Occupational therapist Azimah Norsham with Azimah Rosli’s daughter Naurah, who has Down syndrome at a therapy session at the Ronald McDonald Sensory Room, Tampin, Negri Sembilan.
WITHIN the walls of a building adjacent to McDonald’s Tampin in Negri Sembilan, a young boy makes a beeline for his favourite swing across the room, lighting up with delight as occupational therapist Azimah Norsham watches on.
The room seemed like any other indoor playground. But from interactive lights to mesmerising bubble tubes – everything in the room is a medical-grade sensory tool designed to develop the cognitive, emotional and motor skills of special needs children.
Even the air conditioning in the room serves a therapeutic purpose, helping to calm anxious children.
This is the Ronald McDonald Sensory Room (RMSR) in Tampin, Negri Sembilan, one of 36 sensory rooms operated by Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC Malaysia) that serve special needs children under 18 across the country, especially in rural areas.
Since 1999, RMSR has grown to become the nation’s largest network of charitable sensory rooms, helping over 4,500 children annually.
The timing couldn’t be more critical. Malaysia’s autism rates are skyrocketing, with about one in 108 schoolchildren diagnosed, according to a 2022 nationwide study. Yet, the country only has a little over 2,700 registered occupational therapists for 34 million people, according to the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT).
The RMSR in Tampin stands out among the 36 sensory rooms for its comprehensive equipment, catering to special needs children with mild to severe learning disabilities.
RMHC Malaysia general manager Mohd Nasri Mohd Nordin shared that this initiative reflects RMHC’s ongoing commitment to helping special needs children thrive with the support of their families and the community.
“Through this therapy room, we want to provide a space that not only helps children learn to control their emotions and focus, but also give parents the peace of mind to see their child’s progress,” he said.
The Ronald McDonald Sensory Room is one of RMHC Malaysia’s initiatives, in addition to the Ronald McDonald House (RMH), the Gift of Smile, and the Back to School Pack programmes.
Azimah Rosli from Tampin used to travel to Hospital Kuala Lumpur for her six-year-old daughter’s treatment until friends told her about RMSR.
The long trips and high costs have since been eased by RMSR Tampin’s closer location and free services.
“It’s really good because it’s in a McDonald’s outlet. When our children are undergoing therapy, parents can eat at the restaurant,” she shared.
Mohd Nasri explained that therapy in cities like Kuala Lumpur can cost between RM250 and RM500 per session.
The sensory room’s free services are funded by RMHC’s corporate sponsors and McDonald’s “round up spare change” programme when purchasing at any self-ordering kiosk – rounding up the bill amount and the spare change channelled to RMHC.
This alleviates the financial burden of the local community. The Tampin room in particular is sponsored by Yayasan Jaafar Ahmad.
What makes the RMSR special is its family-centred approach, focusing on the parents’ role in their child’s treatment.
Mohd Nasri stressed that parents’ roles are crucial in their child’s treatment. “It is the parents who know what the child wants.
“At home, parents usually don’t know what to do. Here, our occupational therapists will collaborate with the parents closely and efficiently,” he shared, adding that each session is followed by a family consultation.
RMHC Malaysia’s senior occupational therapist Muhammad Yusof Abdul Kadir addressed a common misconception that special needs therapy is simply “playtime”.
“In reality, the therapies are carefully structured, evidence-based interventions designed to improve a child’s sensory processing and functional skills,” explained Yusof.
For Nurazlihafizah Ahmad Ali, whose eight-year-old son has moderate autism, the sensory room has been transformative.
“We as parents face many difficulties in caring for, nurturing, raising or educating autistic children.
“This is because children always have meltdowns, and do not understand simple instructions,” said Nurazlihafizah. She admitted that she now feels more confident and calm managing her child’s needs.
Azimah had some advice for parents in similar predicaments: “Children with this diagnosis grow in their own unique way,” she shared. “It may be a little slow, but they will eventually achieve it.”
So the next time you visit McDonald’s, remember: rounding up your bill is an investment in children who simply need a chance to show the world what they’re capable of.
