Enabling Masterplan for the Disabled
Sir, Singapore signed and ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), a strong signal by the PAP Government to show our country's commitment to do more for persons with disabilities in Singapore. The way by which the vision of the UNCRPD is realised is through our Enabling Masterplan in our country.
However, in my dealings with the special needs community, many families, professionals and persons with disabilities are hardly aware of the Enabling Masterplan and its progress. Some called it the "best-kept secret". It is a pity that as a result many missed out on the services available and/or remain anxious, worried or even angry over the years.
I would like to seek the Ministry's update on its achievements to date and the challenges it faced for the Enabling Masterplan. I would also like to ask the Ministry to invest in resources to develop and implement a Strategic Communications Plan for the disability community, with its own micro-site in multiple languages and in multiple media forms.
Areas of concerns – adults with disabilities. Sir, my biggest concern lies with the adults with disabilities in our country. Their needs for service, their ages last from age 21 to an average of 80 to 85 years old. This is the space in the Enabling Masterplan and in the sector that is least developed and least resourced.
For those who are more severe in their disability and unable to work even with support, the progress of options available for them remains small. There is insufficient day activity centres for them nor willing manpower to care for them. New day activity centres can be filled even before they officially open.
For those who are able to work with training and support, the prognosis is more optimistic in view of the good work of SG-Enable and the job centres set up by several VWOs such as SPD, MINDS, Biz Link and the Autism Resource Centre, of which I am the President.
There is need for more support for suitable jobs for especially those who are lower in skills and need more intensive support. I have asked several times for Government and Government-related agencies to lead the way in redesigning jobs for this group, and I seek a favourable response to that.
I continue to worry for their employment future as they are not yet mainstreamed into our country's manpower plans for the future. Many of them stop formal learning after they leave school or get roped into the workforce. I had asked that the SkillsFuture MasterPlan formally include this special-needs workforce for lifelong learning and deepening of their vocational skills.
Recommendation: I urge the Ministry to convene and resource an Interim Work Group to focus specifically on the adults group to look into and improve current help plans for faster and better outcomes in significant areas such as care options, job search, training and support.
On caregivers – it is not uncommon for parents and other caregivers to care for their children with disabilities till they are well into their old age themselves. Despite the introduction of such useful measures such as the Mental Capacity Act, Special Needs Trust, Special Needs Savings Scheme and even the Foreign Domestic Workers Levy Concession, many still remain ignorant of these schemes. They are not equipped with planning ahead and constantly worry about their own healthcare and retirement adequacy needs as they themselves age.
Recommendation: I urge the Ministry to make a special effort to develop and launch a more strategic Caregivers Support Plan and Campaign through all major VWOs and CDCs.
Sir, in conclusion, the current Enabling Masterplan for the Disabled will soon come to an end. It is now time to start pondering over the underlying attitudes, assumptions and perception of persons with disabilities in our country. We should learn from the United Nations Convention about respecting the right of every person with disability – not pity them – respecting their rights to lead a dignified life with access to important aspects such as health, physical environment, education and employment
Every baby born to Singapore is our very own and precious, whichever form they come in, whichever condition they come in. The next Enabling Master Plan must have a greater sense of urgency and focus with participation from the whole of Government and the whole of society. It is, of course, not the job of Government alone but Government can take the lead to signal the rest of society to include these sons and daughters of Singapore.