Regional Workshop on the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities and their Families in Asia and the Pacific
11-13 October 2007
Shanghai, China

Persons with Learning Disabilities in Malaysia

Mr James Lim Ming Koon
Ms Phyllis Teoh Hooi Ting

(Text version of a PowerPoint presentation)

Introduction

Learning Disabilities

In Malaysia, the term Learning Disabilities may include people with:

• Down Syndrome
• Autism
• Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder,
• Cerebral Palsy
• Global Developmental Delay and
• Specific learning disabilities such
  • Dyslexia – difficulties in reading
  • Dyscalculia – difficulties in mathematics
  • Dysgraphia – difficulties in writing
  • Dyspraxia – difficulties in motor skills

Population

• Total population in Malaysia: 27.3 million (Sept 2007)
• Number of persons with disabilities registered with the Malaysian Social Welfare Department (2006) : 197,519
• Persons with learning disabilities have the highest number which is: 76,619.

• In comparison with other disability groups, persons with learning disabilities are still way behind in terms of education, employment and social development.
• We are slowly catching up with others but we hope that by the next decade we will be at the same level with the others if not better.

Education

• Education for persons with learning disabilities in Malaysia is improving.
• More students with learning disabilities are registered each year in integrated school programmes.
• There were only 7,919 students in year 2000.
• By 2006, the number increased to 20,814.
• The number of schools (1,020) and teachers (4,366) have also increased.

• Observation shows that the special education programmes for students with learning disabilities have much more room for improvement.
• In most integrated special education programmes, the classrooms size range from 8 to 12 students.
• In such cases, Individualised Education Programme is not possible and education programmes are usually not effective.
• In Malaysia, we have a shortage of Special Education teachers.
• Government has now increased allowance for Special Ed teachers from RM100 to RM250.

Vocational Training

• There is only one special secondary school with vocational training programme (Indahpura) for persons with learning disabilities which began in 2006.
• The special education programme for students with learning disabilities seriously lack vocational training.
• Pre-vocational and vocational training programmes are yet to be formalised in integrated school programmes.
• One of the key problems could be lack of specialised teachers.
• Most integrated schools environment have limited space for vocational training programmes.

Recommendation

• We hope that the Ministry of Education will allocate more budget and resources for this urgent need to improve education system for students with learning disabilities.
• More skill based programme should be recommended.
• More Vocational training schools for students with learning disabilities should be set up.
• There should be integrated programmes in tertiary institution.
• United Voice also hope that self-advocacy will be taught formally in school so that students will learn to be more independent, aware of their rights, able to voice out for themselves and able to integrate in the community.

Community Based Rehabilitation Centres (CBR)

• Persons with severe learning disabilities often end up in CBRs, NGO Centres or home bound.
• There are a total of 274 CBRs (2006)
• The age range of those attending CBRs could be from infant to senior citizens.
• Educational programmes are usually not well carried out due to lack of environment that is conducive, lack of trained teachers and poor facilities.
• NGO (Non Governmental Organisations) Centres
• There are many NGO centres in Malaysia.
• Most of these are funded partially by government but mainly by public funds.
• Some centres are well run but such centres usually have long waiting list or may be too expensive for the lower income group.

Recommendation

• We recommend that the Malaysian government should continue to provide more funds for CBRs and NGO Centres to improve their education programme for those with severe learning disabilities who are unable to attend regular schools.
• CBRs and NGOs should be encouraged to form self-advocacy groups to empower their students/clients to take responsibilities and be more independent.
• We also hope more grants will be given to self-help society like United Voice so that we need not have to work so hard to raise funds to run our society.

Employment

• Employment for persons with learning disabilities has improved but many are still unemployed due to lack of opportunities, vocational training, independent skills and transportation.
• With double tax rebate incentives from the government, employers are beginning to be more open to employ people with learning disabilities but the respond is generally slow.
  There is no official statistics concerning vocational training and employment of persons with learning disabilities.

A Case Study in United Voice

• There are 86 members in United Voice. Table shows the situation/occupation of our members:

• To encourage more persons with disabilities to work, the Malaysian government provides allowance of RM200 (USD57) a month for those who are working and earn below RM750 (USD214).
• In 2008, the allowance will be increased to RM300 (USD85).
• With this incentive, more parents are making effort to find employment for their children who are ready to work in open employment or at community work place (sheltered workshop).
• But, there are insufficient places to accommodate more and more who are looking for supported employment.

Recommendation

• United Voice advocates that more training should be given to persons with learning disabilities so that they are equipped to work.
• There is also a need for more job coaches to help persons with learning disabilities to adapt especially in open employment.
• There should be more awareness programmes to help the public and especially employers know the abilities of persons with learning disabilities.

Families of Persons with Learning Disabilities

• There are family support groups all over Malaysia. However, there is no national family support and advocacy movement.
• The government provision for families with children with disabilities includes:
  • Education allowance RM50 (USD14) for children in CBRs, primary and secondary school; RM300 (USD86) for tertiary education.
  • Tax Rebate
  • Free medical treatments for their children with disabilities.
• Parents are usually worried about the future of their children with learning disabilities:
  • Where are they going to live when parents are not around?
  • Who will take care of them?
• In Malaysia, group home concept for persons with learning disabilities are still very new. Only a few NGOs have organised group homes.
• When parents are no longer able to take care of those with severe and multiple disabilities they usually end up in:
  • government run institutions,
  • private nursing homes
  • live with siblings or family members who are willing to care for them
• Most parents think that their children are not able to cope with marriage and its commitments.
• Many parents do not encourage their children with learning disabilities to consider marriage because of poor support system such as:
  • Lack of employment opportunities
  • Lack of financial capability (low income even if they are working)
  • No housing allowance
  • No Social workers to counsel or guide those who wish to get married
• Due to the above reasons, most parents disagree with their children starting a BGR relationship.

Recommendation

• Government should make effort to set up more quality group homes with good support staff.
  Siblings should be given awareness of the needs of their brother or sister with learning disabilities so that they can understand them better and take care of them.
• There should be siblings support groups so that they can share one another’s concerns and needs.
• Awareness programmes to help parents understand the emotional and sexual needs as well as the desires of their children to have a life partner.

Self-Advocacy Movement

• There are currently 10 self-advocacy groups found in 6 states in Malaysia.
• United Voice is the only registered society and is autonomous.
• There is a need for more self-advocacy groups to be formed all over Malaysia so that persons with learning disabilities will have healthy support groups that will enable and empower them to integrate in the community.

Self-advocacy enables persons with learning disabilities to be more independent by:

• Developing self-awareness and self-confidence
• Learning to make choices
• Understanding basic human rights
• Voicing opinions
• Developing social skills
• Taking up responsibilities
• Integrating with the community
• We hope that all sectors/parties involved in the development of persons with learning disabilities will support this movement to grow stronger in Malaysia.

Thank You !

Return to top

Copyright (c) 2007 Vision Office.
Last updated 07/23/07. Contact: info @ visionoffice.com