Difference between revisions of "Disability"
| Line 39: | Line 39: | ||
[[File:Yomex-owo-634531-unsplash.jpg|thumb]] | [[File:Yomex-owo-634531-unsplash.jpg|thumb]] | ||
| − | == Desired Outcomes | + | == Landscape of Needs and Gaps and Desired Outcomes == |
* Click here for ongoing [[Disability/Landscape of Needs and Gaps|'''Landscape of''' '''Needs and Gaps''']] exercise | * Click here for ongoing [[Disability/Landscape of Needs and Gaps|'''Landscape of''' '''Needs and Gaps''']] exercise | ||
'''Sources''' | '''Sources''' | ||
Revision as of 14:19, 6 March 2020
Contents
- 1 The Disability Community Network
- 2 Definitions and Scope
- 3 Specific Sub-Pages / Client Segments
- 4 Landscape of Needs and Gaps and Desired Outcomes
- 5 Resource Directory
- 5.1 Voluntary Organisations, Non-Profits
- 5.2 Special Education (SPED) Schools
- 5.3 Social Enterprises that provide services for people with disabilities
- 5.4 Social Enterprises or Businesses that hire people with disability
- 5.5 Disabled People's Organisations
- 5.6 Initiatives
- 5.7 Government Agencies
- 5.8 Scholarships and Bursaries
- 5.9 International
- 6 Disability Conferences
- 7 References
The Disability Community Network
- Page to the Disability Community Network
- Page to our Google Group / Forum.
Definitions and Scope
Persons with disabilities refer to “those whose prospects of securing, retaining places and advancing in education and training institutions, employment and recreation as equal members of the community are substantially reduced as a result of physical, sensory, intellectual and developmental impairments.” Enabling Masterplan, MSF
[Point to note: Lien Centre for Social Innovation adopts this definition in their recent publication titled People with Physical Disabilities in Singapore: Understanding Disabling Factors in Caregiving, Education, Employment and Finances.]
There is no standard definition of disability which is accepted by all stakeholders. For example, NCSS/SSI lists a SSI course on mental illness under disability category, but in practice persons with chronic mental illness are not eligible for disability policies and programmes. This group is also not covered by Public Transport Concession Scheme for Persons with Disabilities, for which only those with "Physical Disability, Visual Impairment, Hearing Impairment, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disability" qualify.
"But this differs from that of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, because those with mental health impairments - such as depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorders - are left out. When asked about this, the MSF says not all mental illnesses result in disabilities, and with medication and treatment, patients are able to function well on their own." (ST 8 May 2016)
No definite data of the total number of people with disability exists, because no official central registry or comprehensive disability study has been done. According to 2013 data from SG Enable, Singapore has about 100,000 people with disabilities. In view of Singapore’s ageing population, this number will increase by 2030 as more people acquire a disability through the ageing process. According to Singapore’s population index, “the number of elderly citizens will triple to 900,000 by 2030.” Population.sg
In Singapore, those with disabilities are estimated to make up 3 per cent of the population or well over 100,000 people.(ST 27 Sep 2016)
Some disability prevalence rates of Singapore citizens with disabilities are available from the Enabling Masterplan 2017-2021. According to the foreword of the Enabling Masterplan 2017-2021, 2.1% of the student population have disabilities. (Source: Ministry of Education. This is based on the number of reported cases of students with sensory impairment, physical impairment, autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability. The total student population is put at approximately 460,000). Of the resident population aged 18 – 49 years, 3.4% have disabilities (Source: National Council of Social Service. Based on a random sampling of 2,000 Singapore residents and permanent residents aged 18 and above done by NCSS in 2015, the self-reported disability prevalence rate was 3.4% for those aged 18 – 49 years old. This includes those who acquired disabilities due to accidents and illness.) Of the resident population aged 50 years and above, 13.3% have disabilities (Source: National Council of Social Service. Based on a random sampling of 2,000 Singapore residents and permanent residents aged 18 and above done by NCSS in 2015, the self-reported disability prevalence rate was 13.3% for those aged 50 years and above. This includes those who acquired disabilities due to accidents, illness and older age).
To view and download the Enabling Masterplan 2017-2021, go to the Ministry of Social and Family Development's Disabilities and Special Needs page: (Enabling Masterplan 2017-2021)
Specific Sub-Pages / Client Segments
Page to Adults with Autism
Page to Visual Impairment
Page to Hearing Impairment
Page to Arts and Disability
Page to Intellectual Disability
Page to Aphasia
Landscape of Needs and Gaps and Desired Outcomes
- Click here for ongoing Landscape of Needs and Gaps exercise
Sources
- 2018: Lien Foundation Study on Early Intervention Professionals
- 2017: NVPC Report on Issues Faced By People With Disabilities In Singapore
- 2017: Enabling Masterplan (2017-2021)
- 2016: Lien Foundation’s Inclusive Attitudes Survey of the General Public and Parents of Children with Special Needs
- 2016: DPA’s Achieving Inclusion in Education
- 2016: Singapore's Initial Report to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- 2015: Lien Centre for Social Innovation's People with Physical Disabilities in Singapore: Understanding Disabling Factors in Caregiving, Education, Employment and Finances
- 2011: MOH's Caregiving in Singapore snippet of the National Health Survey 2010
EARLY INTERVENTION
Migrated to here.
