By Aida Nyan
SHAH ALAM, Feb 16 — The state government has been urged to expand the Anak Istimewa Selangor (AnIS) Early Education Support Centres to every district, including providing special facilities in public places for the group.
Commending Selangor’s initiative in establishing the AnIS Preschool Centre in Section 7, Shah Alam, Amina Radzim, 35, said those living in rural areas still face difficulties in accessing education for special children.
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Amina Radzim, 35, the mother of a special needs child, speaks to Media Selangor at the AnIS Preschool Centre in Section 7, Shah Alam. — Picture by MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
“Parents still face significant challenges in ensuring a more secure future for their children. I spend about an hour commuting from Selayang to Shah Alam to send my child to school.
“I hope more intervention centres will be established to provide education, including therapy,” she told Media Selangor at the AnIS Preschool Centre recently.
For Rosnah Thukor, 55, building support centres in every district are crucial, particularly to raise awareness of the needs of autistic children, including in the employment sector.
Facing the challenges of raising a special child, she said she hopes that support systems for this group will be strengthened to secure their future.
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Rosnah Thukor, 55, the grandmother of a special needs child, speaks to Media Selangor at the AnIS Preschool Centre in Section 7, Shah Alam. — Picture by MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
“I hope for a secure future for my grandchild. Autistic children should be given employment opportunities when they reach adulthood so they do not have to rely on others to continue living,” Rosnah said.
Meanwhile, Suhana Othman, 43, suggested that more autism-friendly public spaces be introduced for the comfort of all parties.
“The needs of autistic children go beyond access to education. As a mother, I have high hopes for more support facilities for them in public places. For instance, dedicated lanes for entering events or functions.
“The same applies to payment counters in shopping malls. The space is often narrow, and the queues are long, but autistic children cannot wait for extended periods.
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Suhana Othman, 43, the mother of a special needs child, speaks to Media Selangor at the AnIS Preschool Centre in Section 7, Shah Alam. — Picture by MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
"It is difficult for us to understand them because they do not always know how to express what they want,” she said.
Previously, state executive councillor for women empowerment and social welfare Anfaal Saari said that Selangor plans to expand the AnIS Centres to all 12 local authorities in the state. These facilities are provided to ensure that special needs students receive educational opportunities.
The state government has also implemented the AnIS Initiative to ease the burden of caring for special children, covering therapy costs, rehabilitation, education, and living expenses (supplementary food/medications).
This assistance is provided as a one-off payment, with a maximum limit of up to RM5,000 per family.
The 2025 Selangor Budget tabled on November 15 last year has allocated RM2.3 million to continue the Iltizam Anak Istimewa Selangor programme.
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Teachers educating their pupils at the Anak Istimewa Selangor preschool in Section 7, Shah Alam, on January 15, 2025. — Picture by REMY ARIFIN/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
