A disability isn’t always the lack of ability. There is ability beyond disability. This was proven at the Limkokwing University recently when seven hearing-impaired graduates received their scrolls at the university’s graduation ceremony on 11 July 2009.

As the graduates proudly walked on stage, they proved that perhaps it was the rest of us who lacked the ability—the ability to believe that a physical handicap is no barrier to a university education. Yet again, just like last year, four deaf students graduated this year after three years of studying hard with students with normal faculties. When asked how they coped in class when they can’t hear at all, all four said they were provided with speech-to-words interpreters, deaf tutors and a hard-of-hearing English language lecturer.

At Limkokwing University, the impossible is possible. The University has opened its doors to the unique abilities of these graduates and discovered the magic within them. The achievements of these students illustrate the fact that though life may seem a little bit tougher, being impaired can make you stronger and fight harder for what you want.

Christopher Lim Siang Huat, Farah Nadhirah binti Kordy, Shabhana Cassie Punjwani and Azizan Nor Abdul Rahman were the lucky four who shone that day. They were among the 430 students from 35 countries who graduated with diplomas or degrees from the faculties of Communication, Multimedia Creativity, Design Innovation, Information and Communication Technology, Architecture as well as in Business and Globalization. 

Christopher Lim Siang Huat, 31 a Malaysian student who was one of the hearing-impaired graduates.  According to Christopher – who graduated with BA in Graphic Design (Curtin University)—many students with no disability were interested in sign language so he taught them and they communicated with him in sign language or written language. Chris hails from Penang and worked as a draughts man for a few years before he decided that he wanted a more stable working life.

Chris came to Kuala Lumpur to study in Limkokwing University because he had heard that the university is the only private education centre that provides facilities to deaf students. “I wouldn’t have gotten through my studies if I wasn’t provided with these facilities. Many discouraged me from doing an Australian degree as the standards are high and difficult but with the help of lecturers, classmates and interpreters, I proudly received my scroll from University President Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing, witnessed by my parents and siblings.” said Chris.

Farah Nadhirah binti Kordy - 24, also joined LUCT after acquiring a certificate in fashion design. She aspires to become the first deaf fashion designer in Malaysia. Although many parties voiced their doubts, she got a chance to do her diploma with the encouragement from her lecturers, friends and classmates.

Farah commented, “I am the eldest and the only deaf sibling in my family. The monthly government allowances have helped me cope financially as all my siblings are all studying.” Farah added: “The lecturers communicate with me via written language while some of them use sign language.” The fashion competitions here in Limkokwing as well as workshops gave her a lot of on hand experience of what will happen when she starts working as a fashion designer.

Azizan Nor - 26, another deaf student had difficulties securing a job when he left a Polytechnic with a certificate in Graphic Design. He went about looking for a college to continue his studies but he couldn’t find one that supports deaf students. Later, his family members heard about Limkokwing University and they flew to Kuala Lumpur to enrol him here. Ever since that, he hasn’t looked back.

“I was so happy to see deaf students at the campus and the Deaf Students’ Society (DSS) provided me with the opportunity to give voice to my problems, socialize as well as share my experiences with my friends.” He stated, “I never felt lonely and my best times were with deaf friends as well as hearing classmates. The group projects with hearing students made me realize that I had to communicate with hearing people so I attended special English classes to brush up my language skills. Now I feel more confident to secure a job. I will miss my deaf friends but luckily ex-students can still continue to be DSS members so I can continue to socialize and join the outings.”

Shabana Cassie’s family is involved in advertising and they hope she will follow suit. So they enrolled her at LUCT to study diploma in Graphic design. According to Shabana-23, she will eventually work with her family. After graduating she’s now more confident to communicate with hearing staff and clients since that is what she had to do at the university.

“The university provides facilities but that doesn’t mean the standard or expectation is lowered for us, so we have to work hard. The first few weeks were scary for me because all my life I have only been to deaf schools, so seeing a sea of hearing people and lecturers who don’t know sign language was very stressful and scary. The members of DSS helped me to cope and advised me. Now I have many hearing friends and I am not scared of communicating with those who don’t know sign language.” A joyful Shabana commented.

A tearful Farah Nadhirah binti Kordy spoke for all when she said, “All we had to do was look within ourselves because the answer was and has always been within us. Our parents and friends are very proud of us and we feel the same way, we are happy to have made it this far.”

Spread across the hall of fame sat the students’ parents, guardians and friends. A moment as grand as this couldn’t be shared alone.  For these handicapped students, the celebration was twice as joyful. Their parents were delighted and overwhelmed beyond words to witness their children finally spread their wings and get ready to leave the nest on their own.

All the students in the hall received applause as they walked up the stage to receive their awards. The handicapped were not segregated as they walked the stage because as they have always felt like they belonged to the society despite their handicap. As Limkokwing students, everyone treats each other as an equal so up on that stage and in the hall; everyone celebrated and rejoiced as equals and as one big family.

“We all believe in each other, stand by each other and motivate each other for a brighter future. The handicapped students are part of us and we are all like family. They are amazing, talented and most of all determined to prove that despite everything, they are still like us. I can’t believe we made it this far together, thank you Limkokwing,” said Naula Carol Catherine a Ugandan student who graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.

At the ceremony, Ms.Yoges from IH department provided the sign language announcements at the event for the hearing impaired students. As a lecturer who is also hearing impaired, she made the student’s life a little less hard and a little bit normal. The students learnt that anything is possible if you set your mind to it and believe in yourself.

It would be nice to see what’s next for these students as they leave and take the next step into the real world. It a very different atmosphere once you receive that scroll, that’s when the real fun and hustle, begins. But from what they have accomplished on their own here in the university, they can manage to survive in the world and be the best.