I have been with United Voice (UV) for a long time now, actually since October 2005 so it has been exactly 16 years already!  I was introduced to UV by a church friend, Aunty Swee Lan when I had finished school and was just hanging around at home.  Joining UV has been good for me – it brought me new friends and work mates with whom I could go for meals together. We used to go to UV everyday and regularly have lunch at the shop behind UV and this is good for me to become more independent; but later our work days were reduced to only a few days a week so I miss my work and my friends.  For a long time, Eleanore was my close friend in UV but she is sadly no longer with us.  At UV I have learnt to help with craft work like keychains and coasters and sometimes help out with making cookies and enjoy the companionship of all my friends. Here I am happy to be accepted for being myself, just as I am.  In the beginning, my mommy wondered why God gave her a daughter like me – someone who is not perfect, because I am not as fast as other normal people – yet I believe I am perfectly normal but in my own special ways. You know what ? I also believe God gave me to her so that she can be more patient and enduring and have the stamina for the stumbling blocks in life’s journey!

Renee was born with William Syndrome.  She had a very challenging time when she was growing up because she was left out from almost everything while she was in school.  It was either she could not run fast enough, she talks weirdly, she’s too small in size and the list goes on.

Renee has been with United Voice since 2017 under the transition training and from there progressed to be a Public Relations & Office Assistant in United Voice itself.  The journey has been amazing. She has moved forward, from being fetched to and from home to work, to now being able to take the public transport on her own. With that, she has also gained confidence as well as being independent.

While in her position, Renee is being given the opportunities to give talks to airline crews, students and others, which she really enjoys, being a very people-friendly person.

In United Voice, she experienced kindness from each of the members during their daily work.

One particular incident worth mentioning was when she has just started working in United Voice.  Renee told me how odd it was that her water tumbler was being refilled each time she came back from lunch or from toilet or from errands. It was filled with water that’s just warm, not too hot nor too cold, just warm. And it went on for a few days. I was very curious and asked her to check further.  Renee later found out it was Shikin, her non-verbal colleague who has been refilling on her behalf.   How considerate and heart-warming action from Shikin!

It is indeed so much joy that Renee is part of a community that accepts her as she is.

She found that being different is what they should be. That she can stand tall and be proud because she is different. That being different is a cause to celebrate.   And celebrate she did.  More importantly, Renee found friends.  The warmth of friends from United Voice that stands by her.  And she found laughter, from laughing at herself as well as with others.

That’s what matters at the end of the day. Because she found a place where she belongs. Today, we are indeed very proud of her as well as my feelings of gratitude to United Voice.   United Voice is not only a place for Persons with Learning Disabilities, it is a place where I find comfort in knowing that my daughter has friends who understand her without saying a word, colleagues that support and give encouragements for simple tasks that we take for granted and where she will have fond memories here that she will cherish.

By Julie Quah (Renee’s Mum)

Esther Emily has been in United Voice since 2015.  I am so glad that I found out about United Voice because it has totally changed my daughter’s life journey.  Emily is my first child. In-fact before she was born, we found out about her abnormality of the brain. My doctor said that her brain was abnormally big than normal baby. So he suggested early birth through caesarean section. Emily was born prematurely by 2 weeks.  When we found out about her condition, we were shocked and prayed that everything will turn out good. Surprisingly, Emily looked like a normal baby when she was born. Her head was not that big except that she was born with a crooked right leg. Both her legs are not balance, one is shorter than the other and this affects her spine which is also crooked.  As she was growing up, we found out that she had developmentally delayed for her age. As a child she has had difficulty in her overall agility in her motor activities rendering her rather physically inactive as well as speech delay. She was taken to see a consultant psychiatrist and attended speech therapy at the age of 6 years old. Her assessment showed that Emily has overall intellectual impairment within the mild mental retardation range. She is hypotonic and has minor muscular coordination and also lacks confidence and spontaneity. Until today, she has difficulty in functioning her right hand, she performs must of the tasks with left hand.  Despite her learning difficulties she attended kindergarten and attended primary school from standard 1-6 in a mainstream school. However because Emily could not cope very well in school and was exceedingly slow in her responses, we decided to place her in special education class during secondary school. But in about a year, she did academically well, her ability to understand, interact and work although being a bit slow, we pulled her out from special education to mainstream secondary school. I personally coached and help her with her school work. So, she attended form 1-5 and sat for her PMR and SPM examinations. She passed both the exams.

