(April 14 2008). Petaling Jaya: Challenges,
Malaysia's first and only national magazine exclusively
for the disability-related community was launched last
Tuesday at the 1Utama Shopping Centre here.
The monthly journal has been created to fill a niche
targeting the special needs and interest of Malaysia's
hitherto unseen population - people with disabilities
and/or at risk of disabilities, said its founder Mary
Chen.
Challenges, which is also Malaysia's first
cross-disability lifestyle magazine, was conceptualised
to promote positive public awareness and connect all
parties involved in disability.
"Our aim is to create an environment of collaborative
networks and activities to promote independence and
proactive integration of Malaysians with disabilities
within their communities," said Chen.
"There is a void in our society currently, for a
national platform covering all the types of disabilities
and related issues that shares practical,
first-person-based solutions to living a more independent
life with your disability.
"Our mission is to promote the concept of a 'parallel
lifestyle' for PWDs in their communities. We believe
Malaysians with Disabilities have the right to live a
full, enriching life, now."
The magazine is designed to be conversational rather
than confrontational, providing information to entertain,
empower and enrich our readers. Its contents include
articles on lifestyle, leisure, entertainment, accessible
tourism and transport, health and fitness, sport and
recreation, employment, education, youth, women,
relationship, universal access homes and community, local
and international news and personality profiles.
Challenges also aims to create choices in employment,
education, entertainment /recreation.
Whether shopping or seeking solutions to accessible
homes renovations, trips and vacations, car modification,
gadgets, buying gifts or souvenirs produced by PWDs,
investing money or setting up trust funds, Challenges
will be everyone's first choice for accessible, practical
guide to a more independent and enriching lifestyle.
The morning's launch was attended by guests from
various NGOs, NPOs, public agencies, care and service
providers as well as individuals with disabilities.
Free annual Challenges Magazine subscriptions were
also presented to 10 organisations, namely Beautiful Gate
Foundation For The Disabled (PJ); Deaf Club Majudiri Y;
Dignity n Services Bhd / SUPPORTED LIVING (PJ); Japan
International Cooperation Agency, IICA, (KL); MINDS.
TTDI; POCAM (Persatuan Orang-orang Cacat Anggota
Malaysia); World Vision Malaysia; AGAPE Centre, Sibu,
Sarawak; Eden Handicap Service Centre Bhd, PENANG and
Sarawak Society For The Blind (Kuching).
Chen said these organisations were amongst the first
batch to respond to her request to be included in the
Challenges sponsor-a-mag distribution list programme.
"We welcome members of the public to participate in
this programme to enable us to reach out to more
organisations," she adds.
Individuals and corporations can be a sponsor of
Challenges magazine to either organisations on the
Challenges sponsor-a-mag distribution list or to a NGO of
their choice. The price of a gift subscription is RM192
(including postage & handling within Malaysia).
Source: www.nst.com.my
