Winds of change are coming. Impatient as I have been, this is part of the entire process that cannot be hurried. I am a firm believer that there is a place and time for everything. Yet, so often, I forget. But fall in place they do, in their own time.

Disability in Malaysia has evolved from charity-based to rights-based with the enactment of the Persons with Disabilities Act 2008. At the same time, the disability movement is increasingly practicing a structured and knowledge-based engagement with the relevant stakeholders apart from persuasive and hard-nosed advocacy. These include the Independent Living Programme and Disability Equality Training that were introduced to the movement in 2005 by the Department of Social Welfare and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The Independent Living Programme advocates for the provision of support services to enable disabled people to live independently in the community. Disability Equality Training explains disability in a logical manner and encourages commitments to break environmental and attitudinal barriers. Both work in tandem to realise the participation of disabled people in all areas of life.

These two platforms have transformed the disability landscape in the country somewhat but more can be done towards achieving that goal. Now, we have new allies from the Pusat Rakyat Loyar Buruk who are spearheading a revolution to expedite the process of making Malaysia more accessible and inclusive. For once, I may just have the opportunity to witness substantial changes to the built environment in my lifetime.

Tags: Akta OKU 2008, Akta Orang Kurang Upaya 2008, disabled people Malaysia, Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat, Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA, JKM, MS 1184, Persons with Disabilities Act 2008, Pusat Rakyat Loyar Burok, PWD Act 2008, UBBL 34A, Undang-Undang Kecil 34A Undang-Undang Kecil Bangunan Seragam, Uniform Building By-Law 34A, wheelchair user Malaysia

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 13th, 2012 at 23:52 and is filed under Accessibility In Public Places, Disability Equality Training, Independent Living. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.