He may not be singled out as “Man of the Match” but Sunny Shalesh certainly scored big when he made it his goal in life to be a disability football coach. The 48-year-old’s passion for the disabled community was shaped by his relationship with his younger brother, who was physically and mentally challenged.

A group of more than 500 children with special needs have earned themselves a place in the Malaysia Book of Records in an art exhibition held here in Johor Bahru.

One year after being hailed as national heroes, the para-athletes who won gold medals for the country are now struggling to find money to pay for the official attire during the opening of the Asian Para Games in Jakarta. With just a month to go before the Games, the athletes are hoping they would get their clothes before Oct 6.

An internationally renowned differently-abled dance group from India, ‘Miracle on Wheels’ stunned the audience when they performed at Dewan Sri Mutiara, Politeknik Seberang Prai near Bukit Mertajam.

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).