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Opening up to the world
By Anthony Thanasayan, 14 Dec 1999
Used with permission from Star Publications (M) Berhad
MOST of us who drive know pretty well what it's like to be out in the dreaded Klang Valley traffic.
Before we realise it, someone cuts across to our lane right in front of us. At a busy junction, we wait hopefully for some kind soul to give way to our little cars. And then, out of sheer frustration, we break across, putting our lives and limbs at risk. But such displays of discourtesy and hazardous driving by some do not deter us from going out.
Clerk Yushida A. Rahman, who works in Petaling Jaya, is no exception. On working days, the 27-year-old is up by 5.30am so that she could beat the morning rush hour.
"The fact that I'm deaf makes no difference whatsoever. I'm just as competent a driver as the next person on the road," affirms Yushida, who obtained a driver's licence after undergoing some hearing tests and a regular driving exam.
"Most people are quite astonished when I tell them that I drive. I guess most drivers don't realise that they might encounter a deaf driver on the road--hence it's important and often helpful if drivers flash their car lights instead of blaring their horns," she says.
"Most of us prefer not to have a disabled-sticker on our vehicles because that makes us only more vulnerable on the road as non-deaf drivers tend to take advantage of our situation by totally ignoring us." Yushida wasn't always this forthright. In fact, Yushida says she was an introvert during her younger days.
Born in Singapore to Malaysian parents, no one knew Yushida was deaf until the doctors conducted special tests on her shortly afterwards. Although the news was shattering to the family, Yushida's parents and her only elder sister vowed to do everything they could to provide her with all the necessary support.
When Yushida's father, a teacher, was posted to teach at a college in Australia, Yushida was enrolled in an Australian kindergarten. As it was not a special class for the deaf, Yushida only learnt to lip-read rather than how to sign.
It wasn't until Yushida returned to Kuala Lumpur a couple of years later that the young girl was enrolled in her first deaf school in Selangor. Yushida was later transferred to another deaf school in Penang for her secondary education. She later moved back to Kuala Lumpur and joined a fashion-designing class where she learnt to make her own clothes.
During this time Yushida met a lot of people including deaf persons, but she still found it difficult to come out of her shell.
"Most of my deaf acquaintances mistook my shyness for snobbishness. Some of them were even envious of my looks and ability to lip-read so well. "The environment was not conducive to boosting my self-image."
But fortunately, things soon changed for the better when Yushida's father took her to meet the deaf persons of the YMCA of Kuala Lumpur. Her father had learned about the YMCA through Sazali Mohd Shaari, a well-known deaf leader in the community and the president of the KL Society of the Deaf. (Yushida's father was among those instrumental in setting up the YMCA Parents' Support Group in 1989.)
"Although I was the youngest member then, I slowly began to open up with the help of other deaf members," Yushida recalls.
"I suddenly found myself exposed to a wealth of information and knowing many people. I felt a deep sense of belonging here. The many seminars and workshops organised by the deaf and the YMCA also helped open my eyes to my being and disability.
"These included many memorable overseas deaf camps which enabled me to me et deaf people from other countries.
"During one of those trips I had a most embarrassing experience when I went to a traditional Japanese public bath with other deaf women," she laughs.
This Raya, Yushida wishes that more deaf persons will come forward to join other deaf people and deaf clubs such as the one in YMCA so that "they, too, can lead a more active and successful life."
Next week Yushida will celebrate Raya with her friends--both deaf and hearing persons--at her home in Kuala Lumpur. Selamat Hari Raya, everyone! For further information, deaf persons or their family members can contact Lucy Lim of the YMCA ( 03-274 1439 / fax: 03-272 4878, 274 0559).
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