Yahya (right) looking on as his wife, Rokiah Mohd Ali helps a disabled resident walk using a parallel bar at the centre.
JOHOR BARU: An organisation that is helping disabled children received a boost when Star Foundation donated RM20,000 to build a sensory room at its centre in Taman Johor Jaya here.
Johor Disabled Children Charitable and Cares Organisation founder and president Yahya Haidrus, who is wheelchair-bound, said the contribution was timely. “A sensory room is a special room designed to develop a person’s senses, usually through special lighting, music and objects and is used as therapy for children with limited communication skills. “The centre houses 20 residents, whose ages range between two months and 36 years old. A total of 15 are living full-time here,” he said.
Yahya, a polio victim who started using the wheelchair four years ago after a fall, said the organisation began operations in 2017.
He said the room that cost about RM30,000 to build was completed in September.
The room is equipped with closed-circuit television cameras as well as audio and visual aid system that helps promote thinking and movement to nurture the children’s sense of touch.
Yahya said most of the children had autism, Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy or were physically or mentally challenged.
“Our hope is to help these children lead as normal a life as possible. We thank Star Foundation for its generosity as this room will help the children move around better,” he said, adding that the children were looked after by eight caretakers including himself.
A child with Down Syndrome (right) identifying colors using toys placed inside a sensory room.
Yahya hoped to hire a permanent physician to work at the centre as some of the children needed professional care.
“It is not easy getting people to work for a charity-based workplace,” he added.
