Holistic Empowerment Hub: Vocational Training Centre

Incorporated With Real Life Working Environment For Adults With

Learning Disabilities
Intervention Centre / commercial
@ Titiwangsa, KL

in an effort to ease their transition into the workforce and

their societal integration
Holistic Empowerment Hub: Vocational Training Centre
Incorporated With Real Life Working Environment For Adults With
Learning Disabilities
Issues Justifications
1. Lack of job training centres, often situated at residential 1. Addressing unique needs (they have specific learning
areas, limited space, low operating cost, however may profiles and may prefer targeted learning techniques and
face dissaprovals from neighbours individualised attention)
2. Current design practices overlook critical elements such 2. Breaking stereotypes (advocate and challenge
as sensory stimulation, learning/training areas, misconceptions by showcasing their abilities and
therapeutic spaces achievements)
3. Extreme segregation of individuals with disabilities from 3. Long term benefits (improved educational outcomes,
social environments increased social skills, enhanced independence, and higher
4. Lack of experiential & action-orientated curriculum – employment rates)
working opportunitites in a planned environment
5. Feeder to work atachments & placement in companies
with inclusive hiring
Holistic Empowerment Hub: Vocational Training Centre
Incorporated With Real Life Working Environment For Adults With
Learning Disabilities
Problem Statement
In a world where adults with learning disabilities face limited post-secondary education options upon completing their high school studies, there exists a
pressing need to establish innovative solutions that empower them for independent adulthood. The challenge lies in designing a vocational training center that
not only caters to their specific needs but also provides an authentic real-world working environment to foster the development of essential social and
vocational skills.

Current vocational centers, although prevalent, tend to be isolated from the public due to budget constraints, resulting in inadequate simulation of real-world
work settings. It is imperative to explore more comprehensive and sustainable alternatives to bridge this gap. The identified plot of land South of Tasik
Titiwangsa (see site selection later) presents a potential canvas for the realization of such a solution. Located in proximity to NGO centers catering to a similar
demographic, this site offers promising possibilities for the establishment of a vocational training center equipped with facilities that address diverse areas,
including woodworking, sewing, culinary arts, creative pursuits, music, content creation, and permaculture.

Amidst these challenges, architectural design emerges as a pivotal factor in shaping the learning and training experiences of adults with learning disabilities.
The aim is to leverage the physical environment to enhance their growth, thereby facilitating their preparation for self-employment and entrepreneurship. In light
of these considerations, the study aims to devise an architecturally innovative vocational training center that not only addresses the educational and vocational
needs of adults with learning disabilities but also fosters their social integration and independent living skills.
Holistic Empowerment Hub: Vocational Training Centre
Incorporated With Real Life Working Environment For Adults With
Learning Disabilities
Focus Areas

vocational independent
social skills
training living skills

Focusing on developing and To be able to care for own needs Helps individuals form positive
mastering a set of skills that will be especially when parents / caregivers relationships and enhance
used when they intend to earn an are no longer around for additional participation within a community
income support
Malaysia Disability Data
Registration of persons with disabilities in
Malaysia is not mandatory. There are a total of
637,537 (1.9%)
637,537 persons with disabilities registered with
JKM as of 31 January 2023

34,308,525

Persons with Disabilities (Registered) Malaysia's Population

Source: Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (Department of Social Welfare, JKM)

Disability Registration Labuan
Statistics by States as Kuala Lumpur
of 31st January 2023 Terengganu
Selangor
Sarawak
Sabah
Pulau Pinang
Perlis
Perak
Pahang
Negeri Sembilan
Melaka
Kelantan
Kedah
Johor
0 20000 40000 60000 80000 100000 120000

Source: Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (Department of Social Welfare, JKM)

Types of Disabilities

4% 9%
8%
1% 7%
Visual Impairment

Hearing Impairment
Limb Defect, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, Dwarfism,
Physical Impairment Traumatic Brain Injury, Cerebral Palsy, etc
Global Development Delay, Down Syndrome,
Learning Disabilities ADHD, Autism, Mental Retardation, Learning Disability
37% 34% Speech Impairment
Organic Mental Disorder, Schizophrenia, Schizotypal and
Mentally Challenged Delusional Disorders, Mood Disorder, Severe Anxiety Disorder

