BACKGROUND/HISTORY

Description of Charity

Dignity & Services (D&S) is an advocacy movement speaking and acting on behalf of and alongside persons with learning disabilities (intellectual disabilities). D&S aims to be an independent voice to ensure that persons with learning disabilities are offered the basic human right of being treated as other human beings. Dignity & Services was incorporated in Malaysia on 29th July 1991 (Company No : 221939-T).

Aims

• To enable persons with learning difficulties to express their thoughts, feelings and views about their own lives and the community within which they live.
• To provide opportunities for supported living so that persons with learning disabilities can live a life of their own choice like any other citizen.
• To safeguard the legal rights of persons with learning disabilities and to ensure that these legal provisions are enforced.
• To encourage and assist in the formation of self-advocacy groups leading to a national self-advocacy council.
• To provide information and advice to families of persons with learning disabilities and to encourage the formation of family support groups.
• To network with organisations seeking to provide a better quality of life for persons with learning disabilities.
• To bring about public awareness of the dignity and rights of persons with learning disabilities.

One self-advocacy group which D&S helped to set-up is called UNITED VOICE. United Voice meets at Dignity Services regularly. This group learns leadership skills by running their own meetings, organising camps, social activities and seminars. They also receive support with self-expression through writing, reading and drama, the Group has its own bank account and produce a four monthly newsletter – United Voice News. See separate listing on HATI for United Voice.

One of D&S future plans is to set-up services throughout Malaysia by appointing regional representatives to undertake their advocacy work. D&S also has a monthly column in The Star (www.thestar.com.my) under the heading One Voice discussing related issues. It appears on the first Thursday of the month.

Estimated Monthly Expenditure: RM 15,000

NEEDS

Volunteers are welcome. Please contact Dignity and Services directly for more information and their future events or activities.

D&S would appreciate donations to cover its annual expenditure of about RM180,000 (2004 budget). The annual expenses include staff salaries, transport and traveling expenses, rent and utilities, telephone charges and other office expenses and overheads. Also D&S would appreciate assistance whether financially or in kind for its plan to have a Club House

Cheques Made Payable to “Dignity & Services Bhd”

Direction/ Map:
D&S home is located at 45 Medan Burhanuddin Helmi, Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur

Dignity & Services