Independent Living – Page 7 – Peter Tan

Sin Chew Daily – Seminar On Independent Living At MINES ICT

The seminar on Independent Living at the Mines ICT Able Training Institute saw a larger crowd. More than 40 people attended, mostly students from the college. It was broadcasted live over the Internet via a webcam. The seminar this time was co-organised by Sin Chew Daily and Shuang Fu Disabled Independent Living Association in conjunction with Sin Chew Daily’s Wishing Tree programme. The VIP guest for the seminar was Kenji Kuno, JICA Chief Advisor/Expert. He is the person instrumental for initiating Independent Living projects in Malaysia.

Mdm. Shen Chiu Hsiang presenting a speech before the seminar.
Photo by Wuan.

Ling Lee acted as my translator from English to Mandarin.
Photo by Wuan.

Mdm. Shen presenting me with a souvenir after the seminar. Danny Tan is in the background.
Photo by Wuan.

Group photo with the participants after the seminar.

L-r: Peter Tan, Kenji Kuno, Christine Lee and Cheng Sak Hai.
Photo by Wuan.

The entrance to Mines ICT Able Training Institute.
Photo by Wuan.

Seminar On Independent Living in Kuala Lumpur

Subsequent to the seminar in Penang last Saturday, I will be conducting a similar seminar in Kuala Lumpur on August 27. It is organised by Sin Chew Daily as part of their Wishing Tree Programme. These two seminars are the prelude to a series of awareness campaigns that we will be conducting to promote Independent Living to disabled persons and the public.

Here, I would like to invite disabled persons, their families and caregivers to participate in the seminar to gain a better understanding of the philosophy and concept of Independent Living. The public who are interested to know what Independent Living is all about are welcomed too. Details are as below:

Seminar on Independent Living for People with Disabilities
Date: August 27, 2006 (Sunday)
Time: 2.00-5.00 pm
Venue: Mines ICT Able Training Institute
1st Floor, Mines Shopping Fair
Sri Kembangan, Selangor.
Language: English and Cantonese with Mandarin translation

For more information, please contact me at 013-340 3728

Sin Chew Daily – Wishing Tree: Seminar On Independent Living

Photo by Bryan.

My mentor and colleague in the disability movement encouraged me to participate in the Wishing Tree programme organised by Sin Chew Daily in Penang. My wish was to conduct two seminars to introduce the philosophy of Independent Living and how it can better the quality of life for disabled persons. One half of that wish was fulfilled today when I spoke at a seminar on Independent Living to a group of disabled persons together with their families and carers. Kuan Aw acted as my translator from English to Mandarin and Hokkien.

Photo by Bryan.

Ms. Yeoh, the journalist from Sin Chew, organised the seminar at the Sin Chew Media Corporation conference room. More than twenty persons attended the seminar. The guest of honour was YB Goh Kheng Sneah, the State Assemblyman for Batu Uban, the constituency where I am living in here in Penang. He graciously sat through the entire seminar that lasted two hours althugh he had engagements elsewhere too.

Photo by Bryan.

My hope is that this seminar had, one way or another, presented the options available for disabled persons to lead more fulfilling lives. The Independent Living Movement is growing in the Asia-Pacific region, thanks to the Japan International Cooperation Agency and Human Care Association for their unceasing efforts in promoting this way of life for disabled persons here, especially those who are severely impaired.

Photo by Bryan.

This is the first of a series of campaigns that we will be organizing to introduce Independent Living in Penang. We are also in the process of registering an association to best serve and support the needs of those wishing to practice living independently in their community. The seminar that I will be speaking at next is at the Mines ICT in Sri Kembangan on August 27. Details of the seminar will be published in this blog on Monday.