The Difference Between Impairment And Disability

Words maketh the man. How true that is. However, it is also a yardstick of ones’ ignorance. Through generations of conditioning, we tend to accept that disabled persons are marginalised because something is not right with them. Subsequently, we use inappropriate words to portray them, resulting in a way of thinking that sees their condition as a fault rather than the error in our way of perceiving them.

Impairment and disability are often accepted as two words with the same meaning. In reality, there is a stark difference between the significance of those words. Impairment describes someone who is paralysed, blind or deaf, among others. It describes the “imperfect” condition of the person as opposed to people who are considered “normal” by virtue of them being in the majority.

A person with impairment experiences disability when he is excluded from active participation in society. A building with stairs only for an entrance imposes disability on a wheelchair user. Add a ramp to it and the wheelchair user with physical impairment no longer experiences disability. In short, a person with impairment is not necessarily a person with a disability. On the contrary, disability is caused by the way things are constructed. It is as simple as that.

This clearly differentiates between the antiquated Medical Model of Disability and the Social Model of Disability. The former emphasises on the medical conditions of the individual – causes, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation. His condition is seen as an impediment and every attempt is made to rehabilitate him to become as “normal” as possible. In many ways, the person is identified by his impairments, thus reducing him to a person who is lesser in every sense as a human being.

Social Model of Disability on the other hand sees society as the disabling factor. The way how things are being built and done disenfranchises this group of people. This model propounds a change from the traditional attitudes and approach when dealing with problems associated with disabled persons.

It underlines the individual as a person with dignity, choices and independence. His rights are respected. He is treated as an equal in society. The ideal of this model is that by changing the disabling environment and mindset, disabled persons become enabled and empowered. That was clearly illustrated in the explanation of the difference between impairment and disability.

Sad to say, Malaysia in the 21st century still clings on to the Medical Model of Disability. The most obvious example is the setup of urban public transportation. All but one public transport in the Klang Valley are inaccessible to wheelchair users. That encompasses even the most modern fleet of buses plying the streets of Kuala Lumpur.

The government and public service corporations must move away from the discriminating attitude of dishing out crumbs to disabled persons as an afterthought. Disabled persons are not beggars asking for charity. They are citizens of this country and should be accorded the same rights as non-disabled citizens.

Policy makers should work together with disabled persons to understand how best to build a society that includes them in every aspect. To achieve this, all parties concerned should take heed and make it a point to seriously adopt the Social Model of Disability so that no one group is deliberately left out because there is a lack of understanding of their needs.

Photo by Wuan.

A few concerned friends asked me over IM whether the 100 accessible buses have arrived and put into service. The Tuesday that just passed was exactly one month since the campaign by a group of wheelchair users to highlight the inaccessibility of public buses in Kuala Lumpur. I have no answer to that and I cannot say anything more than what I have written here. Malaysia Boleh? Hahahahaha…

Somewhere between Kuala Lumpur and Malacca.

Taking opportunity of the long stretch of holidays for Deepavali and Hari Raya, William, Cynthia, Wuan and I headed to Malacca for some sightseeing last Monday. The story of how the Malacca sultanate came to be and the romanticism of a Chinese princess who came as a bride-emissary made this place a must-visit in the long list of things that I want to do before I die.

When we reached the historical city, we were caught in a jam for nearly an hour heading towards the old town square where Christ Church stood. It looked like people from Kuala Lumpur and Selangor were all there for the same reason as us. Many cars bore Penang and Singapore plates too.

Narrow corridor leading to the old town square.

Festive seasons are not good times to be visiting tourist spots. We had to circle the area for a while before we found a parking spot. It was hot and hazy and very uncomfortable. The 200 meters to the town square was not very accessible to wheelchairs. We had to traverse the narrow corridors of shops and brave the snaking traffic all the way there.

Christ Church Melaka.
Photo by Wuan.

The square was crowded. There were busloads of tourists from Thailand. So, I finally got to see the distinctly red Christ Church up close. I had expected to be awed but what caught my eyes most was not the church structure but the gaily decorated trishaws. They lent a carnival-like atmosphere to the town square. That also reminded me that the last time that I rode in a trishaw was thirty years ago in Penang.

Posing for a shot beside the colourful Malacca trishaw at the town square.
Photo by Cynthia.

William and Cynthia hopped into a trishaw and went sightseeing around the surrounding areas. Wuan and I went traipsing around the souvenir stalls in market next to the church. Halfway through, William called to ask us to wait for him at where he got onto the trishaw. He came back with another trishaw in tow and together with one of the riders, he lifted me onto the trishaw.

At A’ Famosa with Wuan.

We stopped at the A’Famosa and several other museums along the way. Malacca seemed to be filled with all sorts of museums. It has become too touristy to my liking. I had gone there expecting to see quaint little buildings and structures from many centuries ago but was greeted with a very modern setup. Perhaps we were looking at all the wrong places.

Malacca chicken rice balls.
Photo by Wuan.

William wanted to take us to savour the famous Malacca chicken rice balls but the shop near the church had already closed for the day when we passed by. We had it at a restaurant instead. Sad to say, the chicken was tasteless and over tendered. It was an absolute waste of my protein quota. The rice ball was a disappointment as well. It had a coarse texture. I would have preferred the ketupats or nasi himpit for satay. It was a wonder why people were queuing up for a table there. Incidentally, I had chicken rice at Nam Heong in Mid Valley Megamall just the day before. It was nicely tendered and tasted great.

Despite the disappointing food and the touristy atmosphere, I am glad we made that trip. The change from the routine did a world of good to recharge my tired mind. Now, I can say that I have been to Malacca and seen the A’Famosa, Christ Church and eaten the “famous” chicken rice balls. I am already looking forward to another road trip soon. William?

I met a thug wearing a suit and tie today. Comparing his manners to some of the bus drivers in KL would be a grave insult to those bus drivers.

To our surprise, the Honda City was delivered at the end of August. That was only slightly over three weeks after we booked it. It was an exciting time. I was one step closer to driving a car. I was one step closer to doing something that I thought I could never do again.

One week after we collected the car, Christine passed the control kit to me. It had taken a circuitous two-week route from Singapore to Johor to Pahang and finally to Kuala Lumpur, passing through 5 hands before reaching me. Furthermore, the kit was manufactured in the USA. This journey is already a story worthy by itself.

The kit was stored under the sofa while I looked for a workshop to install it for me. At the same time, I asked around and checked with the Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan on the process to get the hand control kit attachment inspected and approved, and also the procedure to get a driving license.

At times like that, the Internet is a veritable tome of information and contacts. I got the basic procedures to apply for a learner’s driver license from the JPJ website. One day in late-September, I asked The Snark via MSN if he knew a mechanic who could install the hand control kit. He said he could do that and promptly came to have a look at the kit on the same day.

On the Saturday of September 30, The Snark arrived with ShaolinTiger to install the kit. It turned out to be more than both of them had bargained for. Cars nowadays have more electronics and wiring stuffed into the small space around the steering column than cars of yesteryears.

The brackets attached to both sides of the steering column.
Photo by Wuan.

After discussing with ShaolinTiger how they could best secure the brackets for holding the kit to the steering column, it was promptly bolted into place. However, The Snark had to leave to get ready for another appointment later that evening, promising that he would return the following week to get it all done.

… to be continued.

Related entries from Hunting The Snark:
Wheelman - The snag
Wheelman - The negotiation

Related entries:
Project Drive For Freedom - Part 3
Project Drive For Freedom - Part 2
Project Drive For Freedom - Part 1
Answer Me This
First Step Of Another Journey
Test Driving The Civic
My Dream Ride
Reclaiming My Life