Fang Ling plays the piano. – Photos from Fang Ling’s family
YAP Fang Ling was born blind and because of her congenital disability, she has fewer choices that will enable her to excel in life.
However, fewer choices do not mean no choices at all. With her impaired vision, her ears and fingers have become her eyes and she uses them effectively every day.
As the saying goes, hearing, seeing and feeling are miracles and each part and tag of us is a miracle.
Indeed, she has worked miracles with her other God-given senses, especially that of hearing.
In 2012, she scored 4A’s and 1B in her Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah, following up with another excellent result – straight A’s (2A+, 3A and 1A-) in her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia last year – all achieved through her ability to listen and learn.
“Listening has become the only skill for me to see the world and to learn things. It has sharpened and I have become a better listener,” she said.
And that’s what she has been doing in class – listening to and learning from the teacher assigned to help her.
Yap Fang Ling
Fang Ling’s ability to learn was first discovered when she was about two or three years old.
One day, her mother, who only wanted to be known as Tang, heard her humming the melody from their musical washing machine.
Tang then bought a musical toy for her daughter and listening to the music helped build up Fang Ling’s interest and ability to learn.
Tang, who operates a grocery shop with her husband in Selangau, said she used to carry Fang Ling when she was little, fearing she might hurt herself if left to walk about by herself. Moreover, she did not want Fang Ling play on the dusty floor of the shop.
One day, Tang decided let go of Fang Ling to see if she could play with her friend’s little boy, who used to run to her shop.
“I wasn’t sure whether Fang Ling could walk or not because I always carried her around. But to see if she could play with that little boy, I just put her down.
“When I let go, she took few steps. I was surprised she could walk and from then on, I let her play – I let her walk and run. She went to the back of the shop where the washing machine was and I think that was how she picked up the melody,” Tang recalled.
Because Fang Ling could not see, Tang taught her a few simple melodies such as ‘Do-Re-Mi’ and other children songs. And she picked up the melodies quickly from listening to them.
Soon after, a pastor started to teach Fang Ling musical chords and now she loves playing gospel songs in church.
Although Fang Ling showed she has the ability to learn like other children, it was a big struggle to get her in school.
No schools in Sibu wanted to accept her. Fortunately, at that time, there were still many caring people who readily lent a hand.
The absence of teachers for the visually impaired was another problem. Fang Ling soon found herself lagging behind in her lessons.
However, with the help of the state government and paediatrician Dr Toh Teck Hock, she was able to attend SK Perbandaran No. 3.
Fang Ling was put under the care of Saptura Ibrahim, a specialist teacher for the blind, and she started to catch up with her lessons.
It was only in Primary 5 that she seriously commenced her formal education.
Saptura sat by her side in almost all the classes and prepared the Braille materials for her.
Despite completing Primary 6 with 4A’s and 1B, Fang Ling still faced the same problem when she tried to get into secondary school as there were no such schools for the visually impaired in Sibu – only in Kuching.
So she went to SMK Batu Lintang, but after being there for a few days things did not work out.
Left with no choice, Tang turned to Dr Toh for help. Fang Ling’s plight was also highlighted in the media.
Her case caught the attention of then minister in charge of education Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, who unhesitatingly helped Fang Ling continue schooling in Sibu.
The Education Department’s special education section liaised with the Sibu Divisional Education Office to open a special integration class at SMK Sungai Merah.
Fang Ling goes through her class materials.
Saptura was once again assigned to help Fang Ling. Despite the availability of class and teacher, Fang Ling faced another problem – no transport to school.
“We’re from Selangau. Fang Ling stayed with our relatives in Sibu when she started schooling there.
“We tried to use the school bus but no driver was willing to send her because of her condition,” Tang recalled.
Because Fang Ling was visually impaired, she had to be accompanied into the school compound but it seemed no one wanted to do that.
After looking around for a while, Tang eventually managed to get someone to drive Fang Ling to and from school.
To cope with her lessons and prepare for her exams, Fang Ling did not follow any specific study schedule. She just did whatever she could.
“Sometimes, I need somebody to read the materials for me at home and my neighbour usually helps me with that.
“I do homework, of course, and for English essays, I have a tutor in Selangau. She prepares the materials and records the essays for me to listen to. That’s how I study and do my homework,” she said, adding that she does this with a Braille typewriter.
Fang Ling has worked hard to attain her excellent exam grades, for which she credits the teachers and all those who have helped her.
She also has special thanks for many others who have helped her. One of them is The Borneo Post editorial director Phyllis Wong, who gave her a Braille Bible.
“Because of her, I can read the Bible on my own,” Fang Ling said.
Despite overcoming many odds, she felt life would be very different and she could achieve much more if she was not born blind.
She said there were things she wished she could do such as cooking, adding, “I like to cook. I wished I could help my mother cook at home.”
However, she has learnt to look beyond her limitations and is quite independent at home.
“I believe God has plans for me to be born blind. I think if God takes one thing from you, that’s because He has better gifts for you.
“I think maybe God has a big plan for me – I don’t know what it is yet.”
She said her dream is to see more special integration classes for visually impaired students in Sibu.
“Hopefully, this will be given due attention with the government allocating more resources to help visually impaired students.”
Ling envisions herself as counsellor in the future.
“I think I became a better listener because of my disability and I want to help others by lending an ear to their needs,” she added.