Paralympics: More Recognition for Disabled Sportsmen/women
DPA wrote two letters about the recently concluded Paralympics:
- Disabled Appeal for More Media Coverage – Straits Times, Sept 20
- Disabled Athletes: The Value of Gold – Today, Sept 22
Abilities Road Show
The Disability Information and Referral Centre, with support from the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, National Council of Social Service and National Library Board (NLB), organised an Abilities Road show 2008 held on 20 July 2008, Sunday at The Plaza, NLB Bugis and DPA was one of the participant.
The objectives of the event were to celebrate the abilities of people with disabilities and to inform on the services available for people with disabilities and their caregivers. Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports graced the event as Guest-of-Honor.
Public Awareness Events
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NCSS Mega Carnival
In line with the theme: “Celebrating 50 Years of Social Service in Singapore”, the Disabled People’s Association set up an exhibition booth at the Carnival on 24 August to celebrate its story of social service over the years through photos and posters.Along with these, there was also a display and distribution of DPA’s collaterals – dictionary of Disability Terminologies, Handbook on Universal Web Accessibility, Integrator, Zo-Cards and brochures. Since DPA’s inception in 1987, we have been doing advocacy work to help find means to address the needs of people with disabilities. The exhibition helped us to bring this message to many people in Singapore over the weekend.
- Yellow Ribbon Carnival
Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE) organized a Yellow Ribbon Carnival on 29 June 2008 from 8.30 am to 6.00pm. They chose DPA to be one of their beneficiaries. DPA took this opportunity to distribute free handbooks on Universal Web Accessibility, Dictionary of Disability Terminology, Zo-cards, brochures etc. to promote DPA’s programs and services. The President of DPA Mr. Leo Chen Ian received the mock cheque on behalf of DPA.
Other Initiatives
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YMCA Youth for Causes
Five students from the Ngee Ann Polytechnic helped raised funds and awareness in 2008 during the Youth for Causes. They tried raising money by holding a car wash and selling products used for washing cars. It would appear that not many people could be convinced by the students to have their cars washed by them but they did succeed in selling a number of products which raised money for DPA.Team Members:
- Mabel Ong Rui Rong
- Chia Sing Yee
- Apple Heng Sock Ping
- Glenn Michael Danker
- Chew Zhi Qiang
Date of Completion: September 2008
Amount Collected: $347.40
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Accessible Resources at Public Libraries
DPA wrote a letter for the press following the launching of the READ Singapore Campaign of the National Library in May. The letter urged the NLB to truly put ‘inclusiveness’ into practice. Among its suggestions were to waive the ‘premium-card holder’ requirement to be able to borrow audio books from the library for people with visually-handicapped or low vision; produce large print books; and to make their website universally accessible. DPA’s future plan is to promote Universal Web Accessibility to NLB.At the launch, the NLB distributed the new set of audio books to various organisations having in mind the visually-impaired to be able to access the books as well and make reading more ‘inclusive’. DPA President Mr Leo Chen Ian received the CDS. The books are also downloadable from NLB’s website.
Five members have signed up for the “Project Deliver Me”. This service seeks to provide people with disabilities easy access to library materials by getting volunteers to deliver these materials to their homes free of charge.
