Penguin RushDisabled... Enabled...
Some few weeks back - a particular headline grabbed my attention. A group of disabled people, some wheelchair-bound, had staged a peaceful protest, demanding that their needs be heard, paid attention to and hopefully fulfilled. What are their needs? Well, not much - just requesting that the public transportation/service to be more user friendly towards them.
Frankly, I could very much relate to their feelings (though it would be an exaggeration to say that I understood completely how they felt). I remember the first time when I used the LRT trains (STAR or PUTRA), I was so surprised over how non-user friendly the service was (or is), especially towards the disabled. The same can be said about the Komuter and Monorail services as well.
First of all, despite having those many stairs for us to climb up or down the stations, some of the stations doesn't even have elevators. In fact, not even escalators.
Funny, how in the trains, there are signs over some seats, reminding commuters to prioritise those seats to those more in need. Symbols of a pregnant woman, a woman with a small child, an old folk and a person on a wheelchair define those who are more in need. But come to think of it, I don't think those people (especially the latter one) get the chance to ride on the trains in the first place.
They also hope the buses to have the mechanism that can lower down the floors at the entrance and exit doors. This is to enable them to get on or get off the buses, without having to trouble anybody to help them in doing so.
Pedestrian lights with voice announcements are handy too. The blinds can easily and safely cross the roads…… well, provided that there are no drivers who are stupid enough not to stop when the lights tell them to. Sigh…
Some of us Malaysians have this weird perception and sometimes can be prejudiced towards those who are disabled. For example, there is really no need to stare if a wheelchair bound person suddenly enters the elevator, especially if he is by himself with no family member or a friend to push the wheelchair for him. This just shows that they too can be independent.
Now, let’s take a look of who can be considered as (slightly) disabled. For a start, the symbols in the trains have definitely done a good job in defining them.
Disabled people are not necessarily born like that. Let’s face it, we all are vulnerable and there is always a risk that we may at one point, become disabled.
For example, we all will get old sooner or later right? Or, how about the possibility that we (or our wives) may become pregnant someday? Or say, after a bad tackle by an opponent where the ankle took the hardest hit instead of the ball, try to imagine climbing up those stairs at the LRT station in the limping condition.
I wonder whether those in charge in providing the above public services ever thought of these matters or even imagine putting themselves in their shoes before setting up those services. Otherwise, the needs of the disabled could not have been neglected.
If there is a voice of the minority out there that should be heard – it is THEIR voice!
posted by The Pisces Man @ 11:47 pm
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