Yearly Updates 2025

ECDA evaluated the Inclusive Support Programme (InSP) pilot and found that:

1. Children with developmental needs in InSP preschools made significant progress in all domains of their development, narrowing the gap with their typically developing peers.
2. Typically developing children in InSP preschools demonstrated significant cognitive gains.
3. We observed more meaningful interactions between children and greater acceptance of peers with different abilities.

Given these promising findings, ECDA will progressively add about 600 more InSP places to more preschools from 2026 so more children can benefit from an inclusive learning environment.

MOE is working with Social Service Agencies (SSAs) and SPED schools to digitalise the SPED sector to enhance SPED school processes and improve operational efficiency, allowing SPED educators to dedicate more time to strengthen teaching and learning outcomes.

With the roll-out of all seven SPED Teaching and Learning Syllabuses covering key learning domains, MOE has established a National SPED Curriculum to enhance the quality of teaching and learning in SPED schools. It aims to

• Better equip students with knowledge, skills and values so that they can live meaningfully and independently to the best of their ability, contribute to work for those who can and learning continually through community opportunities.  
• Foster stronger collaborations between educators, allied professionals, families and the community.
• Inform the professional development roadmap for SPED teachers and provide the basis for quality assurance and benchmarking across the sector.

This ensures that all SPED students can work towards the desired SPED Living, Learning and Working outcomes, regardless of the school they attend.

MOE and the SSAs have worked together to set up SPED COPs which are SSA led, and seek to harness the collective experience of SSAs and schools to enhance knowledge and expertise for specific disability profiles.

 

The inaugural SPED COP for Multiple Disabilities, led by Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore was formed in 2024. A COP for Autism, jointly led by Autism Association (Singapore) and Rainbow Centre, followed in 2025.

To build a strong and sustainable leadership pipeline in SPED schools, MOE introduced the LDP in May 2025, which provides a structured process to identify, develop, and retain potential leaders from the SPED teaching fraternity. Building upon existing efforts of SPED schools, SPED LDP participants will gain exposure to different settings, have opportunities to be mentored by experienced leaders, and be involved in sector-wide projects and MOE leadership milestone programmes. 

 

 

As of August 2025, 29 Gen Ed schools have partnered with 24 SPED schools. By end-2026, a total of 34 pairs will be onboard this national-level initiative. Schools are matched according to parameters such as shared educational outcomes, complementary interests and geographical proximity. MOE will progressively facilitate more of such partnerships based on schools’ readiness and staff capacity.

 

 

 

Skillsfuture SG and SG Enable are working with Training Providers to make mainstream courses more accessible to persons with disabilities by raising awareness of their learning needs and enhancing the capabilities to meet these needs.

In July 2025, SG Enable launched the Sector Train-and-Place programme, starting with the Tourism and Hospitality sectors, designed to provide inclusive training and employment for PwDs.

 

This programme offers a structured jobs-skills pathway that integrates industry-relevant vocational and soft skills training, employment facilitation and on-the-job support for PwDs. Employers can also receive disability awareness training, wage offsets, and job redesign grants where relevant.

 

For more information on Sector Train-and-Place programme, please visit this website: enablingacademy.sg/tnp

Parliament passed the Workplace Fairness Bill (WFA) in Jan 2025 and the accompanying Workplace Fairness (Dispute Resolution) Bill in Nov 2025. The WFA strengthens protections against workplace discrimination for jobseekers and employees by prohibiting employers from making adverse employment decisions, including on the basis of disability. Individuals that are discriminated against will be able to seek recourse through a fair, accessible, and expeditious dispute resolution process. The WFA is targeted to be implemented in end-2027.

 

Tripartite partners, in consultation with disability social service associations, are also developing a Tripartite Advisory on Reasonable Accommodations to provide employers with practical guidance on providing accommodations for persons with disabilities to ensure accessibility of workplaces so that employees with disabilities can flourish. The Tripartite Advisory is targeted for release around the same time as the implementation of the WFA.

The EEC was extended for three years until 2028 to provide continued support for the employment of persons with disabilities. Under EEC, eligible employers of persons with disabilities receive a wage offset of up to 20% of their monthly income, capped at $400. This goes up to 40% of their monthly income, capped at $800, for the first nine months of employment if the new hire was previously not working for at least six months prior to being hired.

SG Enable will progressively expand the S2W programme to double its intake from about 45 per year today to 90 by 2030. The programme offers graduates from Special Education (SPED) schools support in the transition to employment through structured training, job placement, and job support in sectors like transport and financial services.

