Office on Disability

the visionA national office on disability that will be given the mandate to pull and optimize resources from various ministries and

agencies, and galvanize the people and private sectors to ensure effective

outcomes for persons with disabilities (PWDs).

In short,• a state-run administrative centre

• given the authority to attract and utilize

resources

MOE, MOH, MOM and MCYS

• to arouse interest in the public and private sectors• to achieve guaranteed successful results for PWDs• mainly in the areas of early intervention, education

and employment

From Where?Why?

What are the current challenges?• Disability issues are not mainstreamed

• Lack of expertise in the following areas in disability -early intervention, education and employment

• Parents of PWDs and professionals working with PWDs want to have the traditional leadership to be reformed

• Employment of PWDs should be equally pursued by the coordination between MOM, WDA and MCYS

What are the recommendations?

1. Have senior leaders from MCYS, MOE, MOH and MOM to be a part of the office and include VWOs and NCSS as well

WHY?

•MOE – look into providing quality education, to increase the future prospects of children with special needs•MOH – rehabilitation services (OT, PT, SLT) and medical needs•MOM – tie up with industries and schools•MCYS &NCSS – to continue to provide social service support to children and their families

What are the recommendations?2. Set up an employment panel co-led by MOM,

WDA and MCYS to work closely with MOE and MOH

3. Have effective ways and strategies to make full use of the limited resources to generate optimal results. Examples: Donations from individual and corporate

What are the recommendations?4. To embark on a study to establish the rate of

disability that is occurring in Singapore. Regular review is needed to include emerging disabilities.

5. To avoid overlapping of services (elderly disabled-related issues), the national office should focus on early intervention, education and employment.