International Islamic University Malaysia, Malaysia

Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges: Disability Inclusion and the OKU4U* Sejahtera & Islamic Outreach Flagship Project

(*’OKU’ stands for ‘Orang Kurang Upaya’ = acronym in Malay Language meaning ‘Persons with Disabilities’. ‘OKU4U’ = Persons with Disabilities for You)

Disability awareness is low in Malaysia. Few places are accessible, and perceptions towards persons with disabilities are rather negative. Since 2018, the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Disability Services Unit (DSU) has embarked on a journey to assist not just members of the university and in the wider community that have visible or invisible disabilities to reach their full potential but also included abled people in their activities, informing and educating them about disabilities and how to make the world more accessible and inclusive.

The project, led by a quadriplegic professor, aims to eradicate stigma against people with disabilities, especially when challenged in addition by other factors, such as being marginalized. Aligned with the SDGs and rooted in a comprehensive inclusion policy for the university, the project champions advocacy, education, and engagement initiatives, contributing to a more inclusive university. IIUM’s approach was so ground-breaking that it contributed to new national policy leading to profound changes across Malaysian public universities.

What the Judges Thought

This application combined a number of initiatives together with the objective of supporting the disabled community. While that meant the application lacked a clear focus, the judged were very impressed with the scale of impact created. The engagement with the community and government has been very effective and yielded amazing results - the increase in disabled students accessing tertiary education in Malaysia is amazing and some of the examples provided are truly inspiring.

What it Means to Win

"Winning this International Green Gown Award reaffirms IIUM's unwavering commitment to sustainability and whole community transformation. This prestigious recognition validates our concerted efforts, making the world more sustainable, and inspires continued innovation and collaboration, enhancing our role as a leader in sustainable development and driving meaningful change within our community and beyond."

Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, Rector

Top 3 Learnings

1. We have increased disability awareness in Malaysia and created more accessible universities for future students.
2. We have served as a role model for the future of inclusive student services in Malaysia.
3. We understand that “all means all” requires equal and equitable participation of students living with disabilities, enjoying mutual respect and understanding.