‘He’s not disabled, he has special ability’: New Straits Times – June 14, 2009

NST Online ยป Local News
2009/06/14
‘He’s not disabled, he has special ability’

KEMAMAN: People with a disability should not be referred to as “disabled” but rather “people with special ability”, said Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek.
He said the term “people with special ability” should become a common phrase when referring to persons with a disability so as not to portray a negative perspective.

“Many of them are not ‘disabled’ as they have special qualities that sometimes not even a normal person can match.

“For example, a Paralympic athlete has a higher level of commitment, determination and competitiveness compared with a normal person,” he said.

Apart from sportsmen, they (disabled) have also contributed vastly towards the growth of a nation, with many of them becoming doctors, teachers, lecturers, businessmen and craftsmen.
At the same time, there are also normal but “useless” people around, such as drug addicts and criminals, who do not in any way contribute to the nation.

Ahmad Shabery said this after opening the Higher Institution National Expedition and Camping programme at Kolej Universiti TATi campus, here yesterday.

He earlier handed out contributions to 140 less fortunate children from six Department of Social Welfare community centres in Chukai, near here. — Bernama

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.