Different and equal
HELEN Keller, the American author and political activist, lived a long, active, full and fulfilling life. Keller went to university and graduated, travelled the world, fought for the cause of people with disabilities, and wrote a dozen books. Yet she was blind and deaf since infancy. And she was born in 1880. That any woman, let alone a blind and deaf one, could achieve what Keller did, in that time in history, was owed partly to luck. Keller was born in the United States; into an educated and well-off family that recognised she needed special education. Luckily, there were already very good schools for the blind at that time, to which Keller went and got her education. Then, luck having set the foundations, the rest followed through on sheer determination.
Many persons with disabilities (PWDs) have a lot of determination to live a full and normal life -- their disabilities notwithstanding. But even in this 21st century, access to the basic foundations that Keller enjoyed in the late 19th century still depends largely on luck. It was important that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak came out exhorting parents of disabled children to not be ashamed of them, and for PWD experts to advise parents to not "hide away" their special children. For certainly, everyone has a right to exist, and to recognition of existence. But it is possible to hide a person not just by commission, but also by omission. For instance, when public infrastructure such as pavements, roads, transportation, schools, universities, offices, restaurants, playgrounds, and other recreational venues are not designed to be equally accessible to people of different abilities, this creates a situation in which society, by omission, "hides away" the disabled.
As citizens with equal rights, PWDs have a right to lead independent lives. To do this, PWDs, like anyone else, have to earn a living. But to get to that, they each must have access to free education that can cater to their respective levels of disability, and the infrastructure that can support this. As a signatory of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Malaysia has translated this commitment through the People With Disabilities Act 2008. But none of the requirements in the act are legally enforceable. So, even though PWDs have a right to access public facilities and services, providers (which include the government) only have to "give appropriate consideration and take necessary measures" to ensure this is possible. Many more things need to be done to respect a PWD's rights. But let's at least start with the basics.
As citizens with equal rights, PWDs have a right to lead independent lives. To do this, PWDs, like anyone else, have to earn a living. But to get to that, they each must have access to free education that can cater to their respective levels of disability, and the infrastructure that can support this. As a signatory of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Malaysia has translated this commitment through the People With Disabilities Act 2008. But none of the requirements in the act are legally enforceable. So, even though PWDs have a right to access public facilities and services, providers (which include the government) only have to "give appropriate consideration and take necessary measures" to ensure this is possible. Many more things need to be done to respect a PWD's rights. But let's at least start with the basics.
Date : 09/05/2011
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