Selangor & Kuala Lumpur United

oiceV(1235-05-7)Persatuan-Advokasi Diri Orang Bermasalah Pembelajaran Selangor & Kuala Lumpur

Self-Advocacy Society of Persons with Learning Disabilities Selangor & Kuala Lumpur

December 2008 (For Private Circulation only)

Aslam memandu motorsikal

Impian SayaImpian SayaImpian SayaImpian SayaImpian SayaImpian SayaImpian Saya

Saya ialah seorang ahli United Voice sejak tahun 2000. Pada tahun dulu saya menjadi pekerja Employment Project di United Voice. Pengalaman ini memberi saya peluang untuk berkerja. Impian saya, saya mahu jadi pekerja di GIANT Hyper Market. United Voice telah mengaturkan satu temuduga untuk saya di GIANT tahun dulu. Tetapi malangnya saya gagal. Saya sungguh kecewa.

Beberapa bulan lalu United Voice telah mangaturkan satu temuduga di GIANT. Saya sudah diluluskan dan saya pergi training di GIANT Training Center di Subang Jaya.

oleh Aslam bin Sulaiman

Saya telah menjadi pekerja Giant Batu Caves pada bulan Julai 2008, dalam percubaan. Tempat yang saya kerja adalah 5km dari rumah saya. Saya memandu motorsikal ke tempat kerja saya pada setiap hari. Saya telah jadi pekerja tetap sejak 1hb Oktober 2008.

Saya bersyukur dan gembira dalam dunia ini. Terima kasih kepada Dairy Farm dan United Voice bagi saya kerja. Akhirnya saya minta supaya syarikat-syarikat swasta lain ikut contoh Dairy Farm untuk beri kerja kepada orang yang ada masalah pembelajaran seperti saya.

Syabas Dairy Farm(GIANT) dan United Voice saya capai impian saya.Kerja mengatur barang-barang di GIANT

My name is Wendy Yeong. I work in United Voice. My colleagues and I went to Sekolah Menengah Ampang Pecah (SMAP) at Kuala Kubu Bahru for Self-Advocacy promotion. I went with Shi Wei, Puan Fadzillah and Intan. Intan and I presented a PowerPoint about Employment Project. Shi Wei share about United Voice and the Disability Act. And then Intan shared her experience. She likes Special Olympics so she can be healthy. Puan

by Wendy Yeong

Self-Advocacy Promotion at SMK Sekolah Ampang PecahKuala Kubu Bahru

L-R: Pn Hamidah, Wendy, Fadzillah, Intan & Shi Wei

Wendy sharing about working experience

Fadzillah shared about her experience as a parent of a child with learning disabilities. I shared about UV members who are working in the open employment and also about my working experience outside before I join United Voice as a full time staff. About 30 teachers attended this event.

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Disability Equality Training (DET) for Carrefour Management Staff and MBJB in Johor Bahru - A Training Sponsored by UNDP* and UPEN*

10th SeptemberSwee Lan and I boarded a bus to Johor with two others from Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB), Muhammad Fairuz and his assistant and Pusat Majudiri ‘Y’ for the Deaf, Esther Wong & her assistant Morley Ng. We left KL at 10am & reached Johor about 2pm. We checked in to our hotel. Then Swee Lan and I went down to grab a bite in the hotel restaurant and Esther and Morley joined us a few minutes later. Then we walked to another hotel to meet up with Anthony Arokia, Sia Siew Chin, Fairuz and his assistant. Anthony and Siew Chin arrived two days ago. Then we went to a shopping mall nearby by Beautiful Gate van. We spend a bit of time observing and commenting on the accessibility and the environment for people with disabilities in Johor Bahru.

