fizikalnya tiba-tiba menjadi OKU. Bolehkah dia menerima dugaan hidup ini dengan menganggap apa yang ditempuhinya sebagai rahmat disebalik-Nya?

Apa yang saya ingin berkongsi di sini ialah kisah kecekalan seorang OKU. Kisah di mana kuasa kecekalan OKU tersebut bukan sahaja memberi harapan untuk beliau terus cekal menempuhi liku-liku hidup sebagai insan OKU, malah kecekalan beliau untuk membantu OKU lain dapat meneruskan perjalanan. Itulah beliau, Steve Chin.

Dalam menjalankan perniagaan membina laman web, saya telah berkenalan dengan seorang OKU. Beliau mempelawa saya untuk ke ‘pejabat’nya bagi membincang keperluan laman web yang dikehendaki untuk perniagaannya. Seperti kebanyakan OKU lain, ‘pejabat’ juga adalah rumah kediaman. Apa yang lebih hebat ialah ‘pejabat’ beliau bukan sahaja rumah, tetapi juga kilang. Kilang pengeluaran ‘kaki’ yang amat diperlukan OKU berkerusi roda, iaitu kilang kerusi roda elektronik.


Steve Chin yang berasal dari Johor merupakan insan OKU yang berhati waja. Tanggal 19 March 1985 merupakan titik permulaan Steve mengasah kecekalannya. Disebabkan satu kemalangan jalan raya ketika beliau bekerja di Singapura, Steve menjadikan hospital sebagai tempat ‘kediamannya’ selama satu tahun. Dalam satu tahun itu juga merupakan peristiwa ‘peperangan’ antara jiwa dan kenyataan serta hakikat yang perlu diterima oleh beliau. Badan beliau lumpuh. Kaki menjadi kaku dan tangan tidak mampu bergerak lagi.


Steve bersyukur setelah beliau memahami bahawa setiap peristiwa yang berlaku ada rahmat disebalik-Nya. Setelah gigih melatih tangan beliau dengan menggunakan otot-otot yang termampu, akhirnya beliau mampu memegang sesuatu. Walaupun tidak sekuat dulu, namun yang paling penting ialah mampu mengurus buang air besar dan kecil dengan sendiri. Itulah langkah pertama yang beliau inginkan untuk menempuh beratus ribu langkah yang seterusnya.
Setelah sekian lama hidup sebagai insan OKU, kini Steve Chin mampu dianggap ‘best of the best’ di kalangan OKU. Beliau bukan sahaja mampu berdikari, malah memiliki perniagaan yang murni, iaitu menghasilkan kerusi roda elektronik. Kerusi roda beliau merupakan kerusi roda elektronik pertama keluaran tempatan, dan kerusi roda elektronik yang dihasilkan oleh OKU sepenuhnya!


Saya begitu kagum dengan keazaman beliau. Beliau mampu mengharungi kehidupan sebagai OKU yang lumpuh, beliau memberi peluang kerja kepada OKU lain untuk sama-sama menghasilkan kerusi roda elektronik, beliau mampu menawarkan kemudahan kepada OKU yang memerlukan pergerakan yang lebih sempurna, dan beliau patut menjadi kebanggaan kita semua kerana berjaya mengeluarkan kerusi roda elektronik buatan tempatan.


Menerut Steve, apa yang beliau capai hari ini hanyalah permulaan. Beliau bersyukur kerana mempunyai rakan-rakan lain yang sama-sama mengusahakan perniagaannya. Namun berat mata yang memandang, berat lagi bahu yang memikul. Selain daripada kemahiran selok belok perniagaan yang menjadi masalah, perniagaan beliau juga tidak terkecuali daripada perspektif masyarakat yang merendahkan kemampuan OKU. Apa yang diperlukan oleh Steve bukanlah kasih simpati, tetapi peluang. Peluang untuk beliau dan rakan-rakan OKU lain untuk sama-sama menyumbang kepada kemajuan Negara. Oleh itu, saya rasakan perniagaan Steve haruslah dibantu oleh sektor kerajaan di bawah jabatan tertentu atau yang berkenaan. Bantuan tersebut lebih kepada slogan ‘Instead of giving fish, teach them how to fish!’


Laman web perniagaan beliau telah berjaya dibina oleh kami. Untuk sesiapa yang berminat mengenali insan OKU yang berhati waja ini, silalah kunjungi http://www.dtodservices.com/. D to D Services adalah nama perniagaan beliau yang bermaksud Disabled to Disabled Services. Saya menyeru kepada sesiapa yang mengunjungi laman web beliau, tolong hebahkan laman web beliau untuk kenalan anda, sama ada dengan email atau SMS. Mungkin anda dak memerlukan perniagaan yang dijalankan oleh beliau, tetapi kemungkinan ada orang lain yang amat memerlukan kerusi roda elektronik tersebut. Jasa anda bukan sahaja membantu beliau, malah anda sama-sama menyumbang aktiviti ke arah masyarakat penyayang. Terima kasih.

Sabtu, 26 Julai 2008

Disability not a barrier


By Ng Suzhen
http://www.mmail. com.my/Current_ News/mm/Thursday /Hotnews/ 20080717083143/Article/index_html

INSTEAD of crying over their misfortune, five intrepid disabled young men and women have come together to set up a website design company called Image Ku Creative and are looking forward to greater challenges.

Wheelchair bound L.K.Tham, 34, one of the web programmers of Image Ku Creative which was set up in November 2007, is the only one among them who wasn't born with a disability.

"I used to be a lorry driver until I met with a motorcycle accident and injured my spinal cord."

He can't fully use his hands as the motor neurons were damage. "Well that's all past. What's the use of thinking about the past ...I am functioning just as well now," said Tham.

However, wheelchairbound graphic designer, Ku Chun Lian, 31, has one complaint."There are a lot of places in Malaysia that are not wheelchair friendly.

" She said she loses clients every now and then because she cannot go up to the client's place which lacks facilities for the handicapped.

"We had a client who asked us to meet him at his apartment. When we got there there we coudn't get to the lift because the place did not have access for the disabled.

"The potential client ended up informing us that he will look other website companies," she lamented.

Goh Kuan Then, 21, who is also wheelchair bound takes care of web programming.

"Although we have just formed the company we too can provide all things related to web design and set ups just like other companies."

Out of the five employees, the only one who is not wheelchair-bound is 34-year-old James Ong, the general manager of Image Ku Creative. James, who is born with a dwarfish arm takes care of marketing services as he is more mobile compared to the others.He joined the company in March 2008.

According to administrator, Lynn Yew, 23, who is also wheelchair-bound, they wanted to bring in somebody to do the leg work as "all of us" are wheelchairbound so this was how James got into the picture.

James is also a coordinator with the Shuang Fu Disabled Independent Living Association, which provided the initial fundings for Image Ku Creative.

"The company now is doing quite well and we are earning enough to cover the company's expenses and don't need to rely on funding anymore," said James.