KUCHING: Persons with disabilities (OKU) should not be marginalised because they too can contribute to our country.
Sarawak Minister for Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah stressed that it is important for us to identify efforts that can be mobilised to help OKU lead better lives.
“For individuals with visual impairments, they need to learn Braille. Braille is essential for them to access information,” she said this when officiating at the Braille Literacy Workshop held at Sarawak State Library (PUSTAKA) yesterday.
A total of 50 persons attended the workshop titled “Menggapai Dunia Dari Jendela Ilmu Enam Titik Timbul Satu Eksplorasi” that was organised by the Sarawak Society for the Blind (SSB), in collaboration with the Sarawak Social Welfare Department (JKM) and the Sarawak State Library.
“This workshop also aims to sharpen the public’s mind to grasp the concept of Six Raised Dots in building an inclusive and enlightened society.
“Education is a way that can help these individuals; through education, they can change their destiny. For individuals who cannot see, there must be a way to empower their knowledge,” she added.
She said at JKM, they assess a person’s abilities, not just their disabilities. Some of them have potential in sports, some have interests in poetry and writing.
“They are waiting for us to help them to develop their interests to a higher level. Various interests, if we want to empower them, look at their abilities,
“It is our duty to give them hope and ensure their talent can be developed to its full potential,” she added.
Furthermore, she believed that to help individuals with disabilities, we must look at their potential and abilities and develop them.
“We will assist them until they can reach their maximum potential, and this cannot be done by one person alone. We need to work together, both from the association and its staff, and people with expertise,” she said.
