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Staying connected
By Anthony Thanasayan, 10 July 2003
Used with permission from Star Publications (M) Berhad
MAKE no mistake about it folks: the integral part that telephones play in the lives of people with disabilities can never be over-emphasised.
Apart from the convenience that these communication gizmos offer, telephones - whether landlines or mobile phones - act as a lifeline for Malaysians with handicapping conditions.
And it doesn't take a lot of imagination to realise why this is so.
The blind rely on them so that they don't have to needlessly venture out on their own into a dark and inimical world beyond their home perimeters where open drains and manholes lurk to gobble them up.
Those without hearing also use the telephone in ingenious ways by getting their hearing chums and families to act as interpreters in making and receiving calls for them.
Then there is the recent heaven-sent alternative called SMS (short messaging services) through which the hearing impaired can communicate without troubling others. Just think how long it would take for the deaf to say something otherwise?
In reality, however, very little consideration has been given by the respective phone companies to, borrowing from their popular taglines, "make their communication needs easier."
There is plenty that the communication honchos can do but don't. A flat rate for landlines, cancellation of monthly mobile access fees, cheaper calls and a substantial increase of free SMS services would greatly assist a disadvantaged community like the disabled.
A personal survey that I recently conducted came up with shocking results. Celcom, which I recall, was the first mobile telephone company to offer special discounts for disabled subscribers close to 10 years ago, earning them the thumbs-up from disability organisations.
Today, unfortunately, they rank the lowest in terms of services for disabled subscribers. Through the years, Celcom has never improved or expanded their services for its disabled subscribers.
I am still paying the same RM30 a month for access fees which is 50% less than the RM60 for non-disabled subscribers as I did when I first joined Celcom shortly after the deal for the disabled was introduced.
Not only does it remain as the only discount I get as a disabled subscriber from Celcom since day one but also while non-disabled subscribers continue to get rewarded with RM10 discounts at regular intervals for their loyalty, disabled subscribers get nothing no matter how long they have remained faithful to the company.
Maxis offers a better deal. As much as RM150 in starter fees is waived and approximately RM40 is further reduced for high usage and early payments. (Some of these features are also available to non-disabled subscribers).
Of course, the biggest offer for disabled mobile phone subscribers comes from Maxis with their 100 free SMS a month, which is a great boon, especially to the deaf.
With this, Maxis subscribers with disabilities such as the deaf and physically disabled will be able to send out and receive important and vital information to people such as medical health professionals, support and peer counselling groups and others.
However, there is a major flaw in Maxis' current scheme for the disabled (introduced in September 2001) that requires urgent and immediate rectification.
For some reason, people with learning disabilities cannot apply as disabled subscribers.
Despite my numerous queries to Maxis consultants on their Maxis Helpline 123, I was unable to get a reason for the differential treatment accorded subscribers with learning disabilities, which is most puzzling.
Peter Young, a director of Dignity & Services (an advocacy group for persons with disabilities that has existed for over a decade), told Wheel Power last week that to exclude learning disabled wannabe subscribers is to discriminate against them.
"I personally know a dozen learning disabled mobile phone subscribers (prepaid or subscribers with other mobile phone companies) who both own and use handphones perfectly without problems and are responsible users," the 77-year-old said.
"I see no reason why they shouldn't enjoy using such facilities," Young, a non-disabled Maxis mobile phone subscriber, said. Eugene Lau Boon Leng, 29, concurs.
In an e-mail to Wheel Power last week, the learning-disabled office assistant who works in Shah Alam wrote: "I've been working for about four years now. I have to rely on my dad or mum to take me to work every day because I have difficulty going out alone.
"My disability robs me of my independence to respond to certain situations especially in new surroundings like road crossings though people who meet me for the first time would never suspect this of me.
"Despite this, I am still able to use the mobile phone quite responsibly. "I had no choice but to get a Maxis prepaid line as I couldn't subscribe under the 'disabled' category even though I have a government card verifying my disability status.
"My special card allows me to qualify for most other discounts offered to the disabled community as a whole with no problems. The mobile phone is vital in helping me keep in touch with my family, friends and colleagues and like others, I also occasionally use it to download fun graphics and games.
"I depend on my mum for my monthly hand phone 'top-ups' as my pay is not enough to cover my other expenditures such as medical, and others. I sincerely hope Maxis will have a heart for all of us and come up with smart and workable ways in which we can avoid using the inflated prepaid accounts so that our calls can be affordable."
All that's left now is whether Maxis will answer the call.
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