PIONEER PROJECT TO BENEFIT THE DISABLED

ALOR STAR (Malaysia), Nov 25 (Bernama) -- The Department of Women's
Development and the Disabled Persons Association are organising the Small Office
Home Office course, especially for those in the disabled category to increase
their empowerment and standard of living.

Department director-general Dr Noorul Ainur Mohd Nur said currently, 30
trainees are undergoing a course at an institution with disabled-friendly
infrastructure in Kuala Lumpur since Oct 18.

They are scheduled to finish on Jan 14, next year.

She said the trainees were a group of selected disabled persons registered
nationwide and would be given computer training for three months.

"They will learn how to build a company website, process registration of a
communications service system and paid television station such as Astro.

"In the future, the public, with help from the trained disabled persons,
can
register through the internet or telephone," Dr Noorul told reporters at the
opening ceremony of the Women's Empowerment dialogue programme in this nothern
city Monday.

She said the department was also working with a company dealing with an
applications service provider to find jobs for the trainees after they complete
the course.

The trainees would receive an allowance of RM35 a day for four days a week,
as well as an allowance from the Welfare Department of RM300 per month.

"We also plan to display information on the trainees on the department's
website to allow companies to offer them suitable jobs," she said, adding that a
company in Genting Highlands had asked for the services of the disabled persons
involved.

However, she said a detailed study would be conducted after this to
determine the effectiveness of the course before it was continued in the
future.
-- BERNAMA