The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.128)

TZU CHI 128 09 disabled person in the family, she was unable to accept the advice. “There was a small step to my room and each time for me to enter and exit, I needed help. The toilets in my house were also not equipped for disabled people and every time I needed to use it, I needed help as well,” she bitterly shared, pausing before continuing, “Every single time! Can you imagine? I felt like a useless person and had even thought of committing suicide.” Fortunately, Ivy’s schooling needs were well catered for by her considerate school. They arranged for her to attend classes on the ground floor and also provided a disabled mobile toilet, allowing her to complete her schooling with peace of mind. After that, she enrolled in computer studies in Petaling Jaya and stayed at Beautiful Gate Centre (Beautiful Gate). There, she had her first experience of a disabled-friendly environment. She then understood that her access to the room could be easily resolved by using a ramp. She was also very pleased that the Centre was also equipped with disabled-friendly toilet facilities. She realized that she was actually not hindered by her physical disability but by the environment and the lack of disabled- friendly facilities. She said, “I have found a new life at Beautiful Gate.” “Beautiful Gate provided further studies and transportation services, allowing me to commute to college daily. At the same time, I also picked up more living skills.” After completing her studies, Ivy decided to stay on at the Centre to continue learning and serving other PWDs. In addition, she also had the opportunity to undergo leadership trainings in Japan and the US. After serving 13 years, she is now the acting executive director of Beautiful Gate Foundation for the Disabled. Second life – an elegant dance Beautiful Gate is a non-government organization that provides welfare, training and services for PWDs. In 1993, resolutions adopted at the Chinese Methodist Annual Conference sought to reach out to the disabled community and promote social services to them. It later became a mission to enhance the quality of their life and assist in their integration into mainstream society. In 1995, the first Beautiful Gate was established in Petaling Jaya to provide accommodation and various services, which include self-care, independent living skills, hygiene, ethics and others, regardless of religion and race. Now, there are eight centres in Malaysia. In 2003, the Centres gained government recognition and were formally registered under the Beautiful Gate Foundation for the Disabled. To date, Beautiful Gate has trained more than 2,000 PWDs to live independently; some as dancers, athletes, teachers, accountants, telemarketers, and so on. Some had even set up their own disabled associations or online businesses. Besides learning independent living skills and various competencies, Ivy is also a dancer in the Beautiful Gate Performing Arts Troupe, which was established in 2003. It is the first dance troupe formed by PWDs in Malaysia, and was entered into the Malaysia Book of Records for the most numbers of wheelchair dancers. Even on wheelchairs, they are able to dance elegantly, and had From Disabled to Able