DPA President Ms Cassandra Chiu,
Vice President Ms Theresa Goh,
Executive Director Mr Choy Weng Leong,
Board Members,
Donors,
Partners and
Distinguished Guests,
- What a wonderful evening this is. It is indeed my pleasure to celebrate together the work of DPA in championing the inclusion and participation for and with of persons with disabilities in Singapore over the last 38 years.
- Over the years, DPA has been greatly involved in driving transformative changes by and for persons with disabilities across a range of areas over the years, including accessibility, employment as well as public awareness.
- For instance, DPA’s Inclusion Ambassadors programme plays an important role in promoting disability leadership, amplifying the voices of persons with disabilities and raising public awareness about disability inclusion. This programme not only provides professional training opportunities for persons with disabilities in communication, presentation and teamwork skills whilst earning an income, it also empowers persons with disabilities to be active contributors to a more inclusive society.
- DPA has been an important partner in improving the accessibility of our built environment and public spaces. DPA’s Access Guides empower persons with disabilities to navigate social and community spaces like the National Gallery of Singapore, Singapore Zoo, Sentosa, and shopping malls such as JEM with confidence and independence. DPA’s efforts to map the accessibility in the heart of the CBD also culminated in the BCA’s “Accessible City Network” initiative which, in 2024, was extended from Raffles Place to the Robinson Road area. This enables and empowers more disability-friendly navigation for persons with disabilities.
- Involving persons with disabilities in shaping Singapore's inclusive future is paramount. It is all about the principle of "Nothing About Us Without Us". The lived experiences and unique perspectives of persons with disabilities are critical in identifying barriers, developing effective solutions to such barriers, and creating policies that truly address their needs.
- The Enabling Masterplan 2030, launched in August 2022, embraces this very approach. The EMP2030 Steering Committee which I co-chaired included members with disabilities, including DPA’s then-President Mr Richard Kuppusamy, ensuring that their voices were and still are central to the planning process. The recommendations of the EMP2030 were also developed through extensive consultations with persons with disabilities, their caregivers, and disability organisations.
- Persons with disabilities continue to participate in implementing the Masterplan, such as through the two EMP2030 Taskforces to bolster inclusive employment opportunities and enable persons with disabilities to live and participate actively in the community. Both Taskforces released their recommendations in September last year, following extensive consultations with the community.
- By actively engaging persons with disabilities in decision-making processes, Singapore can ensure that its infrastructure, services, and programmes are genuinely accessible and beneficial to all.
- Last December, MSF released the Disability Trends Report. The report covers key trends relating to persons with disabilities as we work towards a more disability-inclusive Singapore. This is the first time we have released such a report, in line with our commitment in EMP2030 to make better use of data to inform policies and initiatives to improve outcomes for persons with disabilities and society at large.
- The data shows that Singapore has made progress over the years to become more disability inclusive: a higher proportion of persons with disabilities are in employment, as mentioned by Cassandra; public transport and public spaces have achieved high levels of basic accessibility; and persons with disabilities reported higher quality of life scores in 2024 compared to 2015.
- However, the work is far from being done. We have come a very long way. I would like to acknowledge the hard work of all partners, including DPA and the disability community, in achieving such positive changes. Each time you spoke up instead of staying silent, stepped forward instead of holding back, reached out instead of drawing lines – you played a part in getting us where we are today.
- Yes, much more remains to be done. We must continue to raise public awareness of and confidence in interacting with and supporting persons with disabilities, especially the less visible disabilities such as intellectual disability and autism, and at the same time foster inclusive workplaces. By acknowledging the areas that require improvement, we lay the groundwork for constructive dialogue, and collaborative problem-solving.
- Disability inclusion is a collective effort. We will need everyone working together – persons with disabilities, employers, government, families, and communities – to achieve our collective vision for a more inclusive Singapore. One where persons with disabilities can pursue their aspirations, achieve their fullest potential, and participate as integral and contributing members of society. And one where the word “inclusion” no longer holds any semantic significance.
- I would like to thank everyone present tonight, for stepping forward and supporting the disability community in Singapore. Together, we can create a better and more caring and more inclusive tomorrow for all. Thank you.