EDUCATION
Migrated to here.
EMPLOYMENT
Migrated to here.
CAREGIVER SUPPORT
Migrated to here.
SOCIAL INCLUSION
For the public to emphatically understand the circumstances PWDs face and know how to support and interact with them
Existing Resources
Society Staples
A social enterprise that uses mass engagement platforms to educate public about experiences of people with disabilities; provides team building services for corporates: eg experiencing blindness, learning sign language etc.
https://www.societystaples.com.sg
Purple Parade
See the True Me
Buddy'IN, a programme aimed at socially integrating graduating students from special education schools with their peers from institutes of higher learning, through semi-structured social activities and sessions.(ST 17 Jun 2016)
December 3rd, 2017, the International Day of People with Disabilities -AbleThrive is hosting meetups around the world for people with disabilities, their families and allies to come together
Lien Centre for Social Innovation Workshop on Inclusion - Allyship 101
https://lcsi.smu.edu.sg/programmes/changelab/allyship-101
Gaps and Their Causes
For 'See the True Me' there is a question about the reach of these campaigns because many at a forum, many from disability sector have not seen or heard about it
Invisible disabilities (learning disorders, hearing impairment) are less obvious, and therefore the public may not understand their behaviors and support may be less forthcoming (ST 28 May 2016)
Mr Andrew Soh, assistant director at Down Syndrome Association, said public attitudes are less favourable towards people with autism and intellectual impairments, compared with those with physical disabilities, because people fear what they cannot see. "People can't tell how serious their disability is and don't know what to say or how to help them," he said.(ST 3 Jun 2016)
Possible Solutions
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
MIND’s keyword signing as total communication
—�-
For mobility and access to 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
An accessible work environment
Existing Resources
Universal Design
Assistive Technology Fund
Open Door Programme
Gaps and Their Causes
Using principles of universal design, the BCA has improved accessibility of our built environment. But Richard Kuppusamy, a wheelchair user, commented that the layout in the BCA code is more conducive to assistants of persons with disabilities, rather than for more independent users who do not need help.
Even with the subsidies, technology aids are costly for persons with disabilities; those from low-middle income households do not qualify for a subsidy after means-testing.
Sometimes the subsidy is not enough to cover a person’s assistive technology needs over a lifetime.
Possible Solutions
increase the means testing of Assistive Technology Fund to cover more persons with disabilities from lower-middle income households
Access to digital media
Existing Resources
Gaps and Their Causes
Potential Solutions
-Web Accessibility Guidelines https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/
-Accessibility reviews of the web https://www.abilitynet.org.uk/
---
Access to leisure and recreational activities
Existing Resources
ActiveSG is promoting disability sports. Various sports have been adapted for them. In Singapore, the range of sports for people with disabilities includes handcyling, swimming, table tennis and boccia, a ball game that can be played by wheelchair-users with motor-skill impairment (ST 27 Sep 2016)
The inclusive playgrounds in Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park and Ghim Moh and the complementary Children in Action programme (ST 17 Jun 2016)
Running Hour A sports co-operative that promotes integration of persons with special needs through running. We have members who are mildly intellectually challenged, physically challenged and visually challenged joining us to keep fit. We welcome anyone passionate about running to join us as running guides.
"Inclusive" art workshop to encourage interaction between children with and without special needs. Run by Superhero Me, a non-governmental organisation that runs art programmes for children (ST 2 Oct 2017).
Free entry for people with disabilities and caregivers to (special exhibitions of) NHB museums (ST 15 April 2018 “Free entry for people with disabilities”)
Gaps and Their Causes
Sports take-up rate among people with disabilities remains low, though they stand to benefit more than able-bodied people by being active(ST 27 Sep 2016)
Reasons why people with disabilities may shun sports:(ST 27 Sep 2016) •Difficulty in getting transport to the sports facilities. •Cost of specialised equipment and transporting them. •Struggles with the basics of daily life that push the thought of exercise into the background. •Depending on volunteers to help out, such as transferring the person with disability from a normal wheelchair to a racing wheelchair. •A tendency to withdraw from society and an unwillingness to leave the house for various reasons. •Logistics. For instance, when a wheelchair racer travels overseas for races, he has to take along a special racing wheelchair, a regular wheelchair for moving around and a commode chair. •There may also be psychological factors such as confidence, self image issues and a self-perceived inability to do sports.
Lack of opportunities to prove themselves ;being overprotective could limit their exposure, hindering their ability to lead a fulfilling and independent life (CNA 21 Sep 2017)
Possible Solutions
There should be regular disability sports sessions in all special education schools and organisations for the disabled (ST 27 Sep 2016)
Collectively refrain from assuming what PWDs can or cannot do, never mind their condition. (CNA 21 Sep 2017)
Opportunities to give back to society
Existing Resources SPD Youth Development Programme - Trained and mentored youths with disabilities to enable them to champion social causes and give back to the society.