After completing her education in 2011, she was at home for a few years. She spent most of her time watching TV and playing computer. She did not have any friends except one or two from secondary school. We felt that she should be trained to be independent in her personal and domestic skills. We found out about United Voice and decided to let Emily join the Self Advocacy Re-Energised Class.   She was so happy in United Voice, she learned to speak up and try to express herself. She also made some friends and boost her confidence. She was then hired to work in the I’mPossible project.  She made so many new friends like her and they go out for outings and activities and also events organised by United Voice.  During this 6 years plus being in United Voice, Emily has really changed a lot. From a timid, quiet and low self esteem and no confidence girl, she became more confidence and dare to speak up and share her opinions and suggestions. She became more independent and able to take public transportation alone to certain places. Although sometimes she is still a bit slow in her responses she is very cooperative and able to interact and work with her colleagues. She looks forward to go to United Voice on her working days and is happy to join all the activities.

 By Samantha (Emily’s Mum)

As the only child in the family, I was the kid who always envied my friends with siblings growing up. When I was six, Mary was born into the family and I still remembered my excitement and awe the first time seeing her. On the first day she returned home with mommy, I held her in my arms, it was an amazing moment to me.

We grew up together, not knowing she is gifted in a special way. I started to learn we need to help people around us, learning to work with Mary in different ways. Along the way, we met wonderful friends and kind strangers who have been helpful and understanding. We have also learnt through others, who didn’t know much about this part of the world – that it is sometimes petrifying and difficult.

What has become evident, post her teens/schooling period, in our society, we didn’t have a lot of places that are safe and meaningful that we can place her in. She spent many years at home, while it seems like it’s the parents’ chores to take care of a special need at home, I remembered how mom always said to me Mary is the one caring and looking after her. It was evident, when mom had more frequent hospital trips, Mary was the one who initially accompanied the frequent hospital visits, helping with booking grabs, reminding appointment dates etc.

Fast forward, Mary joined UV in 2019, after mom passed away, she needed to be occupied differently. I was very grateful and happy to see Mary was able to make new friends and be independent in her own way. She learnt additional social skills such as managing her own lunch and money, working as a team on schedule, paying better attention to her surroundings etc.

Living through MCO with an autistic person is interesting, there is so much disruption into the schedule we need to work it out, plus negotiating the to-dos and don’t dos at home, makes it really interesting. Being a cheeky and a smart young adult – she proved it when I brought home threads that she needed to thread together. It was supposed to be a 2 weeks assignment for her to work from home. As a caretaker, I thought it would be my duty to create a schedule for her. Of course she totally disagreed with my proposed schedule. Declaring her desire to dictate what and how she would spend her own time, she finishes her assignments (that are supposed to last 2 weeks) within an afternoon!

Thank you United Voice in accepting Mary, allowing her opportunity to continue having her own social circle, and allow her to keep learning and growing herself.

By Adeline Khu (Mary’s Sister)

Tan Seng Kit is my third child. As I am blessed with 2 wonderful daughters, I am indeed very happy that I have a son. He finished up to primary 6 and after that I sent him for home schooling as he couldn’t cope with secondary level! After that it was day training and job training here and there. No doubt he has 2 sisters but we wanted to teach him to be independent and to take care of himself as looking after a special kid is not an easy task.

Working in United Voice he has learnt living skills. He learnt about sticking to schedules as he needs to wake up at a certain time to get ready for work. He also developed a routine the day before by making sure he has enough money in his wallet for lunch. The best part for him is going to buy his own food sometimes with friends or by himself.  He was actually “cheated” at first but as time went by, I know he is wiser because when I check his wallet, I know he has paid the right amount or the change he has to take back.  He even shares some of his adventures like going overseas, movies or outings, celebrations and achievements with his colleagues and friends.

