Better facilities, classes clear path to playing fields for disabled

SINGAPORE — Inclusive gyms and physical education (PE) lessons adapted for special needs students are among measures to be introduced as part of Singapore’s first Disability Sports Master Plan, which was unveiled in Parliament on Thursday (April 14).

The master plan, based on the recommendations made by the Committee for Disability Sports, will provide opportunities for people with disabilities to take part in sports, and use sports as a form of rehabilitation.

For example, Sport Singapore (SportSG), the national sports body, will pilot the launch of Centres of Expertise, which will have disability sports programmes and facilities such as inclusive gyms.

“Within the next five years, we will introduce these (centres of expertise) in at least five ActiveSG sports centres islandwide, starting with centres in Queenstown, Sengkang, Toa Payoh and Jurong West,” said Ms Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth, during the ministry’s Committee of Supply debate.

SportSG will work with the Ministry of Education to develop relevant sports programmes for schools that have students with disabilities, she added.

Selected teachers will be trained to conduct inclusive PE lessons for students with disabilities in mainstream schools, and adapted PE lessons for those in special education schools.

SportSG and the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC) will partner healthcare institutions, such as hospitals, rehab centres, prosthetic and orthotic clinics, to introduce sports as a form of rehabilitation for people with disabilities.

SportSG will also work with various agencies to organise a series of events to increase public awareness of disability sports and build public affinity with para athletes.

Ms Sim said: “SportSG will work with NVPC (National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre) to develop a support network for disability sports through volunteerism and corporate philanthropy. We will also continue to showcase our inspirational para-athletes.”

The master plan comes in the wake of Singapore’s successful maiden hosting of the ASEAN Para Games (APG) in December 2015.

More than 70,000 people participated in the APG Experience Tours organised by ActiveSG during the biennial mutli-para-sports events, which also generated greater awareness of the para sports scene and Team Singapore para athletes.

As Culture, Community and Youth Minister Grace Fu said in her speech during the debate on Thursday: “When we identify with each other as Singaporeans, we start to care about each other, and feel connected to each other.

“We feel that no one should be left to struggle on their own because we are all in this together. We want to look out for each other because we know we are only as strong as the most vulnerable among us.”

The Committee for Disability Sports, which was set up in early 2015, is made up of agencies such as SportSG, the SDSC and Special Olympics Singapore.