Humans born into this world are expected to have similar features. However, in reality, that is not the case always. Some of them are born with various deformities. The common deformities in human are being deaf, dumb, blind, of uncertain gender (in my opinion, this is also a deformity) and the mentally-challenged.

We should count ourselves very lucky if we do not have any of the above deformities. However, many of us do not realise this or are thankful to God. The normal humans complain about their petty predicaments during the normal course of life.

Some even get very frustrated and might end up with depression. They need to realise that what they suffer is only a fraction of that suffered by the physically challenged.

The deaf who can’t hear will automatically have another deformity ie, being unable to speak. The inability to listen would lead to the inability to pronounce words. They cannot communicate like any other normal human ie, by listening and talking.

To communicate, both the deaf and dumb will use sign language or written language. With a little bit of training and guidance, both the deaf and dumb are able to live a near normal life. To further enhance the communication between the deaf and dumb with others, it is better to teach sign language to all students for an adequate period of time.

It is ideal if sign language is incorporated into the Moral Studies subject taught in secondary schools. I also feel that some positions in the various sectors which involve a lesser amount of verbal communication be reserved for the deaf and dumb.

Being blind could be classified as one of the worst and most pitiful states of life. The agony, distress and anxiety they undergo would sadly be lifelong. To experience what they go through 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year and during all of their lifetime we just have close our eyes in our bedroom at night and we experience what they do.

Can you guess how alert and vigilant they need to be when they leave their house until they reach back home? Sometimes, we ourselves feel their agony when we see them crossing the road and walk on the pathways.

Between being blind from birth and being rendered blind halfway during the course of the life, being blind from birth could be digested as the person would not know what he is missing as he has not seen anything since birth.

It is those who become blind halfway through their life who will really suffer elevated distress and agony. All this is because they clearly know what they are missing.
I do not know how much funds are given to the Social Welfare Department to assist the blind. However, I feel that this group of our society needs higher funding and higher care as they are very vulnerable to accidents, both minor and major.

There are instances where some selfish syndicates (commonly operating in the Klang Valley) who use blind persons to solicit money from patrons of food outlets at night. Of course, these syndicates get a bigger slice of the collection than the blind. This practice should be stopped as it amounts to begging and cruelty.

Again, blind-friendly jobs need to be created so that more of the blind could be employed and earn decent wages.

Being of uncertain gender is also a deformity which needs care. I notice many youngsters ridicule these unfortunate persons. One should note that their complication is not that of choice but that of birth. Apart from providing decent jobs to them, the authorities too need to provide separate toilets for them at public facilities.

This is due to the fact that the male and female toilet users feel uncomfortable with them around in their toilets.

Finally, we have the mentally-challenged people whose level of challenges could vary. Some have had the illness since birth and some acquire it during some stage of their lives. There are some who have had the illness throughout their life and some are able to be cured through medical and related therapies.

Those who are diagnosed with this illness for life need special care. Initially, their family members would take care of them. However, these siblings will likely have their own families later and their parents might not be there for too long to take care of them.

This will mean that the chances of the mentally-ill being neglected and stranded are imminent as time passes by. I hope the Social Welfare Department registers all these mentally challenged people at an early stage and monitor their progress periodically. If the care for them is deemed insufficient then they should be placed in welll-run and equipped welfare homes.

Please note that I have only touched on common deformities. There could be other deformities which could be much more worse than those discussed above. The bottom line is, no matter who has deformities, they need to be taken care of and be given all the necessary aid.