LESSON IN PROGRESS: Fatimah (centre) visiting one of the classes at Perkata Special School. With her are (from far left) Noriah, Tie and Chang.
KUCHING: Sarawak Welfare Department (JKMS) is hoping to register at least 10,000 more disabled persons (OKU) this year.
“This is important to us so that we know who and where you are, and what kind of disability you have,” said Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah.
Knowing the distribution of disabled persons in the state will also help JKMS with planning and preventive action, rehabilitation, education and vocational training, she added.
“Prevention is important because some children are born normal but develop illnesses like cerebral palsy after a high fever,” she said.
However, she advised applicants to follow the proper procedure.
“Fill in the form which is available at the JKM office and attach a doctor’s verification letter. This is important. Once you are registered, you get a monthly allowance,” Fatimah said.
Currently, there are 24,310 disabled persons registered with JKMS. Out of this, 6,899 have learning disabilities and 4,884 have physical disabilities.
Fatimah was speaking at a press conference after visiting the Perkata Special School at Ong Tiang Swee Road yesterday. She was accompanied by the school principal Doreen Tie, JKMS director Noriah Ahmad and Perkata vice chairman Chang Choon Seng.
Currently, 98 schools have integration classes catering to students with disabilities.
“We try to make sure that every year, special education classes like integration classes are increased. But this is always a big challenge for us because we have to find special-needs teachers,” she said.
Fatimah added that in the education system, those teaching special needs children are given special allowance.
“We have to understand because you need a lot of patience, and be very committed,” she explained.
She highlighted that the Perkata Special School was urgently in need of a speech therapist and the ministry would consider helping to pay the salary if one was engaged as permanent staff.
“Speech therapists can enable the children to communicate with us. When they are able to, the world will seem very different from their perspective,” she said.
Fatimah further said that Perkata had done much in helping special needs children acquire education and living skills before the state began focusing on special education in 1992.
Meanwhile, Tie said as the school fees were very affordable, parents should not have any excuse for not sending their special children to acquire education.
“We cater to ages between 8 and 17, but some parents ask for an extension,” she said, adding that the school gives their students a chance to rise to their fullest potential.
Currently, Perkata Special School employs 30 staff members and has 139 students (92 males and 44 females).