I Am Not Small
Born with dwarfism, Cheung Chun Kong works in the transport industry, and has previously done other jobs. According to the Little People of America Organization, a dwarf is a person whose height is not taller than 4 feet 10 inches (about 147 cm) due to physical or genetic causes. Dwarfism is a rare disease, with 1,500 to 3,000 patients in Hong Kong. The procedures for applying for a driving license, and the vehicle you drive all have special requirements by the Transport Department. Chun Kong drives a motor vehicle no differently from other people. Chan Kong is passionate about his job, and both employers and clients are confident about his performance. According to a research report by CityU, Scholar Qiu Yong pointed out that regardless of media or academic research, Hong Kong has not done much research about dwarfism. Public discrimination against people with dwarfism stems from general misunderstanding. Dwarfs encounter many difficulties in their day to day life. For Manda, it is difficult to go shopping in the supermarket, or even just using the bathroom. The law only covers discrimination against dwarfism; but patients do not receive disability allowances or concession fares on public transport. Legislative Councillor Fernando Cheung Chiu Hung proposed the "Rare Disease Bill", but the government stated that it would not support the legislation. The Government revised the contents of the building design manual for the Buildings Department. The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) Director Chu Chung Man believes that the original design of public facilities was not made with special needs patients in mind, although it was unintentional and simply forgotten. How should the design manual be revised to make facilities accessible to these people with rare disabilities? Qiu Yong believes that the concept of "universal design" may be better than "accessible design". In some countries, there are architectural design manuals that consider the needs of people with dwarfism. In Hong Kong, universal design is still a very new concept, and some new buildings have adopted these designs. On occasion, the Hong Kong Dwarf Patients Association organizes events for patients and their families to participate. They all hope to be able to fight for better opportunities for the next generation, and strengthen the society's understanding of them...
矮小症患者張震江從事運輸行業，曾做過其他工作。美國矮小症病人組織的定義：患者因為身體或者基因狀況而導致身高不高於４呎１０吋（大約１４７厘米）。矮小症是一種罕見疾病，香港的人數有１５００至３０００名。申請駕駛執照的程序，駕駛的車輛，運輸署都有特別要求。震江駕駛汽車，也跟普通人沒有甚麼分別。震江熱誠工作，僱主和客戶都肯定他的表現。城大發佈研究報告，學者邱勇指出，香港無論傳媒或學術研究，針對矮小症患者的研究做得比較少。大眾歧視矮小症患者，源於大量誤解。矮小症患者上街也困難重重。Manda在超市購物或使用洗手間，都會遇上難題。法例只針對殘疾歧視，矮小症患者受到保障；殘疾津貼和乘車優惠他們卻未能受惠。立法會議員張超雄提出《罕見疾病條例草案》，政府表明不支持立法。政府為屋宇署修訂建築物的設計手冊內容。平機會總監朱崇文認為，當初公共設施的設計，沒有為特殊需要人士而設，並非刻意，純屬遺漏。設計手冊應如何修訂，讓這些罕見的殘疾人士無障礙地使用設施。邱勇認為，「通用設計」的概念或許較「無障礙設計」更好。世界一些國家的建築物設計手冊，有考慮矮小症患者的需要。在香港，通用設計仍是很新的概念，部分新建的建築物也有採用。香港的矮小症病友組織，不時會舉辦聚會和活動，讓患者和家屬參加。他們都希望為下一代爭取更多福利，並加強社會對他們的了解……
