Disability Ideas Bank

This is a compilation of ideas and solutions that are new and relevant to the Disability community in Singapore. Where they already exist, these solutions should be moved to the Disability pages so that they can be included as part of the exitsing programmes or community assets to be included in a needs and gaps analysis.

Policy Level

Tiered Quota Hiring System

• One where large companies with revenue above a certain amount, or which hires a number of people have to follow a quota while small SMEs do not. Regulations will be also simplified since only large companies are expected to comply or pay a fee that goes into disability support services. Arguments against how onerous this will be for small business will not apply here.

Programme Level

Inclusive Neighbourhoods

• (A community inclusion initiative for people with disabilities and their caregivers.The objective is to help community members, partners and local institutions integrate PWDs and their caregivers into the communal life of the residential neighbourhood, where PWDs are supported by the whole community but can also contribute back to it. This will be achieved through an strengths-based community development approach that maps and mobilises the assets of the community. Early stages of being conceptualised. Interested to partner or support? Contact justin.lee@nus.edu.sg)

Accessibility Audit Staycations

• We get hotels to provide free staycations to caregivers and PWDs, and in exchange they will systematically use and experience all the amenities, make sure they can get around, use the gym, pool, restaurants, and provide an accessibility report (as well as ideas on how to improve). This will help hotels improve their infrastructure and social accommodations to different customers with disabilities, improving their marketability and attractiveness to a niche market that can be quite large and profitable. Eg have ‘quiet buffets’ once a month for autistic diners. Possibly staycation cum bootcamp where PWDs do accessibility audit followed by facilitated session design thinkers/consultants - ideation and design thinking bootcamp over the weekend to come up with ideas to improve accessibility. This idea can be expanded slowly to neighbouring amenities and localities so that over time, each locality has an accessibility rating, so the local trade associations can do something collectively if they want. Eg Orchard Road / Sentosa, Little India etc might pay PWDs to come do accessibility audit and make recommendations. Retailers can also invite. National positioning angle --- Singapore is inclusive destination. There core concept itself requires little to no programme cost, just some coordination. Hotels can do it as part of their CSR. To get this going, need to get a sense of how accessibility audits are done, eg in the UK where they are required by law.