Schools must accept all special needs students and prepare an individual education plan for every child under the Education Ministry’s “zero reject” policy, which has been made compulsory starting this year.

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.