11th SeptemberAfter breakfast someone picked us up to go to another hotel for our first training session with the management staff of Carrefour. Swee Lan started the session on learning disabilities and after her it was my turn. I told them about United Voice, what is

by James Lim

Self-advocacy, more about my friends and their disabilities as well as my life story when I was younger and what’s my disability. As soon as my session ended I asked them “if there are any questions to ask”. There were a few like do I have a girlfriend, am I married, would I like a girlfriend, how old I am, etc. After a break one of the Carrefour staff did an ice breaker. After the ice-breaker it was Fairuz’s turn. After he did his PowerPoint presentation, he had seven volunteers to walk down the stairs and round the hotel blindfolded with another person as a guide and back to the room. After lunch we return back to the training room and now it was Esther and Morley’s turn to tell the Carrefour staff more about the Deaf and teach them sign language.

12th SeptemberToday we are training officials from Majlis Bandaraya Johor Bahru. As usual Swee Lan spoke first, then my turn. After my session the MBJB staff asked some questions about learning disabilities and personal stuff. The importance of this training is to educate the officials so they are able to understand and know how to help people with disabilities in Johor.

A BIG thank you to UNDP and UPEN for sponsoring these trainings in Johor Bahru.

Participants of Carrefour learning how to guide a blind person

Participants from MBJB

Dinner & Dance at Centro, Klang

*UNDP (United Nation Development Programme) UPEN (Unit Perancang Ekonomi Negeri Johor)

Top L-R: Swee Lan, Esther, James, Morley & MBJB officialsL-R: Anthony, Suri & Siew Chin

James & Anthony testing the accessibility of a hotel

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Employees of UV Employment Project singing “Rasa Sayang”

by Eleanore D’OrvilleFundraising Dinner 2008Fundraising Dinner 2008

On 17 August 2008, United Voice held its Fundraising Dinner at Butik Jalil Golf & Country Resort. Many UV members, including me, turned up for the dinner with their families. It was a fun evening, as UV held its first choir with the employees of UV Employment Project. The choir members were Izzudin, Intan, Siti, Shikin, Sher Li, Wai Han, Aida, Jonathan, Moses, Jennifer, Steven, Leong Kit, Adil, Wendy, Albert, Aunty Fadzillah and me. The choir was organized by a supporting friend Adrian Cheah, and the song that was sung was an old favorite named “Rasa Sayang”.

We were also privileged to have Mr Brian John Yim performed at our dinner. He performed an instrumental song on a keyboard and sang 2 songs. United Voice also gave out an award to GCH Retail Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (Giant Hypermarkets), for providing employment for Persons with Learning Disabilities throughout Malaysia! Aunty Mariah and

Johari & Mr Sam Fong (R)

Johari presented Mr Sam Fong, the HR Director a plaque and a painting by UV member, Seng Kit. Some of the UV members working at GIANT included Alwin, Aslam and Yi Wen.

We’ve also had a lively MC, ‘Lively’ Larry who provided us with some fun and games. One of the games included a ‘Bollywood’ drama, acted out by some of the audience. The ‘actress’ had to run to the stage and circle around the ‘tree’. This drew laughter from the crowd. Another game included ‘Name That Tune’, where music clips are played, and anyone who knows the answer must go to the front to answer. We had many lucky draws too.

The dinner was very successful, raising RM95,000 for our Building Fund. United Voice wish to thank all those who came and supported this event as well as others who has help out one way or another. Thank You.

Brian Yim Colonel Sulaiman (Aslam’s dad) delivering his speech

L-R:Datin Fatimah Mariah,

Eleanore & Aunty Susan (Briev’s mom)

The “tree” & the “actress”

Award plaque presented to GCH Retail (M) Sdn Bhd

We would like to thank Ms. Ang Hui Ming for being our Fundrais-ing Coordinator (Oct ‘07 to Sept ‘08) to help coordinate all the fundraising events, write proposals to many corporate companies, Embassies, organisations, founda-tions and individual donors.

Her dedication and commitment has certainly been a great contri-bution to United Voice.

