First Step Of Another Journey

Photo by Wuan.

Of all the journeys that I have taken, this is the one I looked forward to most. It is neither a trip to a faraway land nor a much needed holiday to the many resorts locally. However, it is an important one in many ways. It is one that will give me back some parts of my life that I had to give up a long time ago. I am all excited about this, at the same time nervous too. It felt like the times that I sat for pianoforte examinations.

Photo by Wuan.

Wuan and I spent one half of yesterday at University Malaya Medical Centre. I had an appointment with Dr. Nazirah Hasnan, Head of Medical Rehabilitation. That was the first time in 22 years that I saw a rehabilitation specialist for my spinal cord injury. I believed that had I followed a proper rehabilitation programme, a multitude of problems that I am suffering now could have been prevented. But that was not what I had gone to see Dr. Nazirah for.

Photo by Wuan.

Seksyen 30 of the Akta Pengangkutan Jalan 1987 requires that an orthopaedically impaired person applying to take driving test must be medically certified by a doctor. Dr. Nazirah had set the appointment to assess whether I can drive and if modifications are needed for the vehicle. She got En. Yazid Ayub, an occupational therapist with UMMC, to evaluate the various motor functions of my limbs. I was also tested on my ability to turn a steering wheel on a simulator. After En. Yazid completed his evaluation of me I went to see Dr. Nazirah again to have the medical certificate filled up. Generally, I am certified as able to drive an automatic vehicle installed with hand control kit.

Author: Peter Tan

Peter Gabriel Tan. Penangite residing in the Klang Valley. Blissfully married to Wuan. A LaSallian through and through. Slave to three cats. Wheelchair user since 1984. End-stage renal disease since 2017. Principal Facilitator at Peter Tan Training specialising in Disability Equality Training. Former columnist of Breaking Barriers with The Borneo Post. This blog chronicles my life, thoughts and opinions. Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook. View all posts by Peter Tan