Kenji Kuno – Page 2 – Peter Tan – The Digital Awakening

Bengkel Disability Equality Training (DET) at Universiti Malaya

The Seksyen Kaunseling, Kerjaya dan OKU (Counselling, Career and Disabled Persons Section) of Universiti Malaya organised the Bengkel Disability Equality Training (Disability Equality Training Workshop) on December 29. This workshop at the Dewan Perdana 1 at Kompleks Perdanasiswa was to promote awareness of disability issue in the campus. The participants include students, staff from the various faculties, Student Affairs Divisons (Bahagian Hal Ehwal Pelajar), Residential College (Kolej kediaman), library, Examination Section (Seksyen Peperiksaan), security and the Counselling, Career and Disabled Persons Section.

Disability Equality Training (DET) Workshop at Universiti Malaya

Emcee opening the Disability Equality Workshop (DET) Workshop at University Malaya.
Photo by Wuan.

The two-hour session on DET was conducted using the Facilitated Participatory Learning (FPL) with modules created by Dr. Kunji Kuno and DET Trainers from the United Kingdom. Participants were led through various exercises using images and videos to deepen their understanding on disability and methods to remove barriers using the “open box solution”. Although one session is insufficient for DET, I am glad to note that the participants already had a good grasp of disability issues.

Peter Tan conducting Disability Equality Training (DET) Workshop at Universiti Malaya

Peter Tan explaining about Disability Equality Training (DET) Workshop at Universiti Malaya.
Photo by Wuan.

I was made to understand that the Seksyen Kaunseling, Kerjaya dan OKU will be organising a follow-up workshop with a longer duration some time next year. This is good news to end the year with where disability matters in Malaysia is concerned. Society is slowly making an effort to understand issues faced by disabled people and also warming up to the notion of making the built environment accessible. I hope the other universities and schools will emulate Universiti Malaya in taking this step in changing attitudes and breaking barriers to make education accessible and available to everyone in Malaysia. A big thank you to Puan Maznah Azis for coordinating this workshop and making sure that everything that I requested were provided for a smooth running of the session.

Participants in group discussion at Disability Equality Training (DET) Workshop at Universiti Malaya

Participants discussing in groups during one of the DET exercises.
Photo by Wuan.

Video analysis poster for group exercise at Disability Equality Training (DET) Workshop at Universiti Malaya

Group work poster on video analysis for DET Workshop.
Photo by Wuan.

Peter Tans haring a light moment with participants at the Disability Equality Training (DET) Workshop at Universiti Malaya

Peter Tan joining in one of the group discussions at the DET Workshop.
Photo by Wuan.

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.

Disability Equality Training For JOCV And Malaysian Counterparts

Thirty members from the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers and their Malaysian counterparts from various disability-related governmental agencies participated in a one-day Disability Equality Training (DET) at the Pusat Latihan Perindustrian dan Pemulihan Bangi (PLPP Bangi) last Thursday. The workshop was facilitated by Dr. Kenji Kuno. I played the supporting role as a co-facilitator.

Dr. Kenji Kuno facilitating the Disability Equality Training (DET) for JOCV members and Malaysian counterparts

Dr. Kenji Kuno facilitating Disability Equality Training (DET) for JOCV members at PLPP Bangi.
Photo by Wuan.

The two main components in DET are the Social Model of Disability and Action Planning. Social Model fosters the understanding of the causes of disability while Action Planning foments the removal those causes to enable full participation of disabled people in society.

Disability Equality Training (DET) Workshop in session.
Photo by Wuan.

I am glad to say that the participants left the workshop with a good knowledge on how they can remove disabling factors that they encounter in the course of their work. I was thinking would it not be excellent if the Malaysian government adopts DET as a standard course in the civil service. This will definitely expand the understanding of disability issue in the general population that will wishfully lead to a more inclusive society.

Group photo with JOCV members after the Disability Equality Training (DET) Workshop.
Photo by Wuan.