According to the Society for the Physically Disabled (SPD), 3% of Singapore’s population has a disability. This group of people endures societal exclusion and a lack of consistent investments, which inhibits their opportunities to get ahead, succeed and contribute to the economy. However, several organizations are working to provide disability support in Singapore as individuals work their way up the economic ladder and stay out of poverty.

SPD

SPD is a nonprofit established in 1964 to help people with disabilities maximize their potential and integrate into society. This organization is funding programs that provide services to people of all ages with disabilities and their families to ensure that they have all of the resources and tools needed to reach goals and attain economic wealth.

One program focuses on delivering early intervention services as soon as possible in order to enhance the outcomes of children with disabilities. This is particularly when it comes to succeeding in the school system just as much as children without disabilities.

Another program focuses on providing occupation therapy and speech therapy to people with disabilities, with the goal of them learning to manage their disabilities. Furthermore, SPD is dedicated to offering disability support in Singapore by equipping individuals with the job training and essential skills required to secure well-paying positions within the private sector.

SG Enable

SG Enable, established by the “Ministry of Social and Family Development in 2013,” is another nonprofit organization working to provide disability support in Singapore, particularly for those with visual or hearing difficulties to live as personally and financially independently as possible.

One way that SG Enables is doing this is through job development programs, which concentrate on creating jobs for people with disabilities and linking them to jobs within other organizations. Another way that this organization is working to achieve this objective is through its job training programs, which are designed to provide people with disabilities with the skills needed to raise their likelihood of qualifying for jobs in the private sector.

Disabled People’s Association

The Disabled People’s Association is a Singapore nonprofit “organization for people with disabilities run by people with disabilities.” It is also working to help people with disabilities with their education and career aspirations as well as with transportation needs to get to work and school.

The organization provides disability support in Singapore through legal representation and advocacy for their rights. This effort impacts their activities in education, in the workplace and society as a whole. It also delivers workshops to train disability advocates on how to properly represent people with disabilities and stand up against any form of institutional seclusion from society.

Furthermore, the organization advocates for policy reforms. It also communicates with elected officials in the country as well as with other influential organizations like SG Enable to continue to expand the rights and liberties of people with disabilities.

Touch Community Services Organization

Touch Community Services is another not-for-profit initiative in Singapore. The group partners with other disability organizations in Singapore to deliver resources and programs for people with disabilities. Touch Community Services’ mission is to adhere to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The group believes that can only be achieved if the health, safety and success of people with disabilities are advocated for.

This mindset plays a role for the organizations continuing to provide resources to those who care for people with disabilities through workshops and support groups. Since its inception, it has touched nearly 280,000 leaves, attracting 14,000 volunteers and its Wellness Group program has helped more than 164,000 people with cyber and mental fitness.

– Ryan Patrick 

Ryan is based in Brooklyn, NY, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons