Geography, poverty and Malaysian disabled women

As a post-colonial developing country, Malaysia has undergone significant improvements and transformations in disability welfare. Although the Malaysian government has implemented substantial disability provisions, policies and facilities, many disabled people still encounter serious environmental and attitudinal barriers. A full qualitative research was conducted involving 33 Malaysian women with physical impairment. The study found that the majority of participants came from rural areas and had limited access to healthcare, education and employment because of geographical factors. The majority of the disabled women interviewed were born to low-income rural families and many of them lived in poverty. Financial and transportation constraints had prevented them from getting access to healthcare services in the cities. Those with disease or injury were unable to get early treatment due to the geographical and financial limitation which rendered them to be permanently disabled. Already physically impaired, they encountered environmental barriers in getting access to formal education. As a result some of them were unable to continue schooling and had to settle with low education which further restricted their employment opportunities and chance to break away from poverty. It thus goes without saying that access to healthcare, public transport, education and public buildings in rural areas has to be improved to help these disabled women to share effectively in the everyday life of the community.