Disability/Mobility and Access

Key Statistics & Figures

Definition of Access

Accommodations are given to an individual to meet an individual need. Accessibility creates a space that is accessible in a way that accommodations are not needed. Accessibility is more than physical access to physical spaces - there are four broad types:

1. Physical accessibility is just one kind of accessibility, e.g., ramps, lifts, accessible train stations and parking lots and toilets.
2. Communicative accessibility, which refers to the ability of people to gain barrier-free access to services, participate in communicative events, give and get information, and make informed decisions. One example is image and audio descriptions for the blind, and captions for the deaf/hard-of-hearing.
3. Cognitive accessibility caters experiences and information to different levels of cognition, such as easy-read formats which cater to different minds and diverse intellectual capabilities.
4. Emotional accessibility which takes into account how different people react differently to certain environments, smells or sights. Examples include issuing trigger and content warnings before sharing information that may be sensorily overstimulating, unpleasant or traumatic.

Areas of Needs

Transportation

Existing Resources Transportation subsidies:

Taxi Subsidy Scheme

VWO subsidy scheme

Public Transport Concession Scheme for Persons with Disabilities

Assistive devices for drivers with disabilities (ST 24 Oct 2016)

Accessible public transportation:

UberAssist Channel News Asia report

Wheelchair accessible taxis see taxisingapore.com and LTA accessibility push

Wheelchair Accessible Buses (About 80% of buses are wheelchair accessible, and LTA aims for 100% coverage by 2020).

Disabled facilities at MRT stations and in trains (More than 80% of MRT stations have at least two barrier free access routes).

Accommodation for drivers with disabilities:

Car Park Label Scheme for Persons with Physical Disabilities

SPD provides training for Tower Transit bus drivers how to help commuters with disabilities (ST 28 Apr 2016)

Gaps and Their Causes

Transportation costs, while subsidised, are still high for lower income PWDs

Cheaper transport options such as buses and trains are either too crowded for wheelchair users or other persons with disabilities OR there are service issues, such as some unprofessional or even discriminatory drivers or passengers.

Open prams used by caregivers now allowed on public buses, but not all bus drivers realise this yet (ST 2 Oct 2016)

Possible Solutions

Resources	Gaps	Ideas
Actual implementation of accessibility codes	Wheelchair users continue to difficulties travelling around in the CBD area. To travel from one point to another, most able bodied persons can take only 10 minutes with different choices of routes. However, there is only one possible route for wheelchair users as there is only one lift. Moreover, the wheelchair friendly route is not fully sheltered which will cause them to wheel themselves in the rain. Ramp access, where available, is often inconvenient with ramps being too high or having too many turns. See page 30 here. The lack of Braille signages and other communication barriers mean that access to information is still limited. See page 30 here. "There are some places where doors are needed to be pulled or push. This made it impossible for her to pass through those doors by herself as she needs to push or pull them while wheeling herself." "The negotiating of door in a passageway in the BCA guideline does not consider the weight and resistance of the door. It may be very difficult for the wheelchair users to pull the door towards himself/herself with one hand. Furthermore, one with limited use of his hands (paraplegic or cerebral Palsy) will find this much more challenging to do it independently."
	Similar anecdotes on Braille signs: "Signs in Braille are not reachable or [she] does not know where to find them to navigate around in public spaces.” "However, persons with visual impairment may still not understand where to locate the sign to feel for the braille letters embossed on the sign."	Instead of reaching out to feel where certain places are like the washroom, audio navigation can be played for the person with visual impairment to know where to navigate to. Consider adapting software such as the Talking Signs audio pathway. The Talking Signs system works when the user "sweeps" the air in front of them with a special infrared receiver to pick up a localized signal announcing details of a nearby point of interest, such as "men's washrooms" or "elevator."
	"The guideline on the gradient of the slope may be only able to be done when there is enough space in the building or environment to build a gentle slope. However, if space is limited, the environment will not be able to afford for a long and gentle slope."	Create an area specifically for long slopes and compact the turns like how SPD did in its HQ. Instead of reaching out to feel where certain places are like the washroom, audio navigation can be played for the person with visual impairment to know where to navigate to.
Priority Queue Programme at screen doors and passenger lifts in MRT stations An initiative where wheelchair users, pregnant women, the elderly and parents with strollers will be given priority to board the train or enter the lift first.	It is not enforced and it is often seen that people are not letting people who needs the lift (PWDs, pregnant ladies, elderly) to use it first.	Public education on the civic responsibility.  Mandated rule to offer PWDs to use the lift first.
SmartBFA (Barrier Free Access) A Route-planning app for wheelchair users which can predict the shortest possible routes for wheelchair-using residents to get around Started with Bukit Panjang town where a pilot was launched on 10 February 2018. Relies on voluntary contribution by users. SmartBFA is still in the works of mapping Singapore’s wheelchair accessible routes. In data collection phase.		Instead of waiting for the whole Singapore to be mapped with wheelchair accessible routes, SmartBFA can publish the app with the limited data they have first. This means rolling out the app in phases, from one area to another area for PWDs to use it to plan for accessible routes. Can also collect usage data and test for UI/UX.
Mobility Assistance for the Visually Impaired and Special Users (MAVIS) App Jointly hosted by Land Transport Authority and SG Enable to support persons with hearing impairment, visual impairment and wheelchair users with travel assistance on selected public bus services in Singapore. Aims to make it easier for commuters with special needs to take public buses

Access to Buildings

Resources	Gaps	Ideas
Code of Accessibility in the Built Environment Instituted in 1990 , latest revision in 2019 The two most impactful changes to the Code are the requirements for Accessible Changing Rooms which allow caregivers to clean and change the diapers of older children and adults with disabilities as well as the elderly; and wider accessible toilet spaces for motorised wheelchair users as they require larger manoeuvring spaces.
Universal Design Guide for Public Places 2016 Developed by the Building and Construction Authority is one of the initiatives under the Action Plan for Successful Ageing A guide on designs of the built environment to make it safe and accessible for the young, the old and persons with different disabilities
Accessible Toilets Installed in most of the shopping malls. Some require one to tap the SGEnable concession card to open the door.	"It is observed that some able bodied people use the toilet as no one else is using."	Install the SGEnable card unlocking mechanism to all accessible toilets in Singapore.

Information Access

Resources	Gaps	Ideas
Web Content Accessibility Standards (WCAG)- implementation in Singapore For government digital services, see here		Web Accessibility Guidelines https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/ Accessibility reviews of the web:https://www.abilitynet.org.uk/