Government Implementation of the Standard Rules
As Seen By Member Organizations of
World Blind Union - WBU

Singapore

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© Dimitris Michailakis 1997

Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped, Singapore
No reply was received from the Government of Singapore.
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General policy

The officially recognized disability policy is expressed in guidelines adopted by the national disability council. The emphasis in this policy is on individual support, accessibility measures, rehabilitation, prevention and anti-discrimination law.

Since the adoption of the Rules, the government has not done anything to convey the message of full participation.

Legislation

The rights of persons with disabilities are protected by general legislation. The judicial mechanisms adopted to protect the rights of persons with disabilities is due process (legal remedy through the courts). The administrative and other non-judicial bodies include a governmental body (administrative).

General legislation applies to persons with different disabilities with respect to education, employment, the right to marriage, the right to parenthood/family, political rights, access to court of law, the right to privacy and to property rights. The following benefits are guaranteed by law to persons with disabilities: health and medical care, and participation in decisions affecting themselves.

No new legislation has been enacted, since the adoption of the Rules.

Accessibility

There are no rules to ensure accessibility of the built environment. The only measure the has been promoted by the government in order to facilitate accessibility in the built environment is improving accessibility in housing. There are special transport arrangements available for work and for recreational purpose. The most difficult obstacles, when planning to build accessible environments, are economic/budgetary factors, technical factors and lack of legislation and regulations.

Sign language has no officially recognized status but is recognized as the main means of communication between deaf persons and others. There are no government measures to encourage media and other forms of public information to make their services accessible for persons with disabilities. The following services are provided in order to facilitate information and communication between persons with disabilities and others: literature in Braille/tape and news magazines on tape/Braille.

Organizations of persons with disabilities

There is a national umbrella organization. There are no legal provisions mandating the representatives of persons with disabilities to participate in policy-making or to work with governmental institutions. Disability organizations are sometimes consulted, when laws and regulations with a disability aspect are being prepared. Consultations occur at the national level. The government gives financial support to existing or new organizations of persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities participate to a very limited extent in government, legislatures, judiciary, political parties, and NGOs. The role of disabled persons organizations is to: advocate rights and improved services, identify needs and priorities, participate in the planning, implementation and evaluation of services and measures concerning the lives of persons with disabilities, contribute to public awareness and provide services.

Co-ordination of work

The national co-ordinating committee is reporting to the Ministry of Social Welfare and Development. It includes representatives of the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, of organizations of persons with disabilities and from the private sector. The government expects the co-ordinating committee to participate in policy development and to perform other tasks. The establishment of the committee has led to a better dialogue in the disability field.

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