The ITE and SG Enable internship and employment support programme will be enhanced to provide further employment support to more ITE students with disabilities. The programme provides pre-employment training, career exploration opportunities, and post-graduation job placement with on-site job coaching for up to a year.

SG Enable has developed a playbook that serves as a guide for companies to begin strengthening their employment practices over time. This is shared via the Enabling Mark website (https://enablingmark.sg/inclusive_hiring).

In 2025, SG Enable appointed APSN as its fourth Job Placement and Job Support (JPJS) partner, with aims to strengthen employment support within the disability sector, particularly to address the growing and diverse needs of persons with intellectual disabilities and autism.

The Advanced Certificate for Supported Employment course—the recognised baseline certification for job coaches in this sector—has been refreshed and modularised to improve accessibility. Job coaches can now take charge of their learning, accessing the five modules at their own pace over a two-year period. This offers greater flexibility compared to the previous format, which required all five modules to be taken consecutively.

The Enabling Skills for Life Programme (ESLP) equips persons with disabilities with functional skills to enhance independence, community participation, and employability. The three-year proof-of-concept, with selected Sheltered Workshops and Day Activity Centres, takes a person-centred training approach, supporting lifelong learning and community integration. 

ESH@Jurong serves PwDs in the West region (Jurong West, Jurong East, Clementi, Queenstown), and ESH@Punggol serves PwDs in the North-East region (Punggol, Hougang, Sengkang, Serangoon) of Singapore, enabling more PwDs and caregivers with opportunities to participate and be supported in their local communities.

The ELP pilot began operations in December 2025. It supports low-income PwDs with low to moderate support needs, and with no/low family support to live independently in designated public rental flats, with an on-site support team offering services tailored to their individual needs.

The Zero Project Asia Pacific Symposium 2025, co-organised by SG Enable and the Zero Project, brought together over 200 delegates from 20 countries to exchange innovations and good practices that advance accessibility and assistive technology (AT).

At  Budget 2025, PM announced that the government would provide a dollar-for-dollar matching grant for top-ups by lower- and middle-income caregivers to their Special Needs Trust Company (SNTC) trust accounts for their PwD family member, up to $10,000. This new initiative will provide greater assurance to caregivers of PwDs and encourage future care planning. The grant will be launched in 2026.

From January 2026, the Matched Retirement Savings Scheme (MRSS) will be expanded to eligible low-income PwDs of all ages. Under the MRSS, eligible PwDs can receive a dollar-for-dollar matching grant from the Government on cash top-ups made to their CPF Special or Retirement Accounts, up to an annual limit of $2,000 and a lifetime limit of $20,000. This will help PwDs and caregivers start building up their retirement savings earlier.

To support caregivers in future care planning, SG Enable has set up the Future Care Planning Resource Centre (FCP RC) which was opened in December 2025. The Resource Centre will build sector professionals’ capability to support caregivers in future care planning, provide customised support to caregivers based on their planning needs, and raise awareness of the importance of early planning.

To strengthen inclusion within Singapore’s transport ecosystem, SG Enable and SMRT Corporation signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at promoting social inclusiveness and improving accessibility for persons with disabilities (PWDs) to create a more inclusive commuting and working environment.

• Expansion of the Helping Hand Scheme. In May 2025, LTA introduced a new universal card, so that commuters – including those with less visible disabilities – can write their specific request for assistance on public transport. New Helping Hand decals have also been placed near priority seats on public buses and trains, to raise awareness.

   

• Launch of Young ChangeMakers - Caring SG Commuters Grant. The Public Transport Council and the National Youth Council launched a new grant to encourage youth participation in building a more gracious, caring and inclusive commuting culture. Projects may be granted seed funding of up to $7,000.

   

• Expanding programmes for volunteering. LTA continues to provide training and development opportunities for “Caring Commuter Champions” that can guide visually-impaired commuters, and ensure safe boarding/ alighting for wheelchair users, among other acts of care. Members of the public can also sign up for the “Travel Buddy” programme (previously, “Travel Makers”) to support commuters with disabilities in travelling safely and independently.

Inclusive Library Spaces and Initiatives

• In 2025, NLB supported persons with disabilities to conduct 21 workshops and performances across various libraries, engaging 1,066 participants (as of September 2025). NLB continues to offer library programmes with sign language interpretation, ensuring accessibility for patrons with hearing impairment.

   

• About 4,500 persons with disabilities also participated in a wide range of library programmes, including board games, storytelling sessions and art workshops. Four libraries have also transformed their spaces for disability organisations to showcase and sell creative works by persons with disabilities.

