Advice needed

My name is Agnes. I am a 24-year-old final year student of an English education study program at a private university in Yogyakarta. I am completing the final part of my thesis, with my final examination scheduled this semester. Soon, I will graduate and have to earn a living to support myself.

I am physically handicapped. My left leg is paralyzed, which has made life uncomfortable, especially because of my limited movement. When I want to go somewhere, I have to ask somebody to take me there and pick me up later.

I have lived like this since I suffered the paralysis at the age of three. I am tired of it. I do not want to live like this all my life. I want to make a change.

Randolph Burne wrote in an essay that "the bitterest struggles of handicapped man may come when he tackles the business world. If he has to go out for himself to look for work, without fortune, training or influence, his way will be rugged".

I hate to say it, but I must admit Burne is right.

As I prepare to enter the business world, I will not deny that I feel a bit afraid. But I do not want to give up. I realized I must enhance my self-respect and self-confidence. I realize that one way to raise my self-respect and self-confidence is to lower my physical limitations.

That is what I am trying to do right now, and the reason why I encouraged myself to write this letter to The Jakarta Post. I need some information from the readers on the following matters.

* Does anybody know where I can find an institution or organization concerned with rehabilitation of physically handicapped people?

* Is there someone who can fix, build or modify a special vehicle for the physically handicapped?

* Can anybody tell me where I can find a special device to fit my condition?

I can be contacted at: 04/22 Jurug Argosari Sedayu, Bantul, Yogyakarta 55752.

AGNES ERNA SETYARINI

Yogyakarta