Webinar on “Ways Forward for a New Normal for Persons with Disabilities” in Malaysia

On April 20, AGENDA partner the National Council for the Blind Malaysia (NCBM), conducted its first webinar on “Ways Forward for a New Normal for Persons with Disabilities” to raise awareness on how stakeholders can work toward creating an inclusive society and make COVID-19 recovery and responses disability-inclusive based on the Enabling Masterplan. As the keynote speaker, Mr. Eric Paulsen, Representative of Malaysia to AICHR, emphasized the importance of the Enabling Masterplan to the ASEAN community building process. Disability rights is a concern beyond the social sector which should include the political and economic sectors. Mr. Paulsen mentioned that efforts to include persons with disabilities in COVID-19 responses should be accessible, such as providing sign language interpreters to relay COVID-19 related information. Pathmanathan R. Nalasamy from the Department of Development for Persons with Disabilities of the Department of Social Welfare presented on Malaysia’s government initiatives to ensure the well-being of persons with disabilities in the country. Hajah Salmah Binti Jopri, Director of Special Education Division, Ministry of Education, presented the guidelines on how schools will be operated in the “new normal.” A sign language interpreter was provided during the webinar. The webinar was live streamed on NCBM’s Facebook Page.