Resource Directory
A good index of weblinks and resources for families with special needs kids in Singapore can be found here
Voluntary Organisations, Non-Profits
Aphasia SG
Organised by a team of speech and language therapists, Aphasia SG is a 100% volunteer-run non-profit organisation whose flagship programme is Chit Chat Cafe, a free monthly “pop-up café” for persons with aphasia (PWA) and their caregivers to interact and enjoy a cup of coffee together in a safe space.
Its other flagship programme is the Aphasia SG Choir, which is conducted by music therapist volunteers and that has weekly evening rehearsals at a central location.
APSN
Down Syndrome Association (Singapore)
http://www.downsyndrome-singapore.org/
founded in 1995 by parents, has close to 1000 members, of which over 300 are persons with Down syndrome Operates a DSA Thriftshop at Telok Blangah Crescent
MINDS
Muscular Dystrophy Association of Singapore (MDAS)
SPD
Bizlink
http://www.bizlink.org.sg/ training and employment for people with disabilities One of Bizlink's biggest businesses is providing cleaning teams to other companies. These teams are made up of able-bodied workers and those with disabilities (ST 1 Oct 2017).
Special Education (SPED) Schools
19 SPED schools as of January 2018: https://www.moe.gov.sg/education/special-education/special-education-schools/list-of-sped-schools
Social Enterprises that provide services for people with disabilities
Olive Tree Development Centre
Social Enterprises or Businesses that hire people with disability
Crunchy Teeth
Started by parents of children with special needs - aims to provide baking skills to special needs children and youth, and retails baking goods
Dignity Kitchen
Personalised Love
https://www.personalisedlove.com/
SEOciety
Social Food Inc
https://www.facebook.com/pg/socialfoodinc/about/
Incorporated in 2013, Social Food Inc. Pte Ltd is an established Halal-certified food caterer that provide people with disabilities with employment training
Started by Sim Sin Sin. See Case Study of Social Food Inc
WISE Enterprise
https://www.wise-enterprise.sg/
Adrenalin
Six of the 25 workers at Adrenalin have disabilities and other special needs. Staff members include two deaf persons, an employee who uses a wheelchair and people recovering from mental illness (ST 1 Oct 2017).
Holiday Inn Singapore
Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre hotel in Cavenagh Road - 12 per cent of the more than 200 staff are PWDs, staff adjust to the different ways of communication of some PWD employees, some of whom have intellectual disabilities or autism (ST 1 Oct 2017). .
Han's Group
Han's Group, about 50 employees, or 10 per cent of its workforce, are persons with disabilities (ST 1 Oct 2017).
Foreword Coffee
https://www.forewordcoffee.com/
Trains individuals with special needs to be baristas and frontline service staff at its coffee outlets
Disabled People's Organisations
Disabled People's Association
Friends of the Disabled Society
Initiatives
NUS Makerthon organised by Computing, Engineering, Design & Environment.
Tikkun Olam Makers - Israel based maker movement that has done makerthons for disability sector in Singapore.
Government Agencies
MSF Disability Division
NCSS Disability Services
SGEnable
Owns the i'mable collective, which aims to showcase and market the creative works of persons with disabilities, giving them even more opportunities to hone their skills and sell their craft.
i'mable Collective aims to be the preferred first stop for organisations keen to support the purchase of high quality gifts with a social cause.
Scholarships and Bursaries
Dare to Dream
The scholarship provides special needs persons, who are successful in gaining entry into a diploma programme at the LaSalle College of the Arts, with funding of fees for the full duration of the diploma programme at the College. Dare To Dream
International
World institute on Disability https://wid.org/
Disability Conferences
| CONFERENCE | LOCATION | REMARKS |
| Having a Say Conference | Geelong, Australia | Organised by and for people with intellectual disabilities. While the programme isn’t jam packed with information, it’s definitely interesting to learn more about how people with ID raise issues of concerns, and really take part in setting the agenda. Seems fairly prominent within Australia, but not much international reach. Down Syndrome Association brought some of its advocates there last year to share their advocacy programme |
| Zero Project | Vienna, Austria | Packed chock-a-block with presentations, sharings, and booths. The theme changes year to year. 2018 was on Accessibility and saw representatives from a whole host of countries sharing more about accessibility (challenges of accessibility). Most interesting were the South American presentations that pretty much shared about how people took issues into their own hands and made spaces in their cities more accessible. The conference is accompanied by innovation booths that feature innovations from all over the world (e.g., a group of people in India who set up a form of landline service for people with disabilities to post and apply for jobs). Really cool stuff. 2019’s theme is on Political Participation. |
| Global Disability Summit | London, UK (2018) | Organised by International Disability Alliance. Seems to be the place to meet the who's who in the disability sector globally. |
| Inclusion International World Congress | Birmingham, UK (2018) | |
| Harkin Summit | Washington DC, USA (2018) | 2018 - Rather US-centric. But great information on employment and employability practices by large organisations. |
| ASEAN Disability Forums | Thailand (2019) | Moves around the ASEAN region depending on who the Chairman is. |