Disabled people have dreams, too
feel my heart pounding when the headmistress asked my mother, “Will she cause trouble in school?”
My body was trembling in fear that I might not be able to enter school because of my disability. You see, my legs are weak, which means I can’t move around without my wheelchair.
But Mrs Ong, the headmistress, agreed to let me in for a threemonth trial period.
I was born premature, weighing just 0.8kg, and my parents thought I could not survive. I stayed in an incubator for four months.
When they learnt about my disability, my parents did not give up because they believe I am a gift from God. I was loved and raised just like other normal children.
My parents wanted me to be educated, so they sent me to a normal school. Everyone stared at me because I was in a wheelchair. I was the first and only disabled student in the school, but I got along with my classmates very well.
Finally, the day arrived. I passed my three-month trial and was promoted as a regular student. I learnt patience and perseverance. I had to spend three hours on one chapter, while my friends spent only one.
After years of practice, I learnt to write fast and can now complete many tasks on time.
My disability made me want to do well. I pushed myself academically. It felt great to look at the questions on a test paper and know that I was going to do well.
When I went to university, I started to feel that my disability was a burden on other people.
A part of me was angry that I needed help from people, and another part of me felt ashamed.
University student life was very different from secondary school life. Assignments had short deadlines. My lecturer would fail me when my assignments were not submitted on time. Nevertheless, my lecturer taught me that I should never take ‘no’ for an answer when it came to getting what I needed.
I graduated with a Bachelor’s in English Language and Communication.
Although my days were filled with obstacles, many of them were bright too because I have people in my life, like my mother, who are always there for me, assisting me and filling each day with hope for the future.
Malaysia is conservative in its treatment of people with disabilities.
While other countries have protections against disability discrimination and have avenues for disabled people to pursue their education, Malaysia lacks the mechanism and support system for people like us.
I appeal to Malaysians to change their perception of the disabled. I hope Malaysia can become a more disabled-friendly place.