On 18 July 2014, 7.30pm – 9.30pm Disabled People’s Association attended the Enabled! The Power of Music for Healing, Joy and Inclusiveness at Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre.
After a welcome Speech by Ms Michelle Lee, Founder and Director at I’m Soul Inc and the organising company behind the event, there was a musical performance by Ms Vanessa Fernandez and Ms Lim Lee with her guide dog Nice. The piece was written specially for the event by Phil Heeley. After that DPA member, Ms Lily Goh, song-signed along to ‘Let it go’ from the movie ‘Frozen’.
During the break in performances DPA staff member, Ms Halipa Ahmad, and other members of the audience got a chance to try out the music box being used by Soul Inc as part of their music therapy as well as a number of other musical instruments being used at the celebration.
After that Ms Charlotte White, a musical performer with disabilities, and Mr Doug Bott performed a brand new piece of electronic music, which was also composed for the event. Charlotte had an accident at the age of 11 and after extensive rehabilitative therapy she regained movement in her head and fingers. After being introduced to the Drake Music project, an organisation in the United Kingdom that uses technology to help people with disabilities get involved in music, she starting working with Doug and learned how to play music using specialised technology. Using her iPad and a Space Navigator she moves her head to break a magnetic beam and her fingers to press switches, together these movements help her perform an extensive repertoire of music.
Following that inspirational performance there were a number of equally exciting musical demonstrations, which included participation from DPA Board of Management members, Mr Paul Yuen and Mr Ian Leo Chen. Although this event did not get as much public attention as it deserved, DPA hopes that it will continue to be held in the future as there is a great need for such celebrations of Music and the Arts in the disability community.
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