Peer Counseling Seminar and Workshop 2006

Every time I attend training on Independent Living or Peer Counseling, I am awed by the tenacity of the resource persons and participants. Many with less have achieved more especially the resource persons from the Human Care Association in Japan. They constantly visit countries in the Asia-Pacific region to spread the message of Independent Living. Despite battling great odds, they willingly and unconditionally share their knowledge. Their only reward is being able to rejoice in seeing the Independent Living Movement flourish in this region.

It is a humbling experience to be able to learn so much from them considering the fact that I have less physical impairment than most of them. This goes on to prove that the human mind is still the greatest asset we can ever possess. Nevertheless, many disabled persons are still being judged on their physical attributes rather than their capabilities. All things being equal, I am absolute that a disabled person can do a job as good as a non-disabled, if not better. Why the discrimination?

L-R: Ms. Emiko Nakahara, me and Ms. Hiroko Akiyama.

The Peer Counseling Workshop conducted by Ms. Emiko Nakahara and Ms. Hiroko Akiyama was still an eye-opener even though I have attended the Training on Peer Counselors for People with Disabilities in Bangkok recently. It was interesting to see the gradual development of the participants from the first day to the last – from a disoriented look initially to one that showed enlightenment and empowerment at the conclusion.

On my part, I was glad to have been given the opportunity to play a minor role as a resource person. This has helped a lot in my preparation to conduct a seminar on Independent Living in Penang soon. This seminar is going to be organised and funded by a major Chinese daily. The targeted audience are severely disabled persons, their family and carers, and the public who are keen to learn about Independent Living for People with Disabilities.

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Peer Counseling Seminar And Workshop 2006

Penang Adventist Hospital.

Last weekend was one of the busiest I have had in a long time. On Saturday morning, Vincent picked me up to go meet someone we have met twice before at the Penang Adventist Hospital. He is a paraplegic, suffered spinal cord injury eight months ago in an accident and is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the hospital. He was asleep when we arrived. Vincent and I chatted at the lobby while waiting for him to wake up. However, we left after finding him still sound asleep the second time we went to his room.

Relay for Life balloons.

I barely had time to catch my breath and catheterise when Dr. Oo picked me up again to attend the appreciation party for the participants of Relay for Life. The Relay for Life is a fund raising cum cancer awareness cum celebration of cancer survivors event that is held simultaneously worldwide. About one hundred guests attended the party at the ruman Hospice at Jalan Ayer Itam.

Guests browsing photographs of Relay for Life.

There was a dance presentation by the girls from Island Hospital, a short video clip of the Relay for Life that was held in March at the Taman Perbandaran and certificate presentation. This was followed a tea break and games. I left early with Bryan because I needed to pack my luggage and prepare my presentation for the next day. Bryan is the current webmaster for the yet-to-be officially launched joint Penang Hospice Society and National Cancer Society of Malaysia (Penang Branch) website.

Group photo after the talk at the cathedral.

Early Sunday, Vincent picked me up again to give a presentation to about ten teenagers from the Chinese-speaking cathecism class, their parents and some parishioners at the cathedral. The talk was regarding my life, my faith and how they can contribute to the Independent Living project that I am working on. The gist of my message that morning was that as Christians, we have been called upon to serve God. Assisting disabled persons with needs is one of the ways of serving God.

After a quick lunch at home, I finished packing up my luggage, cleared the fridge of the remaining perishable foodstuff and got Peter to drop me off at the airport. I was glad that I got to the airport early. At least I had some time to relax and reflect on the events of the past two days.

In flight somewhere between Penang and Kuala Lumpur.

One of the things that I realised was that I could manage a hectic schedule like that, especially if it is for the Independent Living projects if I could get help for the cooking and other household chores. It would be such a pity and a waste for me to have travelled so far and learnt so much only to be weighted down by the continuous trivialities that had rendered me unproductive in many ways.

Three more days till the conclusion of the Peer Counselor Course. Four more days and I will be back in Malaysia again. I am counting down the days. Nevertheless, life is fun here. Living and learning with my physically disabled peers have taught me many things. Each of them is an inspiration. They may be living with severe disabilities but they are living life to the fullest. Their bodies may be constrained in many ways but that have never stopped their minds from soaring. The mind, once unshackled, sees every opportunity as possibilities. Problems have become challenges that can be overcome. Their lives will never be the same again. Mine too.

As I count the days down, I cannot but have to admit that there is a tinge of sadness that we have to part soon. I also pray that what we have learnt here will be the spark that will light up the lives of countless of severely disabled people in our own countries. We will work towards supporting them to live independently in the community. This may be a long tedious process but we are determined to work hard every step of the way to realise our dream of a barrier-free world, one that does not discriminate and one where even the most severely disabled can live independently in the community. This has been realised in the USA, Japan and a few other developed countries. Independent living for disabled people in Malaysia will be a dream come true in due time. I have committed the rest of my life into making this a reality. I had prayed hard for a direction in life and I am absolutely certain that this is it.

Blogged at APCD, Bangkok.

The Peer Counselor Course began early today. It was a great relief that I have completed one course. Some of the participants who will not be attending today’s course left for their countries respectively yesterday. Three were from Malaysia and two from the Philippines. The rest of us will be here for another eight-day course. Peer counseling is another component that is crucial in allowing disabled persons to regain their dignity and self-worth in preparation to their independent living in the community.

Yesterday being a free day, I went to the famous MBK shopping mall in Bangkok. Bargaining is a skill that I do not possess and I guess that I must have paid too much for some of the items that I bought. Now I know the feeling of foreign tourists being sharked in Petaling Street in Kuala Lumpur and at Kek Lok Si Temple bazaar in Penang. What I like most about are the distinctly unique Thai fabrics. The elephants motif are creatively integrated into the design. All said, many of the items available here are quite similar to those back home.

The good thing being in Bangkok here is that I get to speak to Wuan almost every night. She calls me at 10pm every evening. That solves some of the feelings of missing her to some extent. I have made it through eight days of hectic schedule. Another nine days more before I will be back to the comforting arms of Wuan. Nine days more…

Blogged at APCD, Bangkok.

Aunty:
That is more than one line. What do I get for the extra effort.