The Society for the Severely Mentally Handicapped Selangor & Federal Territory (Persatuan Orang Yang Amat Cacat Akal Selangor dan Wilayah Persekutuan) was created not only to care but also to open people’s eyes to the conditions of these severely disabled children.

What we do

1. To provide day care and education for the severely mentally disabled children and youths, aged two to 19 years who belong to one or more of the following categories:-

• those who are mentally handicapped but can still respond to skill training in the use of legs, hands and jaws;
• those who are mentally handicapped but can still benefit from systematic habit training;
• those who are mentally handicapped but can still learn simple communication skills, basic health and safety habits, simple manual skills and perhaps some basic reading and arithmetic skills;
• those who are mentally handicapped but with additional handicaps such as physical impairment and /or serious personal / behaviour problems related to their disabilities.

2. To promote and stimulate research concerning severely mentally handicapped persons and to develop locally appropriate methods of treatment, education and vocational training.

3.To develop better public understanding and awareness, especially among parents and guardians, of the needs of children with severe mental retardation.

4.To raise funds to enable the Society to achieve its objectives.

History

The Society for the Severely Mentally Handicapped, Selangor and Wilayah Persekutuan is a voluntary welfare organisation established and registered with the Registrar of Societies in 1984 with the objective of providing rehabilitation facilities to children and youths with severe mental and physical (multiple) disabilities in Selangor and the Federal Territory. Following this objective, a Day Care and Training Centre was set up in June 1985.

The centre started with a small group of severely mentally disabled children and four staff. Today, the centre has 10 staff comprising an Administrator, a Physiotherapist, an Occupational Therapist, a Speech Therapist, five Teachers and a Housekeeper and an enrolment of 15 children in our Individual Education Program, and nine teens and young adults in our Living Skills Group.

Over the years the centre has expanded its programs from simple day care with some physical activities to the current program which aims to provide training to maximise the children’s functional skills including motor, cognitive, communication, social and self-help skills.

Working with the full-time staff are volunteers including paediatricians, home makers and representatives from religious and lay organisations – all of whom have dedicated invaluable time and services for the efficient running of the Centre.

Our services

Currently, rehabilitation services for the severely mentally disabled are being provided by both the Government and private voluntary organisations. However, it must be emphasised that not all centres cater to those with multiple disabilities. Hence the Society is focused on efforts to meet the needs of this category of disabled people.

Our needs

The Society requires an estimated RM 20,000 monthly to maintain and run the training centre. Funds for this centre comes from donations received from the general public as well as annual government grants and subsidies from the Department of Social Welfare. Funds are also raised through various fundraising activities which are organised several times a year. The generous support of many caring Malaysians has indeed gone a long way to help us make life more meaningful for these children.

You can donate to us at:

https://ssmh.org.my/wishlist

Society for the Severely Mentally Handicapped Selangor & Federal Territory (SSMH)