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The United Voice Employment Project took shape at the end of November 2002 when the UV Committee was alarmed by the rising number of its members being either out of job or stuck at home after finishing school without anything else. Quickly, an Employment Project Working Committee was set up by key UV members and parents. The original working committee comprised of:

History of Employment Project by Eugene Lau Boon Leng

Members1.Aida Rahayu2.Basri Kamil3.Deerick Lim4. Kee Wai Han5.Jonathan Lee6.Koh Sher Li 7.Wong Leong Kit8. Mohd Adil bin Zulkafli

Parents: 1.Connie Lee2.Pn Hjh Kamariah Bt Hj Mohd Amin

Staff:1. Eugene Lau Boon Leng2. Yeo Swee Lan3. Mettlida John (staff of Dignity & Services)

We all started off with general items that were recyclable and used it to create magnet, key chains and bookmarks prior to being involved in Saori. We were operating from one particular place mainly in Shah Alam sponsored by a kind couple. We called the place UV Clubhouse. Employment Project Working Committee meetings took place in both Pn Kamariah’s home in Subang Jaya and UV Clubhouse.

Without stalling much time we got in touch with the New Zealand High Commission and its’ officer, Cathie Muker who recommended us to the High Commission. The New Zealand High Commission gave us the startup grant for the Employment Project. We want to thank the New Zealand High Commission for the grant given to us to start off our income generating project. During that time most of the work was carried out in the former UV Clubhouse Office in Shah Alam by May 2003.This project started off with 8 workers. Today, we have 21 workers.

Year Sales No. of Workers

2003 RM20,000 82004 RM40,000 82005 RM52,000 15 by July2006 RM61,000 152007 RM74,000 182008 RM91,000 21

UV Employment Project is a growing Project with more support from:

Hong Leong Foundation:Designing Gift Kites for Hong Leong Bank

Pfizer:Bakery & Jewelry Classes and

sponsorship of equipments to start these new projects

Johari and H.E. Masahiko Horie, theAmbassador of Japan in Malaysia

Japan Embassy:Grant to purchase Refrigerator,

Digital Colour Printer & Name Card Cutter

All workers are paid a basic salary, SOCSO, EPF and annual bonus. They also receive a monthly allowance of RM300 from the Social Welfare Department. This allowance is entitled to employee with disabilities who earn below RM1,200.

Jonathan Lee

Employment Project workers at UV Clubhouse

The number of workers has increased after we moved to a bigger premises in Section 17, Petaling Jaya in 2005

Employment Project Products

Sher LiBasri

Moses

Izzuddin (top) & BrievNurAshikin

AlvinAbid

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Fundraising Dinner 2009

Dinner Show by Phua Chu Kang (MediaCorp Artist)

17th Mar 2009 (Tuesday), 7.30pmGrand Ballroom, Sheraton Subang Hotel & Tower

This event is organised by a team of volunteers headed by Datin Joan Hoi. Please contact Yeo Swee Lan at 03-79540701 or log on to www.unitedvoice.com.my if you wish to get more information about United Voice Dinner 2009.

Saori Products: Coaster, Keychains, Pencil Case

Magnets

Bookmarks

General Cards

Festival Cards

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Nama saya Intan. Saya seorang Slow Leaner. Saya bekerja di UV. Saya suka bersukan. Saya adalah member Special Olympik Selangor. Pada 1hb November tahun ini saya sertai Special Olimpik Selangor State Games di Uniten. Saya masuk acara lari 100m, lontar peluru dan 4X100m sama dengan Izzuddin, Clement dan Yudesh. Saya sangat gembira. Ramai kawan-kawan saya jumpa dekat Uniten. Untuk acara lontar peluru saya dapat nombor satu. Saya sangat gembira kerana saya dapat pingat. Ini kali pertama saya masuk Special Olimpik. Ramai kawan-kawan saya pun sertai pertandingan ini seperti Izzuddin, Wendy, Pavala dan lain lain.

