One man’s vision, mission and dedication led to the birth of Johor Cerebral Palsy Assication, formerly known as Spastic Children’s Association of Johor for having the foresight to provide education and services to the children and young adults with cerebral palsy, we owe it all to him.
Datuk Dr. Samuel Abraham, was a committed social activist all his life, and one of the hallmarks of his career and his life was the additional work he conducted in parallel with his paediatric duties.
His first posting with the government medical service was at Johor Bahru. While at Johor between 1965 and 1975, he established the Johor Bahru Spastic centre, helping to provide proper facilities for the disabled.
Cerebral Palsy is a condition marked by impaired muscle coordination (spastic paralysis and or other disabilities typically caused by damage to the brain before, during or at birth).
The Association had their initial exploratory meeting on 18th May 1967 and at this meeting they invited voluntary workers (mostly wives of naval officer’s), representatives from Rotary, members from the Junior Chambers of Commerce, Lions Club and Apex Club, The Christian Church members, the Social Welfare Department, staff from the General Hospital (Sultanah Aminah) and Tampoi Hospital (Hospital Permai) as well as members of the Central Welfare Council were also invited. After discussing the merits of such an organization, a preotem committee was formed with Tuan haji Anwar bin Haji Malek (from the Central Welfare Council) as Chairman and Datuk Dr. S. E. Abraham (a paediatric medical consultant) as Honorary Secretary.
On 21st June 1967, an inagural general meeting was held and the late Dato Abdullah bin Mohamad was elected Chairman, Dato V.V. Chellam as the Vice Chairman , Datuk S.C.E. Abraham as Honorary Secretary and Kdr. Grimwood as the Honorary Treasurer. The Association was then known as Spastic Children’s Association of Johor. On April 21st 1968, JCPA was formally registered with the Registrar of Societies. Another milestone reached in 1988 was the Association’s participation, as one of the Founder members, in the National Spastic Children’s Association.
Today, the Association takes pride in being a leading service provider in the state of Johor offereing professional integrated programmes and services for persons with life-long disabilities towards achieving independence at its own premise at No. 138, Jalan Dato' Menteri, 80100 Johor Bahru, Johor.
The Association manages a Special Education School, a Vocational Training Class, a comprehensive Habilitation and Rehabilitation Department and two Production Workshops for graduates from the school who are unable obtain emplyment in the open market.
As of 29th January 2014, the name of the Association was changed, thanks to the advice of our royal patron to Persatuan Cerebral Palsy Johor, a more positive and globally accepted reference.
Over time CPJ became the place for medical undergraduates from colleges/universities to do their observations & practicals. Even teachers from Government Special Education School come to learn something from us or/and share our experiences. The Sheltered workshop with 50 adults with CP was set up to cater for employment skills. It is situated at the basement of the building and is used by CP school leavers who are unable to persue further studies and do not have the necessary skills to secure jobs in the market. These special workers are unable to find work as mobility and transportation facilities are main obstacles faced by them. We have wheelchair and rollator bound workers. At the workshop, these workers weave floor mats, rugs, embroidery, patchwork and knitting. Floor mats are the main products. An average of 30 to 50 floor mats are produced monthly and sold at RM 10.00 per piece.
CPJ will continue to exist and provide the much needed services to the children with CP until such time where the Government saw it fit to take over the ‘responsibility’ of providing education and rehabilitation for these unfortunate children with CP.
But running the organization is not cheap. Our operating cost is now approximately RM 1.8 million a year. The bulk of it being remuneration for staff (teachers, rehab, maintenance and admin) which total 44. Our income is mainly from public donation and fund raising activities. The Government provides 20% of the income. Donation from the general public is erratic and the amount lesser so is fund raising. Competition for donation from other NGO is getting tough. We have been running a deficit budget for the past 4 years to the extend where the the reserve (RM 1.5 million) in fixed deposit had been fully utilized to offset the deficit. The Association has been trying to find ways so as not to be very much dependent on donations from the public, On record, we derive income from the hall and telco rentals which contribute to approximately RM 200,000.00 annually.
It is a pity if the Association is to be closed due to lack of fund to run it.
Your help is very much needed for our survival.
Please help us to help the children with cerebral palsy who never asked to be born this way
