Senior Minister of State Heng Chee How,
Mr Edmund Wan, President of HWA,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good evening. I am pleased to join you this evening at the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Handicaps Welfare Association (HWA).
HWA has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1969 as a social and friendship club started by a group of 23 persons with disabilities. It is now recognised as one of the leading organisations in Singapore supporting persons with disabilities. This evening, HWA will be recognising its founding members, staff and volunteers, for their important contributions to the growth and success of HWA through the years.
Over the past 50 years, HWA has helped to ensure that social services reach those who need it most. With the strong support of more than 2,000 members, HWA now serves thousands of beneficiaries through a diverse offering of social and recreational activities, as well as services such as affordable and customised transportation for persons with disabilities who find it challenging to take public transport. Ms Ngiam Kia Ling is one such person who has benefited from HWA’s physical and functional rehabilitation services. Kia Ling suffered a serious head injury from a road accident during her university days. Through HWA’s rehabilitation activities and social recreational programmes, Kia Ling has managed to improve her functional abilities and social interaction skills over time. With the assistance of HWA, Kia Ling has recovered well and is now able to take care of herself at home. She remains socially active and has picked up painting as a hobby.
What is also commendable is how HWA does not just stop at providing services. A strong believer in action, HWA has also been working with various agencies to lead changes that will improve the lives of persons with disabilities. A good example was its collaboration with the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) to implement the Wheelchair Accessibility Code in a Built Environment. Thanks to this initiative, we now have more barrier-free environments for persons with disabilities. HWA has also partnered like-minded individuals and organisations to improve access to education and skills training for persons with disabilities, by giving out scholarships and launching the first vocational rehabilitation centre for persons with disabilities in Singapore.
I am happy to note that HWA is being recognised by local and international organisations for its valuable contributions to our community. HWA has received top honours in the Charity Governance Awards as well as a Gold Citation by the United Nations Association of Singapore for being the most outstanding civic organisation in Singapore. It is through the combined efforts of social service agencies like HWA, their staff, partners and volunteers, that the impact of each Enabling Masterplan is amplified and translated into concrete initiatives to improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities.
HWA has helped to enrich the lives of many persons with disabilities in Singapore. Earlier this evening, we saw a group of them perform the ukulele, and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed their performance! I first met this group during my visit to HWA last year. They had gathered at HWA to learn how to play the ukulele and meet up with others in the community. I am glad that they have taken up my suggestion to perform at tonight’s event. This is what I hope we can all do – look beyond disabilities and recognise the different abilities of everyone. Every person has something to offer and contribute.
The focus of President’s Challenge (PC) next year will be on persons with disabilities, particularly on how we can work together with employers to encourage more inclusive hiring. A lot more can be done to provide employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. We can all do our part to help more persons with disabilities to find employment. I hope that HWA will join PC on this journey, to empower even more persons with disabilities so that they can continue to find greater meaning and independence in their lives.
In closing, let me congratulate HWA once again on your golden jubilee. I wish HWA many more years of success in your efforts to create a more caring and inclusive Singapore for persons of all abilities. Thank you.