Multiple Disabilities

Source: Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (Department of Social Welfare, JKM)

Malaysia Disability Data
● 11.1% Malaysians above 18 years old have disabilities Cumulative Number of Registered Person with Learning
● 1 in 4 Malaysian adults experience functional difficulties Disabilities by Age Group in Malaysia
in one or more of the following domains: seeing, hearing,
remembering, walking, self-care and communicating ≤ 6 years
● 4.7% children aged 2-17 years old have functional
6-12 years
difficulty in at least one domain, including hearing, vision,
communication/comprehension, learning, mobility and 13-18 years

emotions 19-21 years

22-35 years

36-45 years

46-59 years

≥ 60 years

0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000

Source: National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2019 report Source: Ministry of Economy Department of Statistics Malaysia (Welfare Services)
workforce participation (public & private sectors)
among working-age Malaysians with disabilities

4,500 (0.9%)

Common obstacles faced by people with disabilities include:

● Inaccessible transportation
● Inaccessible buildings
● Lack of facilities to accommodate to their needs
497,390 ● Negative attitudes by employers
● Low self-esteem
● Overprotective families
employed unemployed

Source: National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2019 report

When it comes to the parents of
children with special needs, a
common concern is,

“What about when school ends?”

Special Education in Malaysia
Early Intervention

Article 28 of the 2008 People with

Disabilities Act states that
Community Based
“Persons with disabilities shall not be NGOs Preschool
Rehabilitation
exempted from the general education
system on the basis of disability, and
disabled children shall not be exempt
from preschool, primary, secondary
and tertiary education, on the basis of
Primary School
equality with persons or children's Sheltered Workshop
Sheltered Workshop
efforts, including vocational training
and lifelong learning”

Secondary School

Vocational Training Post Secondary

Higher Education

Independent

Source: Special Education Department 2006

 Kiwanis Club of Kepong (Job training centre)
Welcomes adults with special needs, regardless of their disabilities
Self-funded and does not require any fees from parents

Visitation
Proposed site
Titiwangsa, KL
 Institut Masalah
Pembelajaran & Autisme
Malaysia (IMPIAN)

Wesley Methodist
School Kuala Lumpur
(International)
Rumah Titian Kaseh

Jalan Pahang
Tasik Titiwangsa

1000m

800m
Gombak River 600m

400m
200m
Sekolah Kebangsaan
Jalan Kuantan

KPJ Tawakkal KL
Specialist Hospital Titiwangsa
Sports Complex

The National
Institute of
Autism Society
Respiratory Medicine
of Malaysia

Istana Budaya SMK Puteri

Titiwangsa

Hospital Kuala National Art Gallery

Titiwangsa MRT Lumpur MRT Pusat Perkembangan
Pendidikan UKM

Jalan Tun Razak

Kuala Lumpur Hospital

National Library
of Malaysia
Total area: 4.09 acres
6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

1.658715
4.098776
16,587.16
1 2

3 4
1 2

3 4
 1 2

3 4
NGOs nearby that could benefit from the proposal

The National Autism Society of Malaysia Rumah Titian Kaseh Institut Masalah Pembelajaran & Autisme Malaysia (IMPIAN)
Within 200m radius from site Within 400m radius from site Within 600m radius from site
Proposed program

Pre-training > Training > Employment Benefit from and contribute to community
Target groups & stakeholders

Target group: adults with learning disabilities (low functioning category) who are
transitioning from high school to workforce

Target age group: 18 and above

Potential client(s): Department of Social Welfare / Ministry of Education

Potential collaborator(s): Dr. Shyielathy Arumugam – on Entrepreneurship Pedagogy

Precedent Study

Green School Bali / New Zealand / South Africa / Tulum

Focuses on ‘living’ curriculum that educates for sustainability

through community-integrated, entrepreneurial learning, in wall-
less and nature-immersed environment
Precedent Study

Kuala Lumpur Steiner School

The young children of Steiner School learn primarily through doing -

exploring, touching, experiencing and imitating, the curriculum
introduces practical work that involves sensory learning
activities that matches the child’s development, putting
environment at the center of learning
Potential Building Material

Coconut coir & coconut husk