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Self-Advocacy SocietyOf Persons with Learning Disabilities
Selangor & Kuala Lumpur
Self-Advocacy Movement in
Malaysia
In 1995In 1995……..A SelfA Self--Advocacy Group was formed with only 4 Advocacy Group was formed with only 4 members in Selangor under the sponsorship of members in Selangor under the sponsorship of Dignity & Services, a NGO that advocates for Dignity & Services, a NGO that advocates for persons with learning disabilities.persons with learning disabilities.
July 2005…• After 10 years of training, United Voice became fully independent
from Dignity & Services • United Voice is the first society of persons with learning
disabilities in Malaysia that is recognised by the government.• All board members of United Voice are persons with learning
disabilities. • Currently, United Voice has 170 members.
What is Self-Advocacy?
Self-advocacy is speaking up for oneself …
Telling others about ourselves….
Telling others what we think and how we feel
Cynthia talking about United Voice to a company
Other people can understand us better when we speak up for ourselves.
James giving speech at a workshop
We also express ourselves and voice out through Newsletters and Books….
19992002
2005
Self-Advocacy is learning to be independent…
Independent living skills – experience over night stay & outings with our friends
Learning how to take public transport and traveling with friends
Learning to socialise with others
Leading our own society
UV Committee meets once a month to report and plan UV activities
Self-advocacy is learning to make choices…..
Electing our leaders…2007
2008
2010
We encourage our members to participate in General Elections
10 UV members voted in the general elections in 2008
Planning our own activities
Some of our activities…
Outings & Fun
Special Olympics
Monthly meetings to socialiseand talk about a special topic such as friendship, sexuality, BGR, work, hobbies, stress, recycling, etc…
Learning to speak up
We interview and choose our staff
Self-Advocacy is knowing our rights…
We have the right to proper education in school
We have the right to have a better quality of life
We don’t want to see persons with learning disabilities live like this
JohariDatukDatuk Seri Fong Chang Seri Fong Chang OnnOnn
United Voice advocates for persons with learning disabilities
in Malaysia
We speak up in Newspaper
We advocate forWe advocate for……Better education for persons with learning disabilitiesSelf-advocacy to be taught in school
Formal vocational training and special programmes for persons with learning disabilities in tertiary institutions.More Employment Opportunities.Better Support Services for those who are unable to work in the open employment. More Housing Support so that we can learn to live independently.
UV President Johari Bin Jamali
We work with other societies to advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities
United Voice is an active member of BEAT Group BEAT: Barrier-free Environment and Accessible Transport
Johari, President of UV
We work together with other members of BEAT to provide Disability Equality
Training to staff of AirAsia, KTM (local train company) and others.
Cynthia giving a talk at Air AsiaCynthia Thomas
UV participated in UNESCAP Workshop in Shanghai in 2007
(UNESCAP – United Nations Economic and Social Commission in Asia and the Pacific)
James
We sat through the Parliament debate on Disability Act that was approved by our government in December 2007
UV member in National Disability Act Council
James Minister, Datuk Seri Shahrizat
Self-advocacy is learning to be responsible…
We learn how to be responsibile towards ourselves, parents, friends and
other people
We learn how to be responsible by working and earning our own money
Employment
We encourage our members to work
30 of our members are currently working in the open employment
Some of the members working:
Michelle Yap: Factory worker
Anthony: Hotel Crew
Christina: KFC Bakery Crew
Thomas Yeoh: Store Assistant
Eugene Lau:
A & W
Aslam – Giant Supermarket
Alwin – Cold Storage
United Voice Employment Project
UV started Employment Project in 2003 to provide employment for unemployed members. We have 26 workers.
Products of Employment Project
Cards drawn by Cards drawn by AidilAidil
MagnetsMagnets
Bookmarks
Greeting Cards
Saori Products:Japanese Weaving
Accessories
Cookies
Business Cards Printing Project
Art Gallery
Tan Seng Kit
Clement Ooi
Nadiah Abdul Jalil
Nurulakhmal Abdul Rahman
Damien Wong
Produce sellable products so we can get more income
UV Employment Project is an income generating project
Sales of Products No. of Workers
_______________________________
2003 RM20,000 8
2004 RM40,000 8
2005 RM52,000 15 by July
2006 RM61,000 15
2007 RM74,000 18
2008 RM122,000 21
2009 RM189,000 22
2010 RM280,000 26
UV EP members get a monthly allowance, annual Bonus, Socso & EPF.
They also receive RM300 monthly allowance from the Welfare Department.
UV Source Employment for Persons with Learning Disabilities
• UV contact companies to find employment opportunities for those who are unemployed.
• We network with other NGOs, Welfare Department & Human Resource Department on this matter.
