Learning disability no barrier to earning a living: Malaysia
BATU PAHAT: A learning disability did not prevent 19–year–old Lim Chun
Lian from earning a decent living at a laundry–washing shop.
He held the job for the past five months and felt capable of handling
the tasks, as he only had to take care of the washing.
"I put in the laundry and add the detergent or bleach. When the
clothes are washed, I just take them out," he explained, adding that
he gets paid RM500 a month.
The eldest of three siblings, Lim said he also learnt how to fold bedsheets.
Despite being diagnosed with a learning disability, 19–year–old Lim
Chun Liang proved that his mentally disabled is no deterrent to earning
a monthly wage. Picture shows Lim at work in a laundry–washing shop in
Batu Pahat, Johor.
"My parents take me to work and pick me up," said Lim, who works six
days a week.
On his days off, he helps his mother to clean his home.
Lim's employer, Kum Keng Fui, said he was satisfied with Lim's work
even though he had to repeat instructions often as Lim needed constant
reminders.
Kum also said he hired Lim as he felt it was a good alternative to
dealing with the hassle of foreign labour.
He decided to employ Lim when the young man's teacher Tai Siew Moi
from the Batu Pahat Early Intervention Society asked if he would
consider hiring a slow learner.
Tai said Lim was diagnosed as a slow learner at the age of 13 and
attended special education classes in secondary school.
She added that his parents also sent him to the society's job training
centre where he received special living skills training for two years
before landing the job.
The society is a public–funded organisation with three centres that
coach children and adults with various types of disorders including
Down Syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, speech and development delay,
Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, hearing impairment and brain
damage.
The organisation, which presently trains more than 100 students, hopes
to raise RM1.5mil during its fundraising charity dinner on Aug 23 for
the construction of its new building in Sungai Suluh.
Organisation fundraising chairman Dr Lam Pan Nam said they hoped to
place all three centres under one roof.
Those who wish to donate to the centres can call 07–435 2145 or 07–432 6913.
Source: http://thestar.com.my
Back to News