KEMAMAN, Malaysia -- People with a disability should not be referred to as "disabled" but rather "people with special ability", said Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek.
He said the term "people with special ability" should become a common phrase when referring to persons with a disability so as not to portray a negative perspective.
"Many of them are not 'disabled' as they have special qualities that sometimes not even a normal person can match.
"For example, a Paralympic athlete has a higher level of commitment, determination and competitiveness compared with a normal person," he said.
Apart from sportsmen, they (disabled) have also contributed vastly towards the growth of a nation, with many of them becoming doctors, teachers, lecturers, businessmen and craftsmen.
At the same time, there are also normal but "useless" people around, such as drug addicts and criminals, who do not in any way contribute to the nation.
Ahmad Shabery said this after opening the Higher Institution National Expedition and Camping programme at Kolej Universiti TATi campus, here yesterday.
He earlier handed out contributions to 140 less fortunate children from six Department of Social Welfare community centres in Chukai, near here.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Government official in Malaysia wants term "disabled" dropped in favor of "people with special ability"
From New Straights Times in Malaysia:
