Everyone hopes for a lucky life and fears misfortune, but we can’t control our destiny. As of 2019, 537,000 Malaysians, or 1.6% of the total population, were registered as having a disability. People who are blind or visually impaired had the third highest percentage. The loss of sight, whether permanent or temporary, can have a devastating effect on a person’s standard of living. Adults with low vision frequently have lower rates of labor force participation and productivity, as well as higher rates of depression and anxiety.
Many members of the blind community face bias and difficulty finding work due to their stereotype as a liability to employers. Many of them have college degrees and the expertise to succeed in their chosen fields, but they still cannot find employment.
“Bad luck either destroys you or transforms you into the man you truly are.” – My name is Faizul bin Ahmad Zuki, and like the man in the quote, I lost my right eye in a terrible accident. This is why I write: to inspire other blind people that we can have fulfilling lives despite our disability.
The long and winding road to freedom from exclusion
I was rendered helpless after a tree limb blinded my right eye in a hit-and-run motorcycle accident. Since the accident left the retina of my right eye damaged, I have had trouble concentrating and completing tasks. Being a breadwinner and a business owner is extremely stressful, and it has caused me to have several nervous breakdowns.
Because of what happened, I am no longer able to provide for my family on my own. I started a carpet-cleaning business out of my house in 2019, but I’m not very confident in my business acumen, so I’ve never been able to grow to a sustainable size. When I first started out in business, many people had the misconception that disabled people like myself only needed monetary aid. The truth is that we need more help with things like education, business knowledge, and basic necessities.
I made the decision to enrol after learning about the R.I.S.E. Programme (Reach Independence & Sustainable Entrepreneurship) of the Maybank Foundation. They have collaborated with People Systems Consultancy (PSC), a multinational social enterprise to develop a programme that enables people with disabilities (PWD) to achieve significant, measurable, and long-lasting economic outcomes as opposed to simply receiving handouts.
After finishing the course, I could look at things from a new angle. I’ve decided to put in extra time at my cleaning company so that I can improve my family’s standard of living. As my eyesight worsens, I am more resolved than ever to make significant improvements in my life. I am also ecstatic to share that I came in second place at the most recent Liga Usahawan OKU Selangor 2022 competition, which was run by Raja Muda Selangor.
This significant change in my life has boosted my monthly income to at least RM40,000, which is four times what it had previously been (RM10,000).
A flourishing beginning of success
When I first started out in business, I was emotionally fragile, and it took me a long time to bounce back from setbacks. Ever since I can remember, I’ve struggled with the nagging fear that I’m not making the most of the opportunities before me to better my life. In addition, I lacked the necessary business expertise, particularly in the area of financial management. Because of this, I had no idea how much money was coming in or going out of the business, so I had no idea whether or not it was profitable.
Now that I have a firm grasp of financial management, I am able to provide reliable projections of my company’s profit and loss. Additionally, I have learned how to properly allocate earnings to vital business growth tasks like marketing and capital expenditures. Having this knowledge has made me feel much more at ease when dealing with customers and clients. Because of my participation in the RISE programme, I have a better grasp on the needs of my company and the steps that must be taken to meet those needs.
The most difficult part of my life, my emotional state, has finally started to improve, which is especially encouraging because it has been the least stable of my issues up until this point. I feel a great sense of relief that I no longer have to fret over the fate of my company or my financial stability. The reason for this is my enhanced control over my financial resources. Now I am able to run my company with less anxiety and stress because I can devote my attention where it is most needed.
From my perspective, the RISE coursework covers a wide range of topics relevant to the working world. Several of the course’s sections have been especially helpful to me as a business owner. I have found the SWOT Analysis module to be one of the most useful tools for assessing the opportunities, threats, strengths, and weaknesses that I and my organisation face. Moreover, the course has helped me anticipate the upsides and downsides of my future endeavours.
Furthermore, the Financial Management module has greatly aided me in the management of corporate finances when the syllabus examined demonstrates a thorough understanding of revenue management principles. Finally, the Profile Strengths module has helped me determine the industry in which I would excel. Even though I had already started working on my carpet cleaning business before starting this course, this module has reinforced the importance of knowing oneself well in order to make better decisions for one’s future.
Making a small change to the world
In spite of my visual impairment, I am thankful for the fact that I am able to make consistent contributions to our family’s financial well-being. I also take great pride in the fact that, contrary to the nearly universal assumption in today’s society, I am not the kind of person who relies on charity for financial support. I intend to expand my carpet cleaning company to cover the entire country of Malaysia; to open a carpet washing plant in each state (including Sabah and Sarawak); to help the less fortunate; and to create job opportunities for the disabled and unemployed.
I believe that by educating people of all ages about the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities, we can alter society’s perspective on disabled people and make the world a more accessible place for them. The government could use all of these amazing technological advancements to create a way for the general public to better understand the challenges faced by people with disabilities and develop a sense of compassion for them. As Bethany Bale from Disability Rights UK said: “It is everyone’s responsibility to remove those barriers so that we can all take part in society equally.”