Forming Self-Advocacy Groups
in Malaysia
UV hopes to help form self-advocacy groups all over Malaysia
There are 20 Self-Advocacy Groups in Malaysia
Name Year Form District/State
Sponsor
Bethany Self Advocacy
Group
1993 TelukIntan,Perak
Bethany Home
United Voice 1995 PetalingJaya,
Selangor
Registered with the Registrar of Societies
KangarooClub
1996 KotaKinabalu,
Sabah
Seri Mengasih
DayspringAdventure
Club
1999 Klang, Selangor
Dayspring Centre
Aktion Club -KJTC PJ
2001 PetalingJaya
Kiwanis JobTraining Centre
Name Year Form District/State
Sponsor
FriendshipClub
2003 Cheras,KL
Malaysian CARE
Dragon Club2003 Kajang Pusat Kanak-kanak
Istimewa,Kajang,Selangor
Mutiara VoiceClub
2005 BalikPulau,
Penang
Asia CommunityService
Hornbill Club 2007 Kuching PDK Kuching
Miri Self-advocacy Group
2007 Miri MRCS SunflowerCentre Miri
Name Year Form District/State
Sponsor
Seri Chepa 2008 Kg Chepa,Kelantan
PDK Kg Chepa
Divine Voice 2008 Ipoh, Perak
PersatuanDaybreak
Permata Hati
Kumpulan Advokasi DiriHentian Kasih
Kumpulan Delima
2009
2009
2009
Tanah Merah, Kelantan
Besut, Terengganu
Tanah Merah, Kelantan
PDK Kg Gual Ipoh
PDK Seberang Jerteh
PDK Bandar Tanah
Merah
Name Year Form District/State
Sponsor
Kumpulan Nur Kasih
2010 Kota Bahru,Kelantan
PDK Peringat
Sibu Agape Club
2009 Sibu, Sarawak
Methodist Hope Center
Kumpulan Rabbani
Kumpulan Sayang Ku
Kumpulan Pelangi
2010
2010
2010
Kuantan, Pahang
Jerantut, Pahang
Kuantan, Pahang
PDK PPOKU Paya Besar
PDK Sinar Harapan
PDK Tenas Sri Teruntum
120 participants from 8 States participated in the 1st National Self-Advocacy Conference
in 2004
67 participants attended the 2nd NSAC at Kota Kinabalu, Sabah 2007
120 participants from 7 states attended the 3rd
NSAC in Feb 2009, Pulau Pinang
100 paticipants attended the 4th NASC in July 2011, Teluk Intan, Perak
Activities at the conference
At the conference we:
Learn about our rights and our responsibilities
We learn how to voice out
We discuss on issues and about employment
We learn how to be leaders. We choose we want the next conference to be held
Inter Self-Advocacy Group Outing
Inter Self-Advocacy Leadership Trainings
Inter Self-Advocacy Group Dinner & Dance
We believe that a strong selfWe believe that a strong self--advocacy advocacy movement can help create movement can help create
a better future a better future for persons with learning disabilities for persons with learning disabilities
in Malaysia.in Malaysia.
Promoting Self-Advocacy
United Voice organises awareness events on Self-Advocacy
Visitors from Kelantan, Pahang, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka,
Penang, Sabah, Sarawak….
Visitors: Students
We promote self-advocacy in other Asian Countries
Johari & Mayumi facilitating a workshop in Bangkok to self-advocates from South East Asia Region
Myanmar, 2009Johari
Cambodia, 2009Hooi Ting
Inclusion International World Congress 2009 Salamanca, Spain
Sponsored by Inclusion International
Inclusion International Conference 2010 Berlin, Germany
Sponsored by Inclusion International
Having A Say Conference, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
Feb, 2011 - For the 1st time, 3 UV members decided to travel overseas without supporting friends or family members.
Sponsored by VALID
Self-Advocacy Conference for CBRs• In 2011, the Social Welfare Department gave a grant to United Voice to organise 6 National conferences in Malaysia to promote self-advocacy awareness to over 400 CBRs centers.
• So far we have conducted 3 conferences to 324 CBR coordinators.
• To date, 10 new self-advocacy groups were formed after the conferences.• Many more groups will be formed in the next few months.
Committee of United Voice
President: Johari (Admin staff Accounting Firm)
Secretary: Hooi Ting(Admin & Store Asst in
an International company)
Treasurer: Esther Moo Helper at a Centre for Children with Learning Disabilities Asst Sec: Alex Tang
(Office Assistant of a Corporate Co.)
Vice President: Felicia Fang (Office Assistant, St Paul’s Church)
Cynthia(Clinic Receptionist)
Chang Kok Woei(Lift Attendant)
David Foo (Data Entry Clerk)
Nazmi Kamarulzaman(part-time staff)
Committee Members:
Staff of United Voice
Wendy:Project
Supervisor
Shi Wei:Marketing
Coordinator
Pn.Fadzillah:Project
Coordinator
Judy Tan:Accounts
AdministratorMoh Foong :Lead Coordinator
Siti Azyan:Office Assistant
Lit Whei:Office Assistant
Pn Nareah:Project
Supervisor
Mrs Chia:Project
Supervisor
Karen:Administrator
If you wish to know more about United Voice you may contact us at:
603, Jalan 17/12, 46400 Petaling Jaya
Tel: 03-79540701
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.unitedvoice.com.my
Thank You!
UnitedVoiceUnitedVoice
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