Teaching adults with learning disabilities to be self-reliant

Longtime volunteer and full-time staff Yeong Moh Foong (standing, in red) says she feels like a parent to the members at United Voice.

Volunteers at United Voice are not only teaching adults with learning disabilities self-reliance, but recognising them as unique individuals.

THE aroma of baking cookies wafted out the moment the door to the United Voice activity room opens. “Our members have just finished baking cookies for the day,” said United Voice lead coordinator Yeong Moh Foong as she greeted me at their office in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. I sampled their bestselling cookies and they were delicious. A volunteer smiled gleefully at my enjoyment of the cookies, and offered me more. The cookies are just some of many items made and sold by members of United Voice, apart from handmade items like paintings and greeting cards.