Page 19 - Mainstreamer Volume 1 Issue 2 Feb 2023

RECENT RESEARCH
The Lives of Three People with Learning Disabilities from

Three ASEAN Countries

Makmor
Tumin

veryone is differently abled and differently challenges. They hoped that with sufficient time
disabled. However, autism and its related and learning tools, coupled with suitable methods,
Eproblems may differ from others, simply she would be back on track.
because it is the mental capacity that decides
one’s character and ability. As the Editor-in-Chief Sarinah not only has learning disabilities, but
of the Mainstreamer e-Magazine, I will present Allah has also given her impulsivity, inattention,
three different situations of persons with learning difficulty following directions, mood swings,
disabilities in Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia. disorganization, and defiance. Her temper outburst
became uncontrollable as she grew older.

“I must thank Allah for Sarinah and my parents’
Singapore: Sarinah Nordin grasp of Islam. Because of Sarinah, we have come
to understand that Islam views disability as a
challenge set by Allah,” explains Sarinah’s elder
sister, Faridah Nordin.

Every religion urges people to treat those
with disabilities with kindness and to protect
them. After all, everyone is differently abled and
differently disabled.

As resources are more easily available in
Singapore, the family has started to understand
that learning disabilities or learning disorders
Sarinah Nordin
are umbrella terms for a wide range of learning
Born in 1977, Sarinah attended 2 years of problems. A learning disability is not a problem
kindergarten between the ages of 5 and 6, and with intelligence or motivation, and children with
then entered the national primary school at the learning disabilities are neither lazy or dumb.
age of 7, just like any pre-schooler. Her family Sarinah attended Arthur Road Training Centre
became aware of her academic struggle while she between the ages of 13 and 17. She later obtained
was in Primary 2. The teachers were worried about employment at Baxter Healthcare SA Singapore
her inability to grasp the subjects (mathematics Branch. She was, however, one the first few
and languages). In Singapore, early interventions employees to be laid off during the 1997 recession.
were put in place for such cases. Parents were She currently lives with her family members, with
counseled. Evaluations and diagnoses were also the exception of her mother, who passed away 8
carried out. years ago.

Her parents, like any other parents confronting
such a reality, were in denial. They kept convincing
themselves that Sarinah would overcome her

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