Life can hand you lemons like what happened to Siti Nuraisyah Sahrin, 16, who lost her two legs after a tragic accident with a lorry in 2016. But this brave young woman managed to turn her life around and move forward again to achieve her dreams.

National para athlete Mohamad Ridzuan Puzi cemented his status as one of the country’s sporting greats by winning the 2018 Best Asian Male Para Athlete award. The 31-year-old from Kuala Lumpur is the first Malaysian para athlete to win the award for his exploits in the sprint and long jump events last year.

He was born blind, but that did not stop Azhar Ibrahim from opening his own workshop to repair motorcycles in Batu Gajah. Ever since he was seven years old, he loved to hear sounds, in particular those of motorbikes, said the 36-year-old, who has been operating his business for the past 10 years.

Schools must accept all special needs students and prepare an individual education plan for every child, says Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching.

LOOKING back at 2018, without a doubt, the installation of a #NewMalaysia government was the most significant event. But sadly, the year has been one filled with disappointment for the disabled community, the largest minority group in Malaysia and around the world.

In some ways, says Portuguese ex-boxer Jorge Pina, the loss of most of his sight was the making of him. “I didn’t lose my sight, I just see things differently,” he says.

Forced to abandon his world title dreams, Pina devotes his time to helping troubled kids from rough neighbourhoods stay on the right path by channelling their energy into sport.

A disabled South African pilot was killed when his small plane crashed while attempting to land at Bang Phra airport in Si Racha district Sunday afternoon, police said. Michael Charles Lomberg, 60, was flying one of three light aircraft belonging to a disability rights advocacy group called “Handiflight Around the World” that left Chiang Rai airport at 10am, police said.

The Ability Center of Greater Toledo program, geared toward high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors — though open to those older — helps bridge the gap for students with potential to live, work, and study independently but who need extra support to do so.

Some technology excludes the disabled. If you can’t park your car because you find an app too complicated. Even applying for a blue badge requires a significant ability to use online services.

So it’s always heartening to discover technology which makes life better for disabled people.

After losing his left leg to a landmine during an operation in Hutan Gubir in 1986, an army veteran found himself fighting another battle when he was diagnosed with blood cancer.

Jasni Othman, 60, said he was diagnosed with the illness in September after experiencing constant fatigue and headaches.