Accra:Employers are being encouraged to use Job Coach services to assist workers with disabilities in adapting to their roles and work environment, thereby promoting inclusive employment opportunities.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Lim Hui Ying emphasized that these services would aid employers in understanding the needs of workers with disabilities and in adopting suitable communication methods to ensure effective job performance.

The Deputy Minister noted that with proper guidance, workplace adjustments, and mutual understanding, more persons with disabilities could excel at work and contribute productively. She urged employers to offer training opportunities, recognize talents, and create a fair and safe work environment.

Lim highlighted the concerns parents face about the future of their children with disabilities after schooling, particularly regarding access to skills training and employers' willingness to hire and guide them. She stressed that differences in communication, learning, or social interaction, especially among neurodivergent youth, should not hinder employment opportunities. Instead, a supportive work environment should be fostered to help these individuals develop their potential.

Empowering persons with disabilities, Lim said, requires comprehensive cooperation among ministries, government agencies, training institutions, and the private sector to ensure access to education, skills training, and employment opportunities. She also encouraged companies to participate in these efforts through corporate social responsibility programs to recruit disabled workers.

Additionally, Lim mentioned that the RM1.5 billion allocation for persons with disabilities in Budget 2027 is set to benefit over 300,000 recipients. The measures include increasing the monthly Bedridden PwD Care and Chronically Ill Patients Allowance from RM500 to RM600 and raising the threshold for the Disabled Workers' Allowance from RM1,700 to RM2,000.

The government will also provide free public transport passes to the disabled community, train 3,000 new caregivers with specialized skills, and upgrade 15 Community-Based Rehabilitation premises into specialized therapy centers.