   

• All public libraries have been equipped in 2025 with assistive technology devices, including high-contrast, large-print keyboards and trackball mice, to support patrons with visual impairments or mobility challenges. Additionally, all libraries have introduced wheelchair-friendly seats.

   
• Since the launch of the Accessible Membership in 2023, which offers enhanced library benefits for persons with disabilities, about 700 have signed up (as of September 2025). The majority have become active library users, with many doubling their book loans and utilising the free reservation service offered through the membership.

 

For more information on NLB’s accessibility initiatives, please visit Accessibility Information.

SLA embarked on a major expansion of its Barrier-Free Access (BFA) mapping project in March 2025. It will expand the current coverage of 1,000 km-length of BFA routes by 6,000 km-length, to achieve 7,000 km-length of BFA routes by 2030. This expansion builds upon the successful launch of the BFA routing function on OneMap (www.onemap.gov.sg) in March 2024 which covers nine areas. The project continues in collaboration with SG Enable to support the Enabling Masterplan 2030's vision for an inclusive society.

 

BFA wayfinding function will progressively be added on OneMap beyond the initial areas mentioned above

NParks is enhancing the accessibility and inclusivity of our parks and gardens.

• From November 2024 to November 2025, NParks has completed the development of three new Therapeutic Gardens (TGs) which have been designed with inclusive features, such as wheelchair accessible paths and fragrant sensory plants, enhancing PWDs’ interactions with nature.
• For example, the TG at Punggol Park which opened on 12 December 2024 features Singapore’s first outdoor boccia court, a wheelchair obstacle course and an inclusive agility course for physiotherapy and recreation.
• These features were specially curated and designed with input from the Singapore Disability Sports Council, to cater to the needs of PWDs and allow them to better interact with nature to improve their well-being. 

Improving accessibility of offshore islands

To bring nature on offshore islands closer to PWDs, NParks has also embarked on plans to construct a wheelchair friendly floating pontoon jetty at the Ubin Living Lab at Pulau Ubin. The new jetty will improve the accessibility of Pulau Ubin to PWDs, allowing them to visit the island without the need for complicated transport arrangements.

The Building and Construction Authority’s (BCA) Code on Accessibility in the Built Environment (provides mandatory design requirements to ensure buildings and public spaces are accessible) was reviewed by a tripartite committee, which included disability organisations. The revised Code 2025, with enhanced provisions that better address the needs of persons with disabilities, the elderly, nursing mothers, and families with young children, was launched in April 2025. The provisions of the Code apply to new buildings and existing buildings undergoing addition and alteration works from 1 November 2025. 

 

The revised Code 2025 is available on BCA’s website at https://go.gov.sg/bca-coa2025.

Singapore has lifted its reservation on Article 25(e) of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The UN CRPD Article 25(e) on Health requires state parties “to prohibit discrimination against persons with disabilities in the provision of health insurance, and life insurance where such insurance is permitted by national law, which shall be provided in a fair and reasonable manner.”

As part of ongoing efforts to improve accessibility and encourage sport participation amongst persons with disabilities, SportSG has retrofitted 9 ActiveSG swimming pools with ramps for wheelchairs, with one more to be completed by end-2025. SportSG has also equipped 15 ActiveSG gyms with inclusive facilities and remains on track to make all ActiveSG gyms inclusive by 2026.

Under the refreshed Disability Sports Master Plan (DSMP) 2024, the Enabling Sports Fund (ESF) was launched in August 2025. The ESF supports community-led disability sports efforts by funding programmes and activities that enable more persons with disabilities to participate in sport and discover their sporting aspirations, to create a more inclusive and connected society. Individuals, groups, and organisations keen to organise sport initiatives for persons with disabilities can apply for this Fund.

 

The ESF is supported by the President’s Challenge, with Sport Singapore appointed as an Impact Partner. Donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Government, and the goal is to raise at least $10 million by 2030.

 

For more information on the Enabling Sports Fund, please visit https://go.gov.sg/enablingsportsfund

We continue to increase the infrastructural accessibility of our cultural facilities.

 

For hard of hearing or Deaf visitors,

• Esplanade completed installation of assistive listening systems for telecoil-enabled hearing devices for all major venues with the latest installations in the Theatre and Concert Hall.
• Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) also incorporated hearing loop systems into both the Auditorium and River Room.

 

For visually impaired visitors,

• Singapore Art Museum (SAM) developed and launched in Jul 2025 the Tactile Map in collaboration with Trigger Design Studio allowing visually impaired visitors to familiarise themselves with SAM’s layout before visiting.
• National Gallery of Singapore (NGS) created a screen-reader friendly version of their existing access guide.

