Mobilising trainers to help others

A workshop for trainers helping caregivers ended with a certificate presentation ceremony for 34 people.

Organised by Malaysia Independent Living Association for the Disabled (Milad), the

two-day workshop was to certify trainers who work with caregivers of disabled people.Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, who attended the ceremony at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur, was happy to see such involvement in the disabled community.

“It is important that the disabled community continue to share their needs and matters that are important to them so others can help them.

“Training as many people as possible is valuable to help anyone in need of extra care,” she said.

The workshop participants being briefed on training personal assistants for the disabled.

Milad founder and chairman Sia Siew Chin, who uses a wheelchair, said those with severe disabilities might not be physically able to carry out all tasks on their own, thus they needed personal assistants.

“However, we can think independently. We can make choices and decisions of our own.

“Having personal assistants allows us to lead an independent life and carry out our daily activities including learning, working and just going out.”

Sia said Milad had 35 active personal assistants from about 80 who completed their training.

She said those who had been trained were not required to work at the centre but could apply their training at home or elsewhere.

She encouraged the public to undergo training as it would benefit the community.

People with Disabilities Development Unit (JPOKU) director Zuhami Omar, who launched the event, said both accessibility and care for the disabled in Malaysia were lacking.

He said the department would continue striving for solutions through independent living centres (ILCs) across the country.

There are seven ILCs offering basic services to empower the disabled.

The public can visit ILCs for the personal assistant training and certification in caring for the disabled.

The closing ceremony of the event saw Kok’s service centre donating RM5,000 to the cause.