Additional Training Workshops

Additional training and workshop have been provided or will be conducted for participants of the first training workshop as follows:

a) Video as a Tool for Documentation and Presentation (28 February 1999)
This video workshop which is sponsored by ABILIS Foundation aims at teaching the disabled person the techniques of handling, shooting, editing a video camera, selecting a theme for a video session, giving each participant a chance to create a theme and to shoot a video.

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b) Workshop for Penang Deaf Association Members (27-28 March 1999)
The Penang Deaf Association has successfully conducted a 2-day sharing workshop for their members. There were 34 participants. Two speakers who themselves are hearing impaired shared in the workshop. This workshop is sponsored by ABILIS Foundation.
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c) Workshop for Blind People ( 29 � 20 May 1999)
The blind participants in the first and second training workshop held a training workshop for blind people. It is aimed at exposing them to the concept of non-handicapping environments. There were 17 participants in the Workshop. The participants conducted an access survey of the St. Nicholas Home for the Visually Impaired as part of their access survey exercise. This workshop is sponsored by ABILIS Foundation.
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d) Exchange Programme to Visit Singapore (21-26 May 1999)
An exchange programme has been carried out from 21st � 26th May 1999 for some disabled people to visit the Singapore Association for the Deaf and also the Handicaps� Welfare Association to look at examples of non-handicapping environments. ABILIS Foundation supported this effort which is crucial to the capacity building of deaf people to learn from their Singapore counterparts about self-help organizations of deaf people. They learned also how to implement projects effectively and how to raise funds as well as organize more capacity building courses for deaf people such as computer courses, accounting and sign language development classes.

The team also documented various examples of non-handicapping facilities in Singapore. Some of the more interesting features are, disabled friendly movie theatres, taxi stands, well-labeled bus stops, bus stops with fans, barrier�free Orchard Road. Some of the interesting places visited was the Handicaps� Welfare Association�s Independent Living Centre and Vocational School for the Handicapped. The Independent Living Centre displays exhibits for a disabled bedroom, kitchen and toilets and other assistive devices for people with disabilities as well as those who suffer from partial paralysis. The Vocational School for the Handicapped is offers 2-year courses for disabled people such as office skills, housekeeping and catering courses and computer courses. These courses are meant to arm students with disabilities so that they are able to find employment outside when they graduate. The School have had success in these fields.
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e) Workshop for Women With Disabilities (5-6 June 1999)
The women participants planned a 2-day workshop in June for disabled women meet together to discuss their needs and also need to promote non-handicapping environments in Penang. They wish to recruit more people to be actively involved in this effort. The workshop was a complete success and was attended by 29 women from the diverse disability groups. This is the first of its kind to be held in the whole of Malaysia. Some outcomes of this workshop are the endorsement of the State Executive Councilor in charge of Women�s affairs and Tourism on the need to help disabled women in the State and the need of Accessible Tourism for disabled people. The participants of the Workshop have also decided to form an organization that will look entirely into the affairs of disabled women and their integration into mainstream women�s movement.


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f) Training Workshop for Physically Disabled Persons (Chinese speaking) � 20 June 1999)
This 1-day workshop was conducted to expose the members of the Society of Disabled Persons and Cheshire Home to the concept of non-handicapping environments. A total of 32 persons attended this workshop. The participants were encouraged to take an active part in the promotion of non-handicapping environments in Penang. Access is not a merely a physical problem for people with disabilities but actually a social problem. Without access, disabled people cannot receive proper education not employment. They are entrapped into a vicious circle of poverty because of their lack of education and inability to find jobs or go to their workplace because public transport is inaccessible. The Penang State Government has begun to become aware of the needs of disabled people and it is important that people with disabilities themselves continue in their effort to lobby and educate Government and society to become more aware of their rights and needs. This workshop is sponsored by ABILIS Foundation.
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g) Access Survey Training II (30-31 October1999)
This has been successfully conducted 1999 with Ms. Judy Wee, from Handicaps� Welfare Association, Singapore. The objective is to train the participants from the first and second training workshops the details of access survey and also how to read architectural drawings and plans. 15 people from the different disablity organisations attended this training workshop. This workshop is sponsored by ABILIS Foundation.


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h) Outreach to Ipoh ( 6-7 November 1999)
The Disabled Persons Welfare Society, Ipoh has invited members of SILA to provide them with trainingto better the disabled persons lifestle. A group of 8 people has gone to Ipoh and shared their experiences and expertise in access issues. This outreach is sponsored by ABILIS Foundation.
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i) Simulation Exercises
SILA will conduct 1-day awareness seminars through simulation exercises targeted at sensitizing various groups of people:
i) Reporters and Journalists
ii) Architects, planners, developers and Government officers
iii) Schools and Educational Institutions.


a. Further training sessions for participants
The SILA leaders have also requested for further training to sharpen their skills and equip them with the know-how on:
i) Writing proposals and reports
ii) Strategizing and Plan of Actions
iii) Carrying out access surveys.





Disabled Persons' Accessibility Technical Workshop
2-3 January 2002 at USM

A technical workshop to help raise the awareness among USM staff on how to make the campus more accessible was held on 2-3 Jan 2002. YB. Dato' Seri Ong Ka Ting officiated the Workshop

YB Dato' Seri Ong Ka Ting officiating the Workshop

Mr. Tan Kuan Aw explaining the barriers for wheelchair users

USM Staff undergoing simulation exercises

Last modified on Friday, February 28, 2003