OKU – Page 3 – Peter Tan – The Digital Awakening

Disability Equality Training (DET) At SOCSO

SOCSO Chief Executive Officer K. Selvarajah, JICA Senior Advisor Dr. Kenji Kuno and Manager of SOCSO Return To Work Section Roshaimi Mat Rosely

SOCSO Chief Executive Officer K. Selvarajah giving a speech at the opening of the Disability Equality Training workshop. Seated L-R: JICA Senior Advisor Dr. Kenji Kuno and Manager of SOCSO Return To Work Section Roshaimi Mat Rosely.
Photo by Wuan.

The Department of Return to Work of the Social Security Organisation Malaysia (SOCSO) organised a Disability Equality Training (DET) workshop for employers in the private sectors and staff of SOCSO last Thursday. Private sector participants were from Malaysia Airlines, British American Tobacco, Sunway Hotel, KFC, Pizza Hut, Ayamas, Sports Toto and Cathay Cineplexes, among others. The theme of the workshop was “Towards Inclusion and Diversity”. It was conducted at Menara PERKESO in Jalan Ampang and officiated by SOCSO Chief Executive Officer K. Selvarajah.

JICA Senior Advisor Dr. Kenji Kuno facilitating the Disability Equality Training at SOCSO.
Photo by Wuan.

During the half-day DET workshop, Dr. Kenji Kuno guided participants through the various aspects of understanding disability as a social issue and how problems arising from attitudinal and environmental barriers can be resolved by applying the Open Box Solution method. These exercises are in view of making workplaces accessible and inclusive. I acted as the co-facilitator again this time.

SOCSO Claims Manager Edmund Cheong explaining the Return To Work Program.
Photo by Wuan.

At the afternoon session, SOCSO Claims Manager Edmond Cheong provided a very detailed presentation on the benefits of the Return To Work Program. This program provides support for workers disabled in the course of employment going back to work after treatment and rehabilitation.

Dr. Kenji Kuno giving presentation on Job Coach at SOCSO.
Photo by Wuan.

That was followed by Dr. Kuno’s talk on Job Coach. This is an initiative by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat Malaysia (JKM) to enable and empower disabled people through gainful employment. Among the many services of Job Coaching are job matching for employers and disabled people, and training and support during employment. Currently, JKM is absorbing the cost of Job Coaching service for employers seeking to hire disabled people.

Group photo with participants at SOCSO Disability Equality Training Workshop – Return To Work Program – Job Coach Seminar.
Photo by Wuan.

Group photo with staff of SOCSO.
Seated L-R: Peter Tan, Roshaimi Mat Rosely, Dr. Kenji Kuno, Gayathri Vadivel and Edmund Cheong.
Photo by Wuan.

The KL MRT And Disabled People

I took the news of the Kuala Lumpur MRT project with some enthusiasm and many pinches of skepticism. Past experiences have taught me that public transport facilities for disabled people in Malaysia always fall short of the acceptable standards despite assurances from the government.

The main grouse with public transport in the Klang Valley for disabled people is the lack of accessibility and poor connectivity. Right from the moment one steps out from the house and even before reaching the bus stops, there are multiple barriers to contend with.

Sidewalks, footpaths and pavements generally lack kerb ramps or damaged by indiscriminately parked vehicles. These are in addition to obstructions along the pathways and drain grilles that can potentially trap wheels and heels. The problem does not end there.

At the time of writing, there are no accessible buses serving Pandan Perdana where I live. I am certain this is not an exception. Most of the RapidKL buses serving housing estates are not accessible. The question begging answers is how are disabled people suppossed to get to the MRT stations from our homes?

Circle of Mobility for Disabled People

To ensure that disabled people have access to the MRT, the Circle of Mobility for Disabled People must be considered from a holistic perspective. The journey to the bus stops, the buses and eventually to the MRT stations and the trains must be uninterrupted by barriers. Otherwise, the most accessible MRT stations will be useless to disabled people because we cannot get to them.

Redefining Disability

Peter Tan speaking at the 2nd Malaysian Conference on Rehabilitation.
Photo by Wuan.

My second presentation for the 2nd Malaysian Conference on Rehabilitation at the Pusat Latihan Perindustrian dan Pemulihan Bangi (PLPP Bangi) was titled “Rights-Based Advocacy on Disability in Malaysia: An Overview and the Way Forward.” It was for the Special Interest Groups concurrent session on “Social Advocacy on Disability Issues.”

Disabled people vs persons with disability vs orang kurang upaya

In advocating for equality, the first issue that we need to resolve is to redefine disability. I asked if disability is caused by the condition of the person or is it caused by the environment? At the same time, I challenged the use of the term “persons with disability” and its Malaysian Language equivalent “orang kurang upaya” to refer to disabled people. “Orang kurang upaya” means persons with lesser abilities. To the general public, it is just a matter of terminology but it matters a lot to me as the person who is being referred to.

Paradigm shift from charity-based approach to rights-based approach

The other matters that I brought up were that there is a need for a paradigm shift from charity-based to rights-based advocacy, inclusion of disabled people as stake holder in all levels of decision making and resolving issues using a holistic approach rather than on a piecemeal basis. The following is the abstract of my presentation:

Abstract
Rights-Based Advocacy on Disability In Malaysia:
An Overview And The Way Forward

The disability advocacy movement in Malaysia has a tattered history of modest victories and great failures. Three decades or so of advocacy and activism have not succeeded in ensuring the equalization of opportunities for disabled people. Disability is considered a problem of the minority and other people’s problems. Resolving disability-related problems are deemed extras that need money and do not benefit the majority. This essay explores the reasons behind those perceptions and how we can learn from past mistakes to effectively move the government, corporations and society to change their mindsets and create an inclusive environment that benefits everyone.

Below were the topics that my fellow speakers presented:

The Need for “Bottom-Up” Approach in the Implementation of Policies Related to Persons with Disabilities in Malaysia
Associate Professor Dr. Tiun Ling Ta
Universiti Sains Malaysia

Empowering People with Intellectual Disabilities
Ms. Khor Ai-Na
Executive Director of Asia Community Service

Media – Friend or Foe
Ms. Mary Chen
Editor, Challenges

JICA Project on Support for Persons with Disabilities in Malaysia
Mr. Hideo Tsukamoto
Assistant Resident Represnetative, JICA Malaysia

Self-Advocacy: Towards an Interdependent and Inclusive Community
Ms. Teh Hooi Ting and Ms. Yeo Swee Lan
United Voice

Promoting Accessible Public Transport – Meeting the Needs of Disabled People and All
Ms. Christine Lee
BEAT

Challenges and Success Stories of Advocacy in Diverse Communities in Sarawak
Mr. Francis Johen Adam