(From left) Desiree, Labrooy, Yatela, Christine, Chin, Fatima and Oh at the symposium in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. — GLENN GUAN/The Star
SCHOOLS across the nation should consider implementing mental health screening for students similar to processes used by many employers, says Kiwanis Khir Johari Foundation chairman Datuk Stewart Labrooy.
He said early detection of mental health issues could play a crucial role in providing timely support and intervention, which in turn, would help students manage their challenges before they escalate.
“Mental health screenings should be integrated into the educational system to ensure the well-being of students.
“This proactive approach could also reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, encouraging students to seek help when needed without fear of judgment,” he said during the Kiwanis Malaysia Academy Special Education Needs symposium at Royale Chulan Damansara in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Symposium organising chairman Desiree Kaur, in her opening speech, said the government’s target of employing 1% of persons with disabilities in 1988 had yet to be met.
“As of September 2022, the rate achieved was 0.3%.
“This is across all disabilities, whereby the breakdown for hidden disabilities categorised under learning and speech disabilities, stood at 0%.
“While as a nation and community, some of us have a better understanding of the needs of the community but the barriers still exist, where misunderstanding and stigma often overshadow the abilities of persons with disabilities.”
Keynote speaker Datuk Dr Amar Singh HSS called for a national push to promote inclusion, focusing on education, vocational training and employment for persons with disabilities.
He highlighted sobering statistics – from 2022 to May 2024, only 7,049 persons with disabilities were employed in the private sector and 3,717 in civil service – just 0.06% of the 17-million-strong workforce.
In higher education, only 792 persons with disabilities were enrolled in public universities in 2023, representing a mere 0.55% of the 144,579 students enrolled.
“According to Public Service Commission (SPA), in 2023, 5,650 persons with disabilities applied for jobs, but only 46 were called for interviews,” Dr Amar said.
“SPA is failing to implement policies effectively and there’s a need for amendments to ensure real impact.”
He added that there were benefits for employers hiring persons with disabilities.
The symposium gathered advocates, teachers, parents, caregivers, practitioners, centre operators, corporate representatives and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for one common goal – the betterment and inclusion of the neurodivergent community.
The event highlighted issues within the neurodivergent community including employability and education.
In her speech, Kiwanis Malaysia district governor Olivia Chin stressed on the importance of inclusive employment practices for persons with disabilities.
“Employment for the neurodivergent community is an area where we can make a real and lasting impact.
“Neurodivergent individuals often bring unique skills and perspectives to the table that are highly valuable in the workplace.
“By fostering inclusive hiring practices and providing necessary workplace accommodations, not only can we enhance the lives of neurodivergent individuals, we will also benefit from their contributions to our economy and society,” she said.
Kiwanis Malaysia Academy chairman Fatimah Saad, in her opening speech, said the discussion laid out at the symposium included the need for more inclusive policies, enhanced support systems and a deeper commitment to creating opportunities for neurodivergent individuals in the workforce.
Other notable speakers during the symposium included Extraordinary People chief executive officer Ivan Chin and EmployAble founder Ivy Phillips.
Chin shared his expertise on skills development and employment opportunities for neurodivergent individuals, drawing on successful strategies from Singapore, while Ivy spoke about the vital role of collaboration between stakeholders in creating meaningful employment opportunities.
Also present were Yayasan Sime Darby chief executive officer Yatela Zainal Abidin, Kiwanis Bangalore president Benazeer Baig, Special Education Needs symposium training and workshop chairman Ivan Oh and Puan Sri Christine Khir Johari.
