Sunday, February 24, 2013

$1 Billion Plan for the Disabled!


I am excited to read about this in The New Paper on Sunday today.  Perhaps a percentage of this $1B should be set aside to educate both the Disabled and the General Public.  Interestingly, the disabled are unaware of this five-year masterplan though this plan was meant for this particular group.  As a parent of a multiple handicapped person, I am definitely interested to know how to benefit from this fund.

After reading the article, I felt that perhaps the Steering Committee could have, for example, inform the special schools in Singapore so the schools can in turn inform the parents.  Most of these special schools cater to children from 0 year to at least 18 years of age!  I couldn’t agree more with the Member of Parliament for Moulmein-Kallang GRC Denise Phua that the incentives should be communicated more effectively to the disabled.

There are facilities for the disabled such as lifts at the MRT stations, wheelchair access buses, ATMs for the blind, barrier free HDB estates, extra crossing time under the Green Man Plus Scheme.   Are these facilities built using the $1Billion Plan?

How often does the wheelchair bound person able to get into the lifts without having to rush with the other able bodied passengers?  How about the toilets for the handicapped?  These are sometimes used by the able bodied too!  I have personal experience with both.  This is exactly the reason why I don't bring my son to shopping malls on weekends and public holidays!  A real nightmare!

Monday, February 11, 2013

Epilepsy Attacks aka Fits


Mikaail has been having what I thought was difficulty burping.  It seems like after a baby drinks milk, the baby needs to be gently tapped on its back to help the baby burp.  His so-called difficulty burping are becoming more regular and sometimes about 4 – 5 times a day!  The moment he burps or he gives out a loud cough, he seems ok although sometimes he vomits his food.

We took pictures of when he has the attacks and his neurologist said that these are the epileptic attacks.    He will be holding his left temple and his eyes fixated, his stiff right hand is turned towards his chest, crammed like.  His left leg also trembles.


He showed us this picture from one of his medical books to confirm that it is not a burp and is in fact an epilepsy attack.


Previously when he has fits, we just need to turn him to his side and he will come out it.  Nowadays, his epileptic attack is so irregular that it can happen at any time, sometimes when he has his meals.  His neurologist suggestion is that we admit Mikaail into the hospital for observation and then he can either recommend other medication or adjust Mikaail's existing medication.

I am reluctant to admit Mikaail as so far we have not seen any concrete solution from the doctors' suggestion.  It's like a trial and error and it's not a guinea pig or even a mouse!  It's my son and I've lost the quality of life for him.