The word “merdeka” means being independent, which is the wish of a special group from the Beautiful Gates Foundation for the Disabled. Some 10 disabled participants and 11 of their helpers from the foundation will take part in the #AnakAnakMalaysia Walk.

Malaysia can only truly be united when inclusiveness is a way of life. This means celebrating the many different languages unique to every community – including the deaf.

The Persons with Disabilities Act 2008 needs more bite. Although the Act has equal access provisions for the disabled, it lacks punitive action for non-compliance. This caused slow progress in the implementation of policies and measures to improve services and fa­­cilities although 10 years had pass­ed since its enactment, said National Education Advisory Coun­cil member Prof Dr Ruzita Mohd Amin.

Allow deaf children to use their mother tongue in schools, and don’t let their voices be silenced any longer, pleads the National Union of the Teaching Profession. NUTP secretary-general Harry Tan said deaf students were doing poorly because subjects were taught using code instead of the Malaysian Sign Language (BIM or Bahasa Isyarat Malaysia) – their mother tongue.

The lack of punitive action for companies not putting up facilities for the disabled has slowed down the progress in the improvement of services and facilities for them, say disabled groups.

A. Santana Dass might have lost half his right arm but he has not lost his spirit and love for the country.

This 35-years-old goat breeder is determined to put his setback behind him and bring pride to the country by recording Longest Distance Single Handed (Disabled) Motorcycle Ride in Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) and also Guinness World Records (GWR).

Just days after facing allegations of allowing advertisers to discriminate against people with disabilities and other groups, Facebook says it is taking steps to prevent such activity.

Jess Searle has a type of cerebral palsy that means she has always struggled with handheld devices or game consoles. With his sister in mind, Billy Searle, in his final year of Loughborough Design School, created a controller, shaped like an orb, to help people with disabilities improve their dexterity.

Being disabled is no hindrance for Farah Nadhirah Kordy to travel solo, reported Harian Metro. Farah, who is mute and deaf, has visited more than 10 countries and funded her trips as a fashion designer in Kuala Lumpur.

Lieutenant-Colonel (Rtd) Muhamad Izam Omar could never forget the day when he went on his last patrol, 36 years ago. On that fateful day in 1982, he stepped on a booby trap set by communist guerillas, leaving his right leg permanently disabled.