Participants making their own egg or peanut butter and jelly sandwich at the sandwich-making station.
MUHAMMAD Eddy Eiskandar was eager to figure out the numbers being called when playing bingo.
The 10-year-old was a picture of concentration while playing boccia, a precision ball sport similar to bocce and related to bowls and pétanque.
The boy, who is impaired in hearing and speech, showed that his disabilities were no hindrance to his eagerness in trying out different games for fun.
He had a jolly time learning new games during the International Day of Disabled Persons celebration at the Caring Society Complex in Jalan Utama, Penang.
“The games inside the hall are exciting and I am enjoying the day.
Pupils being guided through a maze of cones while having their eyes closed with face masks.
“Bingo was fun and I also tried out a fake tattoo as well.
“I really like it,” said Muhammad Eddy, who sported tattoos of the Malaysian flag and a butterfly on his cheek.
Communicating via sign language with his teacher Mohamad Khazaen Mat Nasir, the pupil said while he had been to similar large-scale events, the plentiful games here made it special.
“I am still not tired despite having tried many different games,” said the Year Four pupil of SK Pendidikan Khas Persekutuan Tanjung Bungah.
Azlina Mohd Yusoff, a teacher from the School For Mentally Retarded Children in Datuk Keramat, said the celebration helped students practise various motor and cognitive skills, as well as meet students from other schools and organisations.
Children taking aim at the ring toss station at the Caring Society Complex in Jalan Utama.
“What they are doing here is working on their perception skills and things like hand and eye coordination.
“We do this in school as well, but this is a fun way for them to practise it,” said Azlina, who brought along 10 students from her school.
Some 750 people, including 500 participants, with the rest being teachers and volunteers, enjoyed taking part in a telematch and talent show.
The telematch comprised 19 stations offering various activities such as puzzles, origami, bottle flipping and ring toss, among other games.
Standing out were the sandwich-making station where participants made their own egg or peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and the Deal or No Deal station which had quizzes and prizes for winners.
The blindfold station had an obstacle course where participants were guided through a mini maze of cones while their eyes were closed with face masks.
The celebration features 19 stations offering various activities, including boccia. — Photos: ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
The inaugural event was organised by Penang Cheshire Home in collaboration with the Social Welfare Department.
The home’s president Andrew Koay said they decided to organise the large-scale event for the first time as part of the home’s 45th anniversary celebrations.
“This is more about bringing everyone together and educating people about various disabilities.
“There are many disabilities, and this is one way to highlight their strengths,” he said.
Koay said 21 schools and organisations participated in the celebration which, in addition to the telematch and talent show for the students and residents, had a treasure hunt for the teachers and volunteers.
“While there are trophies and some prizes, the main goal is just to have fun and try out new things together,” he said, adding that volunteers from nine non-governmental organisations and companies took part in the activities.
