ID :
42376
Fri, 01/23/2009 - 19:21
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/42376
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M'SIA GIVES PRIORITY CARE FOR THE DISABLED By ZULKIPLE IBRAHIM
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 (Bernama) -- Though the government estimates that there are about 1.3 million people with various forms of disability, yet only 233,939 of them have registered with the Welfare Services Department.
Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Noriah Kasnon
recently noted that the statistics failed to provide the actual picture of the
disabled in the country.
She noted that the low numbers of those registered had created problems in
formulating policies that advocate the well being of the people with
disabilities.
The Ministry has set up the National Council for Persons with Disabilities
chaired by its minister, Dr Ng Yen Yen, to supervise, coordinate and
monitor the national policies relating to Persons With Disabilities Act gazetted
Aug 7 last year.
Maybe the awareness is still lacking among the persons with disabilities and
their family members on their rights and privileges especially relating to
health facilities, education, information, communication and technology, sports
activities, leisure and culture.
WHO ARE THE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES?
The Persons With Disabilities Act 2007, defines people with disabilities as
those who 'lack the long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory
abilities, when met with various obstacles, preventing their full interaction
with the society'.
For the disabled, who are officially named as the 'Orang Kurang Upaya (OKU)
(disabled persons) in Malaysia, they have to produce their respective OKU cards
for verification if they wish to obtain assistance from the JKM as well as the
other government and private agencies.
This card can be obtained upon registration with the respective district
JKM office.
SIX CATEGORIES OF OKU
For registration purposes, the JKM has classified the OKUs into six
disability categories -- vision, hearing, physical, cerebral palsy, learning
difficulties (slow development, down's syndrome, autism, Attention Deficit
Hyperactive Disorder, mentally retarded, specific problems relating to studying
dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia) and others.
OKU IDENTITY CARD
The OKU identity card issued by JKM helps OKU to deal with the respective
authorities.
The respective cards bear six different colour codes where blue denotes the
vision disability, purple (hearing), green (physical), red (cerebral palsy),
yellow (learning disability) and orange (other disabilities).
The registration of the People With Disabilities is important to enable the
department to compile data for the planning and rehabilitation programmes as
well as that for intervention and training.
Though the registration of the OKU is on volunteer basis, it should be
encouraged as this would enable the OKU to be given all benefits and incentives
due to this group.
FACILITIES AND PRVILEGES FOR THE DISABLED
The government has provided various facilities for the registered OKU for
example the Education Department, via the Special Education Department
provides special programmes for children with vision, hearing and learning
disabilities.
These programmes are held at special education schools, and through
integrated programmes in normal schools. The disabled students are exempted from
paying when they enroll at public skills learning institutions.
For those who obtain places at universities, the Higher Education Ministry
provides each of them with RM300 monthly allowance.
The disabled students in primary and secondary schools are each given RM150
monthly allowance. This facility comes under the Special Education Department.
COUNSELLING, ADVICE
At JKM, the OKU and their families who face emotional stress as the
result of the respective disabilities can obtain counseling from the JKM
officer or counselor.
They could also obtain the counseling services from non-governmental
organisations (NGOs) involved in helping the disabled.
The agencies involved are the Health Ministry, Special Education Department
(Education Ministry) and Human Resource Department (Human Resources Ministry).
EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAMME
The Health Ministry conducts early intervention programmes by providing the
examination and treatment to enable the handicapped babies to be referred to
welfare institutions.
The Education Department provides facilities for children with vision,
hearing and learning disabilities via three programmes.
"These programmes are the Special School, Integration and Inclusive
programmes held at primary and secondary schools", he said.
The integration programme for disabled children is also available at
technical schools and polytechnics.
Meanwhile, the Manpower Department encourages the private sector to provide
jobs for the disabled through the Employment Promotions Committee. In meeting
their social undertakings, NGOs have also taken a similar approach by setting up
day care and training centres for this group.
This measure complements the government's initiatives to help the disabled.
ROAD TAX EXEMPTION
The Road Transport Department (RTD) has exempted the physically-handicapped
who use locally-produced motorised vehicles like cars, vans and motorcycles,
from paying the road tax since 2004.
The JKM has encouraged transport companies to provide concession fares to
the disabled.
He cited the case of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) that has responded by slashing
the price of domestic air travel tickets by 50 percent.
KTMB has also offered 50 percent discount for the disabled. The 50 percent
fare discount also comes from Transnasional bus company, while RAPID KL has
allowed the disabled to travel on its buses free of charge.
OTHER BENEFITS
The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) also provides some benefits for the
handicapped.
It offers a discount on rentals for its low-cost houses and flats while the
Syarikat Perumahan Negara (National Housing Company) is giving 20 percent
discount for the low-wage earners of the handicapped group to buy low-and
medium-cost houses.
The disabled people are exempted from paying the charges in government
medical institutions. This include the charges for third-class ward, medication
and specialist's fees.
