Disabilities in Singapore

"The maturity of a society is reflected in the way it treats and supports those who are disadvantaged."

- from the 2007-2011 Enabling Masterplan

After spending 3 months exploring autism in China, I am back home in Singapore and am very curious to learn about services for people with autism and other disabilities in this country. Tomorrow, I will be visiting the head office of the Society for the Physically Disabled (SPD) in Singapore. Although its focus is on those with physical disabilities, SPD is known to provide services for people with autism as well.

I've done a bit of reading on services for people with autism and disabilities in Singapore and it looks very promising (especially compared to services in China). Apparently, in 2004, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made the call for Singapore to become an inclusive society - to support persons with disabilities (PWD) to reach their full potential and be included as part of Singapore. Thus, the Enabling Masterplan was born.

I'd like to share a few points from the report's Executive Summary that I found particularly resounding:

• Disability affects not only the individuals concerned. It also affects their family members and others who care for them. Many persons with disabilities (PWDs) do not reach their full potential in life because of barriers that arise from their physical environments, attitudes of society and the lack of education and employment opportunities.

• Our vision is for Singapore to be an inclusive society where PWDs are given the opportunity to become equal, integral and contributing members of society. Children with special needs will receive effective intervention and education services to maximise their potential and opportunity to eventually work and contribute to society. There will be equal opportunities for PWDs in employment. More PWDs will achieve self-reliance through work.

• PWDs will be appreciated and respected for their differences, and will live with dignity in the community. Families will be empowered to care for their disabled members. Parents are reassured as they age and eventually pass on, that care will be forthcoming for the well-being of their special needs children. The physical environment will be barrier-free. PWDs who are enabled through the efforts of the community will, in turn, help their families and contribute back to society.
  

I am already very optimistic! Really looking forward to visiting the SPD tomorrow and learning even more about disabilities in Singapore. If you are interested, you can read the full 2007-2001 Enabling Masterplan yourself here.