Slow Learners Show Their Creative Side

Creative: Key holders with flower flower motif.
For all occasions: Greeting cards designed by the participants.

Versatile: A painted glass container (above) for daily use.
For the kitchen, too: A towel holder that is work of art.

Learning handicraft skills at creative centre their path to independent living.

WHEN Juairiah Johari, 49, started a special class for children with learning disabilities at a government school in SS19 in the 80s, little did she know that it would pave the way for a training workshop at the Children Creative Centre (Kompleks 3C) in Sunway.

"We call it the GOLD programme which means 'generating opportunities for the learning disabled'. This is for special children aged 19 years who have finished school," she said.

The newly launched programme trains participants in handicrafts such as fabricating greeting cards and ceramics, and baking.

Proceeds from the product sales are given to the participants as payment and used for operatingexpenses.

The focus is to allow the participants to find an area of interest and then fine-tune their skills. As programme coordinator, Juairiah regards it as a follow-up to what the special schools have taught the youngsters.

GOLD's objective is to train children with learning disabilities in vocational skills that will enable them to live an independent life.

The programme is still in its first phase where only art and craft is taught.

The subsequent phases will involve baking and service skills.

At present, the centre is not accepting new participants as it is in dire need of volunteers to helpout with the programmes.

Freelance writer Mary Chert, 46, whose son William is a student at the centre, said the introduction of the programme was timely.

"The learning-disabled are the least employed group in this country. But if you look at the statistics, it shows that there is an autistic child in every 1,000 births and a Down Syndrome case in every 600 births. Where are these children going to go then? They cannot be cooped up at home," she said.

Like it or not, Juairiah said the learning disabled would make up a substantial part of the population. If steps are not taken to train them with the necessary living skills, they will eventually burden the welfare system.

Roshimah Abdul Ghani, 47, a volunteer manager at the GOLD workshop, said society was still ignorant of the learning-disabled's plight.

"Till today, I still have to explain to people what autism is when they ask me what's wrong with my son," said Roshimah whose 19-year-old son, Haziq, is autistic.

She added that the scenario was different in the United States where Haziq spent two years at Ramblewood Middle School in Florida when her husband was there for a job posting in the 90s.

"Within the school itself, there were occupational and speech therapists and psychologists to help work out individual educational plans for the children," she said.

"People must understand that autistic children cannot comprehend a lot of things especially where social norms and concepts are concerned.

"While it is true that these children have certain gifts, they still have to be trained so that they can be socially acceptable. I am determined that Haziq will not have a bleak future. I hope that the GOLD programme will give him as rich a life as possible," she said.

>> The learning disabled are the least employed group in this country. – by MARYＣＨＥＮ<<

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