  For neurodivergent visitors,

• SAM launched the Calm Space in June 2025, which provides a safe space for visitors who may need a sensory rest.
• NGS introduced Access Advisories for all exhibitions and programmes, including external exhibitions which provide information such as potential triggers, seating availability and lighting to prepare visitors before visiting the exhibitions.

 

For visitors with physical disabilities,

National Museum of Singapore (NMS) has installed new handrails, ambulant toilet cubicles, accessible ramps, and updated signages for users with physical needs in 2025 throughout the museum.

There are continual efforts to ensure that cultural facilities and programmes remain accessible and inclusive. Some examples include:

 

• NGS developed a Hands-on Learning and Development (HOLD) Collection, featuring tactile and interactive adaptations of artworks from the National Collection. They also partnered with THK EIPIC to develop interdisciplinary preschool programmes exploring NGS’s collection which have been offered to SPED Early Intervention schools, such as AWWA Early Intervention and HeadStart for Life.
• NMS, ACM, and The Peranakan Museum (TPM) incorporated tactile and multi-sensory elements within their exhibitions.
• ACM’s children’s activity space launched in May 2025, designed to welcome and engage children of all abilities, complemented by ACM’s newly introduced Calm Corner, a quiet retreat space where children can use when overstimulated.
• National Arts Council collaborated with SG Enable to promote ArtsEverywhere@CDC events that are accessible for persons with disabilities (PwDs), to encourage participation from PwDs and their caregiver in the local community.
• Esplanade expanded its Relaxed Environment (RE) programming, offering more flexible and welcoming settings for audiences of diverse abilities.

 

 

Capability development

• NAC, NHB, and the cultural institutions work with community partners to build capabilities among the arts and cultural organisations, museums, practitioners, and volunteers to strengthen inclusive programming. There are regular staff and volunteer trainings by institutions and museum as well.
• Esplanade collaborated with SG Enable to conduct Easy Read content creation training for selected staff, and also hosted the Arts & Disability Forum 2025 (ADF 2025) organised by ART:DIS and supported by NAC. The ADF brought together 300 artists, educators, and community practitioners to exchange insights on inclusive arts. ADF 2025 also featured artists with disabilities as their panellists, offering them an opportunity to share about their work.

SAM launched the inaugural Access Showcase in 2025. The showcase includes keynote panels, talks, and workshops that are open to persons with disabilities too.

Our cultural institutions are also working on creating greater professional opportunities for PwDs, for example:

• NGS worked with Singaporean artist Fern Wong, a self-taught visual artist with Down Syndrome, and ART:DIS to present Colourful Play for the Gallery Children’s Biennale in 2025.
• Jade Ow, a Deaf/Hard of Hearing actor-educator and arts programmer, joined the Audience Development Team in NGS as a part-time Programme Coordinator for Light to Night Singapore (LTN).   

   

  Performances by persons with disabilities were supported across multiple arts and cultural events including:

• The DARE Festival 2025
• The A11YVERSE showcase;

ArtsEverywhere@CDC which presented performances across Singapore, such as by Purple Symphony, Apsaras Arts, Raw Moves, and Maya Dance Theatre

SG Enable supported the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and event organisers in developing inclusive SG60 programmes.

 

Key Achievements:

• Event organisers were equipped to plan for accessibility and inclusion through the Inclusive Events Planning Guide developed by SG Enable and MCCY.
• Facilitated connections between partners, linking Sentosa Development Corporation with MCCY for Sentosa Cares Week 2025, and sharing potential inclusion partners with MUIS (for the Istana Open House) and the Singapore Disability Sports Council (for the World Para Swimming Championships).

Following the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in 2024 between SG Enable and The Ascott Limited, both partners have made significant progress in advancing disability inclusion within the hospitality sector — from building sector capabilities to shaping global industry standards.

 

Key Achievements:

• Hospitality-Specific Disability Inclusion Training: Jointly developed and launched Singapore’s first hospitality-specific disability inclusion training that equips hospitality professionals with practical skills to interact confidently and inclusively with guests and colleagues with disabilities. The training enhances workforce capability, and improves guest experiences through greater disability awareness and service readiness.
• Global Disability Inclusion Playbook for the Accommodation Sector: Ascott launched the world’s first publicly available Global Disability Inclusion Playbook in 2025, developed under its collaboration with SG Enable and its other partners. The playbook provides actionable guidance for hospitality operators to embed inclusion across five key pillars — Inclusive Spaces, Digital Interfaces, Hiring, Training, and Programmes.