He is very proud if he did well in a competition and would take pictures in his phone and show his friends at work!  United Voice has definitely given him a boost in his confidence and his ability to do some things by himself.

-by Jenny Than

Perjalanan Nur Ashikin dalam Kehidupan, Sekolah & Keluarga

20 Ogos 1987 tarikh Shikin dilahirkan. Shikin merupakan anak bongsu dari 4 beradik. Pada tahun 1994, Shikin dimasukkan ke sekolah Methodist Girl School (MGS), di Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur. Setelah 3 tahun berada di sekolah tersebut, Shikin dilihat tidak dapat menerima pembelajaran seperti kanak-kanak lain. Atas nasihat cikgu sekolah tersebut, Shikin dipindahkan ke Sekolah Kebangsaan Pendidikan Khas Jalan Batu, Kuala Lumpur. Di sekolah ini, Shikin diajar mengikut keupayaannya dan berdikari untuk menguruskan diri.

Pada umur 14 tahun, Shikin masuk ke Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Seksyen 5 Wangsa Maju. Shikin diletakkan di dalam kelas program pendidikan khas integrasi (PPKI). Di sekolah menengah ini, Shikin di ajar berdikari dan meneroka minat dalam bidang memasak, berkebun dan menjahit. Shikin lebih cenderung ke arah masakan berbanding menjahit atau berkebun. Shikin sangat rajin pergi ke sekolah yang akan ditemani ibu kami dengan menaiki pengangkutan awam (bas dan LRT).

Di Sekolah Menengah, Shikin tidak minat untuk ber make-up, Shikin tidak minat bergaul dengan orang sebayanya, Shikin tidak mempunyai minat seperti remaja lain, namun, Shikin masih mahu peralatan sekolah kartun, minat dengan permainan kanak-kanak dan suka bermain dengan kanak-kanak.

Menurut Doktor yang merawat, pemikiran Shikin adalah agak kebelakangan berbanding usianya. Sehingga usia Shikin hampir mencecah 20 tahun, Shikin masih memberontak sekiranya kemahuannya tidak dipenuhi.

Selepas tamat Sekolah Menengah, Shikin dicadangkan oleh Cikgu sekolahnya untuk bekerja di United Voice Malaysia (UV). Syukur, UV menerima Shikin bekerja hingga ke hari ini.

Banyak perkembangan positif yang berlaku pada Shikin sehingga ke hari ini. Kami percaya, aktiviti yang dilakukan di United Voice sedikit sebanyak banyak membantu Shikin menyesuaikan diri dalam apa jua keadaan. Yang paling ketara:

1. Shikin sudah mula memahami, menghargai dan menghormati perasaan orang lain terutamanya keluarga dan kawan-kawan;
2. Shikin tidak takut berkomunikasi dengan orang luar walaupun pertuturan Shikin agak terhad kepada orang lain;
3. Terdapat sedikit peningkatan terhadap pertuturan Shikin dan gaya isyarat yang digunakan bagi pemahaman kepada orang luar;
4. Shikin dapat meluahkan perasaannya kepada orang yang dia suka dan tidak suka dengan cara tersendiri;

Selain itu juga, UV banyak membantu keluarga kami melalui pelbagai ilmu baharu dan sangat berguna dalam memberi sokongan kepada Shikin dan melalui kehidupan seperti orang lain.

Oleh Siti Khadijah (Kakak Shikin)

Hi, my name is Sara–Anne Ng KeXin.
‍
I am 22 years old. I have Trisomy 21 which means I am a Down Syndrome child. Thank God I am born strong and healthy and my obstacles are my features, height and a neuro divergent. When I was a child, my parents did not send me to a public school.

As a young adult now, my mother has managed to expose me to my working life. Now working at UV three times a week focusing on self advocacy. While at UV, I have learnt to help out at cookies making and weaving (Japanese Saori).