Pertandingan Special Olimpiks @ UNITEN

Flag bearers for Opening Ceremony

UV team marching in. 16 UV members participated in the State Games

A total of 152 athletes from 10 NGOs, PDKs & schools participated in this event

Zen Lee (one of the torch bearers) with Dad UV’s 4X100m team: Clement, Yudesh, Izzuddin & Intan

L-R: Albert, Clement & Yudesh

Aileen proud of her medals Kegarisan, Sedia,....... Intan (L) happy to receive her medal from Moh Foong

Oleh Intan Dzulaikah

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Dinner & Dance at Centro, Klangby Johari Bin Jamali

L-R: Steven, Khong Weng, Daisy, Cynthia & Alex

Hello there! This year’s Dinner & Dance was held at Centro Mall, Klang, Selangor organised by Day Spring Adventure Club on November 14th 2009.

Adventure Club invited Self-Advocacy Groups and other NGOs from the Klang Valley and also from other states. Bethany Self-Advocacy Group came all the way from Teluk Intan. The president of Adventure Club gave a speech followed by a dance presentation by their members.

We had a splendid time. Adventure Club misses something, the Best Dress. But never mind we had a fabulous time and the food was nice. They also had the best dancer competition. The space was limited we should have a bigger space for the dancing. We dance & dance throughout the night. All of us had a fun night and I liked the hall. Dinner & Dance ended around 10.30pm. We say good bye sleep tight & sweet dreams. Syabas to the leaders of Dayspring Adventure Club for organising a successful Dinner & Dance!

Dinner & Dance at Centro, Klang

Dance presentation by Adventure Club members

Nadia & Jennifer

Izzuddin enjoying his dance

Irfan, Nurul & Johari

Steven & Irfan are happy with the door gifts

President of Adventure Club, Khor Hwai Yee giving his speech

Friendship Club members

Address: 603, Jalan 17/12, 46400, Petal ing Jaya Tel: 03-79540701 Fax: 03-7958 8069Email : unitedvoiceinfo@gmail .com Website: http:/ /www.unitedvoice.com.my

by Teoh Hooi Ting

Impian Saya

United Voice

Friendship Club organised a Leadership Training on 23rd of August 2008 at Malaysian Care office. Leaders and supporting friends of different self-advocacy group like: Action Club (PJ), Bethany Self Advocacy Club (Teluk Intan), Divine Voice (Ipoh), Dragon Club (Kajang), Friendship Club (KL), Dayspring Adventure Club (Klang), Mutiara Voice Club (Penang) and United Voice attended the training.

The training started at 9:30pm. Mr Roger was the speaker followed by Mr Jeremy who did the afternoon session. Both of them are from Lion’s Club. In the beginning, Mr Roger started with a lot of rules for the training session.

After that he gave us some stories with the related topics, then everybody were divided into small groups to discuss and share about the topics. We need to answer the questions that was given by the speaker and shared with everybody about how we felt, what had we learnt and how to improve ourselves based on what we learned from the stories. This session told us that we should not give up easily and always think positive in whatever we do.

During lunch hour, all participants separately went to different restaurants near Malaysian Care to have lunch. It was a nice hour of fellowshipping with each other from different self-advocacy groups during lunch hour.

Leadership Training - organised by Friendship Club

After lunch, we had an interesting session by Mr Jeremy because most of the topic was taught through games. We learnt and played a lot games. One of message brought out from the games is that cooperation is very important in a team. Everybody also actively participated in the games.

The training program ended with the distributing of certificate of attendance by Miss Jean Teo also from Lion’s Club. I want to say thank you to Friendship Club for organizing the event and Lion’s Club for providing us the speakers.

About 40 participants attended the training

David: “Look I manage to poke a stick through the balloon” Esther (L) and Roger

Reflections

*Photos courtesy of Malaysian Care

United Voice Fundraising Fun FairUnited Voice will be organising a Fundraising Fun Fair on 14th March 2009 at Bandar Utama Community Hall. We need volunteers, parents, supporting friends and corporate partners to sponsor stalls and of course to sell coupons for this event.

Please call Yeong Moh Foong at 03-7954 0701 if you wish to sponsor stalls or purchase coupons. For more info please visit our website at www.unitedvoice.com.my