Page 5 - Mainstreamer e-Magazine Volume 5, April 2024

OUT AND ABOUT: INCLUSIVENESS

Author being the hiking buddy
for one of person with disability
(PWDs). (Picture by Rashid Ating)

suggested that a shop assistant be available to with visual disabilities, business owners might
assist PWDs as soon they arrive at the restaurant. improve service to PWDs by assigning dedicated
For the second question, he emphasised the need staff to assist them throughout their visit—
for restaurant owners to have basic knowledge from navigating the menu to using the facilities.
about NGOs that offer braille printing services. Entrepreneurs may also consider offering discounts
Additionally, he recommended that restaurant staff or exclusive specials for PWDs, fostering a sense
receive basic training in assisting visually impaired of appreciation and inclusivity. Although it may
persons and suggested that menus feature QR take time for major outlets in Malaysia to provide
codes printed in large letters. braille menus, this article hopes to spark future
Informant 2, a female, shared her experiences changes towards greater accommodation and
regarding the first question, noting the absence of respect for PWDs.
braille menus at restaurants. She often depends The author is a researcher at the Department of Primary
on her colleagues’ previous experiences and Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine (FOM), Universiti
familiar dishes. Sometimes, she uses the Grab Malaya (UM), Kuala Lumpur. His research interests and
application to review the menu before visiting areas include aging and retirement, financial literacy,
the Malaysian education system (with a focus on Sabah),
an outlet, although not all menu items are listed. tourism, data visualization and healthcare research.
She depends on waiters to read the menu to During his free time, he is a solo traveler, likes to baking
cookies, jogging, playing badminton, and maneuvering a
her, including prices, but their level of assistance drone.
varies. She also mentioned that waiters sometimes
lack a sense of responsibility towards this group,
leading her to order familiar dishes to avoid
inconveniencing anyone. For the second question,
she proposed a few improvements: preparing a
braille menu book with hardcover pages listing
items and prices to facilitate independent ordering,
and if cost-prohibitive, assigning staff members
with lighter workloads to assist PWDs in reading
menus. Additionally, she proposed creating a
QR code with braille instructions saying “Scan
Here,” allowing for on-the-spot ordering, thereby
enhancing accessibility.
In conclusion, more work remains to be done to
ensure that PWDs in Malaysia can meet their basic
needs. Based on both informants’ experiences

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