Caregivers in the shoes of those they care

From article “Caregivers in the shoes of those they care“, by Gracia Chiang, TODAY. Posted: 07 May 2007 1211 hrs

… when words like “disabled”, “special needs” and “handicapped” are thrown to a roomful of people who are working with persons with disabilities (PWDs)… … Almost all of them still have negative images attached to those words. This is the observation of Mr Leo Chen Ian, one of four trainers at Explorations in Disability (EID), a four-day programme organised by the Central Singapore Community Development Council (CS CDC) aimed at changing public mindsets towards PWDs.

By viewing those they help as “helpless”, service providers and caregivers often end up robbing them of their self-dignity by making decisions for them…

Full article here.

Wheelchair users want improvements in access to buses

From article: “Wheelchair users want improvements in access to buses“, by Pearl Forss, Channel NewsAsia. Posted: 05 May 2007 1729 hrs

It has been almost a year since wheelchair friendly buses were introduced, but a survey by the Society for the Physically Disabled showed that only 40 percent of its mobile members are using them. Therefore, in an attempt to redesign wheelchairs to meet the challenges of the environment, the society organised a Wheelchair Enabler Competition.

The Society for the Physically Disabled feels there is a need to review how wheelchair-accessible bus routes are selected.

Currently, it takes more than five minutes for the wheelchair-bound to board a bus, with some help from the bus driver. Some commuters feel this slows down public transport.

Cedric Foo, Chairman, Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport, said: “This is a challenge of balancing the needs of the public commuters with that of the elderly and the people with disabilities.

“The society must accept that Singapore is not just an economy, the public transport system must also be human in that aspect so commuters must be patient if the bus captain is helping somebody who is using a wheelchair to board or disembark the bus.”

Full article here.

Disabled swimmer Theresa Goh rewrites two world records in Europe

From Channel News Asia (www.channelnewsasia.com) dated 29 May 2007 - Disabled swimmer Theresa Goh rewrites two world records in Europe (excerpts):

SINGAPORE: Once again, she has created a big splash! Disabled swimmer Theresa Goh has rewritten two of her world records, in the 50m and 200m breaststroke events.

And her latest feat - in Britain, Theresa, who suffers from spina bifida, shaved 13 seconds off her world mark, to finish with a time of 4:17:38.

Link

Students design products to help environment and disabled people

From Channel News Asia (www.channelnewsasia.com) dated 11 June 2007 - Students design products to help environment and disabled people (excerpts):

SINGAPORE: More students are being drawn to find commercially-viable solutions to help the community.

A mechanical innovation in five weeks, complete with a business plan to make sure it sells - that was the challenge to 600 Mechanical Engineering students at the Nanyang Technological University’s (NTU) Engineering Innovation and Design Competition.

The competition, now into its eighth year, is seeing students turn into technopreneurs.

Link

Opening doors to disabled workers

From TodayOnline (www.todayonline.com) dated 8 June 2007 - Opening doors to disabled workers (excerpts):

WITH easier access to grants, more companies have expressed interest in hiring disabled workers.

Just about one month after the rules were relaxed, the Open Door Fund — which helps firms hire disabled persons — has received enquiries from 18 employers, with six already working out specific proposals.

The fund provides subsidies of up to $100,000 per company for firms who are looking to make their work environment more disabled-friendly, and also run training programmes for disabled workers.

Previously known as the Enable Fund, a total of 11 companies had benefited from its grants between last July — when it was launched — and April. The Singapore National Employers Federation (Snef) administers the Open Door Fund.

Link

Employers group helps integrate disabled into workforce

From Channelnewsasia (www.channelnewsasia.com) dated 7 June 2007 - Employers group helps integrate disabled into workforce (excerpts):

SINGAPORE: Three physically disabled workers in one company have done well enough to own cars to drive to work. Three others in another company have won employee awards. Their disabilities have not stopped them from delivering results. And their employers are out to prove it.

Holiday Inn Park View is one of eleven companies which have formed an alliance - calling themselves Enabling Employers. Their aim is to draw more disabled people into the workforce. They have also come up with a fund to help companies adapt to hiring such workers.

With monthly events and a job fair planned, the group hopes to double the number of disabled people employed under this scheme. Companies interested can contact the Singapore National Employers’ Federation.

Link

Tamil Nadu Handicapped Federation Charitable Trust

From The Hindu (www.hindu.com) dated 2 Jul 2007 - Provide opportunities to disabled: trust (excerpts):

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Handicapped Federation Charitable Trust president G. Chidambaranathan on Sunday underlined the significance of providing opportunities and assistance to physically challenged persons.

Mr. Chidambaranathan was speaking at a function here, in which excellence awards were presented to 20 persons with disability for their achievements in different fields. The programme was organised by Ascendas, a space provider for IT companies, and the Trust. Each of the awardees received an award, a certificate and a cash prize.

Link

WORLDBEAT - Training class brings hope in Singapore

From ComputerWorld Singapore (computerworld.com.sg), 13 Jun 2007 - WORLDBEAT - Training class brings hope in Singapore (excerpts):

Vijairaj’s injuries meant he couldn’t continue his job as a maintenance technician… Finding work has been hard; with no experience using computers, employers won’t consider him for a job.

Vijairaj hasn’t given up. He’s enrolled in a computer training course organized by Singapore’s Society for the Physically Disabled (SPD). The newly developed course is designed to help disabled people upgrade their IT skills for the demands of today’s business environment.

The SPD training course is designed to help, offering trainees the opportunity to earn a certificate in basic information technology skills, such as how to use Microsoft Office and surf the Internet, said Kong Kook Wai, deputy director of the SPD’s Infocomm Accessibility Center. The year-long course aims to help trainees find jobs that pay at least S$500 to S$600 per month, he said.

The course, which includes an internship with a local company, wouldn’t be possible without backing from Microsoft Corp., which is providing S$1 million to SPD over the next three years. That amount includes S$480,000 raised by the company at a charity dinner hosted in May by CEO Steve Ballmer and attended by Singapore President S.R. Nathan. This funding allowed SPD to develop a curriculum that was more structured and comprehensive than its existing computer training programs.

After just two months, the program has made a difference in the trainees’ lives. Vijairaj has started using e-mail, often exchanging messages with his kids, who range in ages from 12 to 15, during their lunch break at school. He’s also used the Internet to research recipes for his kids, downloading instructions to make Malay, Indian and Chinese dishes.

Link

AutismSpeaks.Org

A website based in the US, that aims to increase public awareness about Autism, as well as raise funds — www.autismspeaks.org

I found these pages useful:

• What is Autism
• What to do about it
• How to cope
• How to grow with it
• Navigating the spectrum (on Asperger’s Syndrome)

Elderly, wheelchair bound check out barrier-free facilities

By Satish Cheney, Channel NewsAsia (1 July 2007):

SINGAPORE: Working towards the goal of having barrier-free access throughout the island within the next five years, barrier-free facilities were unveiled in Jurong East on Sunday, where residents from 14 blocks will get to enjoy the new amenities. Costing around S$84,000, the initiative is a testbed before the government launches more of such projects in other parts of Singapore.

Link