The Immigration Department, meanwhile, exempted the handicapped from paying
the charges for their applications for travel documents like passport.
-- BERNAMA
Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Noriah Kasnon
recently noted that the statistics failed to provide the actual picture of the
disabled in the country.
She noted that the low numbers of those registered had created problems in
formulating policies that advocate the well being of the people with
disabilities.
The Ministry has set up the National Council for Persons with Disabilities
chaired by its minister, Dr Ng Yen Yen, to supervise, coordinate and
monitor the national policies relating to Persons With Disabilities Act gazetted
Aug 7 last year.
Maybe the awareness is still lacking among the persons with disabilities and
their family members on their rights and privileges especially relating to
health facilities, education, information, communication and technology, sports
activities, leisure and culture.
WHO ARE THE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES?
The Persons With Disabilities Act 2007, defines people with disabilities as
those who 'lack the long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory
abilities, when met with various obstacles, preventing their full interaction
with the society'.
For the disabled, who are officially named as the 'Orang Kurang Upaya (OKU)
(disabled persons) in Malaysia, they have to produce their respective OKU cards
for verification if they wish to obtain assistance from the JKM as well as the
other government and private agencies.
This card can be obtained upon registration with the respective district
JKM office.
SIX CATEGORIES OF OKU
For registration purposes, the JKM has classified the OKUs into six
disability categories -- vision, hearing, physical, cerebral palsy, learning
difficulties (slow development, down's syndrome, autism, Attention Deficit
Hyperactive Disorder, mentally retarded, specific problems relating to studying
dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia) and others.
OKU IDENTITY CARD
The OKU identity card issued by JKM helps OKU to deal with the respective
authorities.
The respective cards bear six different colour codes where blue denotes the
vision disability, purple (hearing), green (physical), red (cerebral palsy),
yellow (learning disability) and orange (other disabilities).
The registration of the People With Disabilities is important to enable the
department to compile data for the planning and rehabilitation programmes as
well as that for intervention and training.
Though the registration of the OKU is on volunteer basis, it should be
encouraged as this would enable the OKU to be given all benefits and incentives
due to this group.
FACILITIES AND PRVILEGES FOR THE DISABLED
The government has provided various facilities for the registered OKU for
example the Education Department, via the Special Education Department
provides special programmes for children with vision, hearing and learning
disabilities.
These programmes are held at special education schools, and through
integrated programmes in normal schools. The disabled students are exempted from
paying when they enroll at public skills learning institutions.
For those who obtain places at universities, the Higher Education Ministry
provides each of them with RM300 monthly allowance.
The disabled students in primary and secondary schools are each given RM150
monthly allowance. This facility comes under the Special Education Department.
COUNSELLING, ADVICE
At JKM, the OKU and their families who face emotional stress as the
result of the respective disabilities can obtain counseling from the JKM
officer or counselor.
They could also obtain the counseling services from non-governmental
organisations (NGOs) involved in helping the disabled.
The agencies involved are the Health Ministry, Special Education Department
(Education Ministry) and Human Resource Department (Human Resources Ministry).
EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAMME
The Health Ministry conducts early intervention programmes by providing the
examination and treatment to enable the handicapped babies to be referred to
welfare institutions.
The Education Department provides facilities for children with vision,
hearing and learning disabilities via three programmes.
"These programmes are the Special School, Integration and Inclusive
programmes held at primary and secondary schools", he said.
The integration programme for disabled children is also available at
technical schools and polytechnics.
Meanwhile, the Manpower Department encourages the private sector to provide
jobs for the disabled through the Employment Promotions Committee. In meeting
their social undertakings, NGOs have also taken a similar approach by setting up
day care and training centres for this group.
This measure complements the government's initiatives to help the disabled.
ROAD TAX EXEMPTION
The Road Transport Department (RTD) has exempted the physically-handicapped
who use locally-produced motorised vehicles like cars, vans and motorcycles,
from paying the road tax since 2004.
The JKM has encouraged transport companies to provide concession fares to
the disabled.
He cited the case of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) that has responded by slashing
the price of domestic air travel tickets by 50 percent.
KTMB has also offered 50 percent discount for the disabled. The 50 percent
fare discount also comes from Transnasional bus company, while RAPID KL has
allowed the disabled to travel on its buses free of charge.
OTHER BENEFITS
The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) also provides some benefits for the
handicapped.
It offers a discount on rentals for its low-cost houses and flats while the
Syarikat Perumahan Negara (National Housing Company) is giving 20 percent
discount for the low-wage earners of the handicapped group to buy low-and
medium-cost houses.
The disabled people are exempted from paying the charges in government
medical institutions. This include the charges for third-class ward, medication
and specialist's fees.
The Immigration Department, meanwhile, exempted the handicapped from paying
the charges for their applications for travel documents like passport.
-- BERNAMA