I love to weave and it is a new skill that I have acquired with some training. After completing the weaving, my friends will sew and stitch to produce beautiful pouches, table mats and key chains out of the weaved cloth. I am also happy to attend DET classes. Best of all is I have lots of new friends and get to have lunches, outing and fun time with them.

Sara-Anne’s Mom says…
“I thank God and am very happy that Sara is now working in UV for the past one year. She has slowly matured to be a fine young lady. She used to be very shy and unapproachable. She now looks forward to work and see her friends. Her main drive in work is the weaving.”

Siti joined United Voice in 2008. For her, employment at UV is very meaningful because it provides her the chance to socialise with other adults with similar ability. Going to work also makes her feel accepted. UV has brought out and encouraged her to reveal her potentials. In UV Siti helps out with the weaving and baking. She has grown a lot since first joining UV. From a shy person to now someone who is able to supervise her other friends and help them along the way. Among her personal achievements, she has won second place in the MRCB painting contest in 2009. In 2015, she represented Malaysia in the Special Olympic World Games which was held in Los Angeles, for bowling, where she won 2 bronze and 1 silver medals.

Siti’s Mom’s says…

Siti looks very much like any young ladies in the unsuspecting eye; she is friendly and can be a bit outspoken. She was diagnosed with learning disability since her kindergarten years. She was enrolled into normal class in Sekolah Kebangsaan Taman Tun Dr Ismail 2. Her dysgraphia (a writing-based learning disability) impeded her progress. By the time she was in year three, it became more obvious that she was less than efficient at completing in-class reading and writing assignments. Her visual processing disorder affected her ability to take in, process, recall and reproduce symbols. She complained letters and words were scrambled and floating, as a result she loathed reading. She was then enrolled into the special class of the learning disabled and continued studying in special education stream until she was 17 years old.

Despite her learning difficulty, Siti was active in sports and always eager to participate in co-curricular activities during her school days. A big thank you to Puan Juariah, the coordinator of the Pendididkan Khas class of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sunway who was very farsighted and going all out to help her students to get vocational training. Siti was lucky to be chosen to attend a certificate program in culinary at Sunway College in 2004. We are very proud of Siti, the woman she has grown up to be and her accomplishments.

A big thank you to United Voice for providing Siti a supportive and encouraging enviroment for her to realize her potential. To all UV staff, let me say this loud and clear from the bottom of my heart…. YOU ARE WONDERFUL!

Clement Ooi Kit Meng has worked in United Voice since 2015.  He is an artist of few words because of his autism. From an early age he loved doodling intricate patterns and designs, evincing a wonderful flair for drawing and an amazing photographic memory and creativity.

He has come a long way since then and is now an established artist in his own right. He draws with bold strokes and his art are lively, vibrant, whimsical and expressive. His distinctive style has won him many admirers among art buyers, artists, and curators, locally and overseas. He has risen above his disability and has won a slew of awards. Including from the Brian Ayers Memorial Exhibition in USA.

Clement’s Parents say…
“Clement was born in 1989, he was diagnosed as a hyperactive autistic child at age two.  Though we didn’t actually realise the importance of early intervention we did our utmost to seek the help of child specialists and got Clement into training and therapies.  In the process we discovered that he liked to draw, enjoyed singing and physical activities.  He attended primary school until year 6.  We realised he couldn’t cope with his studies, especially in Bahasa, so we sent him to a home school where he could study at his own pace. We are glad that all these years the pain and the effort that we invested in Clement have not been in vain.  He is now an established artist, having participated in many exhibitions, he even had two solo exhibitions, and has sold numerous paintings, as well as having write ups in the media.  He is very keen and competitive in sports, with more than average ability in bowling, swimming and distance running, and has won many medals.

Being in United Voice has taught him that he has to get up early, be at work on time, follow instructions and get along with his colleagues.  He has learnt to relate to his colleagues and regard them as his “UV” friends, always looking forward to outings with them.  Since working in UV Clement has learned to go for lunch on his own and pay for his food. He can enter any mini-market and buy the items that he wants. These are essential living skills that he has learnt. We are confident that Clement will continue to mature as he works in UV.”