Committee of Supply 2022: on Enabling Masterplan for the Disabled
My 7th Speech and it’s on the ENABLING MASTERPLAN FOR THE DISABLED. The needs are many and still multiplying.
We need a holistic and sustainable solution at the systemic level so that the impact can be felt for a long time to come.
Screenshot: CNA
SPEECH ON ENABLING MASTERPLAN FOR THE DISABLED
BY DENISE PHUA
Sir, Singapore’s next Enabling Masterplan for the Disabled in Singapore (or the EMP4) is in the making. Unlike earlier plans which last for 5 years, this one will expire in 2030, 8 years later.
To ensure the Enabling Masterplan truly delivers better outcomes for persons with disabilities and the sector, we need to better organise, instill more rigour, and constantly review for better results.
I suggest the following steps.
1. One, SIZE the problem and do a better job at COMMUNICATING the main clusters of needs to all stakeholders.
2. Two, ASSESS AND CLUSTER THE NEEDS according to Importance, Urgent, Size of Impact, Ease of Implementation.
Pay special heed to areas that are highly important, highly urgent, with higher impact on the population; especially obvious pain points highlighted over the years – the dearth of services for adults; the helplessness of caregivers who continue to fret about what happens to their children after they are gone. Some who cannot cope take their own lives or their children or worry to their graves.
3. Three, STRATEGICALLY ASSIGN task forces to areas of priority.
Not just any Helping Hands. Give the job to people and organisations with track records; who are not only commentators but willing and able to dirty their hands, tap on their networks, and influence or empty their pockets to deliver the results expected of the tasks.
This EMP4 is not a feel-good exercise to increase the number of volunteers, which is important but not enough to solve the root issues.
4. Four, RESOURCE appropriately. At the national level, there must be at least a computation of what disability services would cost – to meet basic and then aspirational goals.
Leverage mainstream facilities and programmes.
MSF ought to be better funded in the national budget for critical essentials.
Partners such as the Tote Board, Temasek and other Foundations should be persuaded to address important pain points.
Other stakeholders such as families and advocates can organize ourselves better to fundraise; find regular income streams; call upon our networks to resource the disability services better!
Be part of the solution.
5. Five, set up an EMP4 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TO REPORT AND REVIEW the EMP4 yearly and at specific milestones or major changes.
It is naïve to think that the 8-year Masterplan would still be relevant in 2030.
CONCLUSION
Sir, the state of the union in the disability sector is both encouraging and discouraging.
The government has invested, yes in education, early intervention.
But needs are getting complex and multiplying. Expectations are rising. Demands keep surfacing.
Tough, it may be, we must never give up this space.
Including the disabled is an important chapter of a Singapore Story that will make us truly human, caring, and inclusive.
Sir, I urge Government to better ORGANISE, instill more RIGOUR, and constantly REVIEW FOR BETTER RESULTS for the disabled.
Denise Phua, March 2022
This comprises also 2 earlier short speeches - on how Giving and Volunteering (2min) can be more impactful; and on LPAs and Deputyships (3 mins). The last 3 minutes are on Enabling Masterplan for the Disabled.