CYBERJAYA, Nov 1 – Sports and running activities serve as an inclusive medium for the community of persons with disabilities (OKU), fostering togetherness while allowing families to create shared experiences.
Founder of Bikeisable Wira Sudepja Rabu said that running events are an ideal platform to cultivate a spirit of togetherness, offering children with cerebral palsy, including those who are completely bedridden and their families the chance to participate in activities alongside the broader community.
“Platforms like this are excellent for fostering a sense of togetherness, especially considering that 70 to 80 per cent of Bikeisable members are children with cerebral palsy, some of whom are entirely bedridden.
“For parents or guardians, it also provides an opportunity to bring joy to their children and strengthen their bonds. I personally bring my own child, Nur Wadihan, to running events; I have even taken her as far as Terengganu,” he told Media Selangor.
Wira Sudepja added that the growing openness among event organisers toward the disabled community reflects a positive shift toward a more inclusive sporting environment.
Meanwhile, Bikeisable member Salmawati Abdul Latiff shared that communities like Bikeisable provide essential emotional support to both children and parents through various joint activities.
Salmawati, who has three children with disabilities out of her five children, added that participation in sporting events also helps shift public perception, moving away from the view that the disabled community merely requires sympathy and charity.
“Communities like Bikeisable offer significant emotional support not just for the children, but for the parents as well by providing them with the opportunity to take part in a wide range of events
“At the same time, it opens the public’s eyes to the spirit of children with disabilities. They do not merely seek pity or assistance; rather, they desire the opportunity to participate,” she said.
Salmawati also said Malaysian society has become increasingly accepting of individuals with disabilities participating in events, which in turn gives families the confidence to bring their children out to take part in outdoor activities.
