My PDL (Lesen Memandu Percubaan / Probationary Driving License) has been issued. I just cannot wait to collect it from the driving school and start driving. These ten months of acquiring a car, installing the hand control kit and taking the driving tests have been one interesting experience after another. This journey in liberation will be a stepping stone to other even more interesting journeys.
The instructors at Safety Driving Centre are one passionate lot. Their professionalism in polishing me from the rusty driver that I was to achieving what I consider one of the greater achievements is one chapter of my life that I can never forget. Thank you Sirs!
Special thanks also go to William and Cynthia for spending time car shopping with Wuan and I and took me to Putrajaya JPJ to submit the attachment application; Christine and friends for bringing in the hand control kit on a long windy trip from Singapore; and Wang for giving me pointers and assisted me in filling up the forms for the modifications approval application. Then there is ReallyBites who gave me many valuable advice. Thank you. I won the bet with one week to spare. Pay up!
As always, there is Wuan, without whom there would be no car. I am truly touched by her dedication in taking me to driving lessons and taking leave to accompany me to the numerous tests. This achievement is all yours darling. Thank you. And to all who have rooted for me, thank you to you too. You have been great cheerleaders minus the pompoms and miniskirts. See you guys on the road.
There is more good news to come. Dr. Kenji Kuno invited me together with Hee and Siew Chin, my Independent Living Programme counterparts, to discuss the details of the last of the tri-series of Independent Living and Peer Counselling Workshops in Malaysia at the Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat Malaysia this morning. This last workshop, like the previous two, is funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Two resource persons from the Humancare Association in Tokyo, namely Ms. Hiroko Akiyama and Mdm. Aiko Tsutsumi, will be conducting this workshop in June. We will be seriously looking into establishing two Centre for Independent Living in Malaysia within eighteen months. I may also be working on another project that I will update once I have more concrete details.
Congrats on your license! It’s very exciting news about the 2 possible Centres for Independent Living – I will keep your endeavors in my prayers.
Peter:
Thanks. I believe that even with one CIL, the standard of living of many people with severe impairments can be enhanced and brought closer to the mainstream.
congrats! It must be exciting. I have bumped into you in lowyat plaza before in a camera shop about more than a year ago, but I was too shy to say hi to u. Hehe
Peter:
I won’t bite. Next time make sure you say “Hi” ok!