Starchild: Malaysian children respect people with special needs

Jayden Tan Li Sheng, 10

International Day of Persons with Disabilities was celebrated on Dec 3. It is a special day to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.

A disability can be described as an impairment (mind or body) that a person has which limits them in some way.

Many people with disabilities can use special equipment that can help them. It includes using mobility aids (wheelchair, hearing aids or cane), hearing aids, or Braille, a writing system used by people who are visually impaired.

According to the World Health Organisation, an estimated 1.3 billion people – or 1 in 6 people worldwide – experience significant disability.

Children, it is important to treat people with disabilities with respect. When you greet someone with a disability, greet them the same way you would with your other friends. Remember, they are just like us but they are differently abled.

Here are the letters on the topic, of Disabled Day.

Jayden Tan Li Sheng, 10, “My paternal grandma uses a wheelchair as she is not able to walk long distances. She has difficulties in doing her daily activities which she used to do when she was younger By using wheelchair, it is easier for her to move around the house. I also respect Paralymplians, especially athletes who use blade prostheses and wheelchair basketball teams.”

Asher Wang Qi Chuen, 5

Asher Wang Qi Chuen, five, says we must be kind to adults and children who are different from us. “We can give a smile or a wave to encourage them. We should not say mean things or laugh at them because they are different.”

Bethany Wang Qi Syuen, 7

Older sister Bethany Wang Qi Syuen, seven, writes: “I recently read the biography of Fanny Crosby, a well-known hymn writer who was blind. She became blind due to wrong treatment given for her eye infection when she was a baby. Despite her disability, she wrote numerous hymns that brought inspiration, hope and joy to many.”

Chuah Seng Koon, 7

“If my aunt were to be blind one day, I would be very sad. However, to ensure she has good eyesight, I would like to be an eye specialist. With this skill, I can look after her. If I were to be busy in my clinic, I would ask my nurse to take good care of her,” says Chuah Seng Koon, six.

ITEM: Our next topic is: New Year resolutions (could you have guessed anything else?). Do you have any New Year resolutions? Have you made a list of things to do? Usually resolutions are made in the hope that we can make them happen. It is pointless to have resolutions only to find that we can’t fulfil them. What say you? Do you believe in making resolutions or do you prefer not to make any?

Email your contributions to [e-mail] by Dec 23. Please put “STARCHILD:New Year 2023” in the subject line of your email.

Scanned drawings should be in jpeg format, with a resolution of 200 dpi.

Your contributions must carry your full name, age (open to children aged 12 and below only), gender, phone contact, and address. Instead of handwritten letters, please type out your letters.

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