Speech by Senior Parliamentary Secretary Eric Chua at the Official Opening of TOUCH Centre for Independent Living at Enabling Village

1. A very good afternoon to everybody. Now some of you have noticed the lapel pin that I'm wearing today. Well, if you can't see from behind, it shows a group of very cheeky dinosaurs holding up something very important, and that is our Singapore flag. Our nation's 61st birthday is some nine days away from now, so I thought it's apt to wear this pin for this event. Now, opportunistically, this pin was given to me last night by an artist named Thaddeus. Thaddeus also goes by the name Thaddino, a fitting name for somebody who loves dinosaurs. Thaddeus has been drawing since he was seven. He is autistic, and art gives him a sense of peace and calm. Through color, imagination, he brings prehistoric creatures to life in a style that is distinctly his own, and what stays with me most is how he describes himself. Autism is part of his story, but it does not define him. He is an artist. He is a storyteller with gifts to share with everyone and the world, and that is why I thought this pin feels especially meaningful today, because independent living begins with seeing the person before the disability – their interests, their strengths, their choices, their aspirations. It is my pleasure to join all of you today for the official opening of the TOUCH Centre for Independent Living, or TCIL, here at Enabling Village.

2. Let me begin by extending my warmest congratulations to TOUCH, and everyone who has worked hard to bring this center to life. I would also like to thank TOUCH for the important work that you have been doing in the disability inclusion space, walking alongside persons with disabilities and their family members, listening to them and believing in what they can achieve together. In Singapore, persons with disabilities want more than simply to be looked after. Like all of us, I think many of you want to make choices, build relationships, contribute, and also take part meaningfully in the community. But independent living does not necessarily mean living alone or doing everything without help. It means having greater choice and control over one's life with the right support to participate in everyday life as fully as possible.

3. At the end of May, just about one and a half or two months back, I joined many families who have loved ones with disabilities for a picnic at the Marina Barrage. Many folks that I've known over the years turned up. About 20, over 30 families turned up. It was wonderful. It was a beautiful evening in many ways. We were blessed with a splendid sunset, almost as though the heavens were gently reminding us to keep pressing on towards a more caring and inclusive society. But what moved me the most was seeing persons of different disabilities and life experiences coming together so naturally. Some were excelling in art and design; others had found confidence and achievement through sport, such as boccia. They made new friends through the event, exchanged stories, and met others who understood some of the challenges that they too faced in life. And for me, that was the most powerful takeaway from that evening. Independent living is not only about being able to manage daily tasks; it is also about having the confidence, opportunities, and relationships to pursue one's interests, discover one's abilities, find one's place, and contribute to society.

4. As a member of the Taskforce on Assurance for Families with Persons with Disabilities, I’ve heard the very real anxieties that many families carry. Caregivers worry about the post-18 cliff. What happens when their child leaves school and structured support reduces. They wonder what opportunities their child would have, and whether the right support will still be there as both they and their child grow older.

5. Now these are deeply personal and urgent concerns. That is why we are taking a more holistic life course approach - one that recognises each person's strengths and aspirations, while also supporting the caregivers who journey alongside them.

6. I'm very happy that the TCIL is bringing these principles to life. Instead of adopting a one-size-fits-all approach, the TCIL will offer different pathways based on each person's interests and strengths through work training, sports, the arts, and partnerships with the wider community. For one person, progress may mean learning to navigate a new environment more independently. Yet for another, it may mean developing the confidence to speak with customers, perform before an audience, or contribute as part of a team. The pathways will differ, but the principle is going to be the same. Start with the person, recognise their potential, and give them the opportunities to grow and the support to really develop into their fullest potential.

7. Yet, perhaps the hardest part of our inclusion journey cannot be solved through infrastructure, services, or policy alone. It is actually the work of changing hearts and minds. We can build accessible spaces, but inclusion also depends very much on whether someone is prepared to slow down for a person who needs a little bit more time. We can create employment opportunities and programs, but inclusion also depends on whether an employer is willing to look beyond a disability and recognise a person's strengths. And community activities can only truly become inclusive when persons with disabilities and their family members feel genuinely welcome. That is why everyone has a role to play. And by everyone, I don't just mean everyone in this room today. Everyone in Singapore society has a role to play.

8. The Government must continue strengthening support and policies. Social service agencies on the ground, such as TOUCH, can bring expertise, trust, and relationships. Employers can open doors. Community partners, volunteers, and neighbors can create opportunities for participation and friendship. And each of us can choose to be more patient, more understanding, more willing to see the person before the disability. As some reminded me yesterday, something that I used to always say in the past was “more care and less stare”.

9. This year, MSF’s theme, “Better Starts with Us”, reminds us that lasting change begins with the choices that each of us makes. Better starts when we ask what a person can do instead of assuming what they cannot. Better starts when we listen to persons with disabilities and their family members. And better starts when each of us helps to create a society in which everyone has the opportunity to participate and to contribute.

10. Before I close, James, I also want to offer a personal word of thanks to you and the team. Thank you for your passion, for your drive to keep doing better, and for your willingness to explore new possibilities and push boundaries. And I believe we do so not merely for the sake of doing something different, but because we believe that we can create better opportunities and better outcomes for persons with disabilities and their family members. That spirit is what will move inclusion in Singapore forward.

11. My congratulations once again to TOUCH, SG Enable, and all partners who have made the TCIL possible. Let this pin remind us that everyone has something distinctive to contribute. Our task is to build a Singapore that sees those gifts, makes room for them and allows them to flourish. May the TCIL help us take another meaningful step towards that Singapore.

12. Thank you very much, and I wish everybody a pleasant day.