By Joy Fang

FINAL-YEAR Singapore Polytechnic (SP) student Muhammad Firdaus Omar, 21, never expected that an engineering project would teach him humility and empathy.

He helped design a wheelchair which helps the disabled "stand up" with the aid of a seat which can be raised and tilted vertically.

Before he started on the project, his relatives were the only elderly people he knew.

He said: "After speaking to disabled old people, we thought that they were quite pitiful because they were lonely in the nursing home.

"But with their help, we were able to put ourselves in their shoes and think of how we could improve their lives."

He was one of 100 students involved in 42 engineering projects to come up with devices to help the disabled, elderly and stroke patients.

The results of these projects were handed over to beneficiaries such as the Spastic Children's Association of Singapore and St Luke's Hospital at a ceremony in Shangri-La Hotel yesterday.

Mr Ronny Tham, manager of SP's Centre for Applications Rehabilitation Engineering (SPCare), said the projects help both the disabled and the students.

He said: "It is difficult for the disabled to go about their daily lives... It is a meeting of needs, where we help students gain knowledge as well as serve the community by donating the equipment."

For the students, talking to disabled patients was an obstacle they had to overcome.

Final-year student Tang Jun Jie, 19, said: "Communicating with patients was difficult because we didn't know what they were thinking. We didn't want to say anything wrong that might touch a raw nerve."

Mr Gribson Chan, a senior rehabilitation manager from St Luke's Hospital, was grateful to SPCare for the equipment, which would help the hospital cut down on manpower costs.

"SPCare has been very helpful in listening to our needs. It's hard to find equipment which is free and good," he said with a laugh.

joyfang@sph.com.sg

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