5 get APB scholarship for persons with disabilities

SINGAPORE — What most take for granted — holding a pen, sitting up straight — is a trial for undergraduate Jacqueline Woo, 20, who has generalised dystonia, a condition that causes strong involuntary movements in her body.

Studying is a test of perseverance for Ms Woo, who suffers from constant muscle spasms that cause her to perspire easily and have difficulty controlling her vocal chords.

But her determination to pursue a university education has paid off, and yesterday she was among five students awarded the Asia Pacific Breweries (APB) Foundation Scholarship for Persons with Disabilities, given out by the guest of honour, Senior Minister of State (Law and Education) Indranee Rajah, and Mr Roland Pirmez, who is the APB Foundation Advisory Committee Chairman.

Speaking with much difficulty yesterday, Ms Woo, who was diagnosed at the age of four, said her parents are her source of strength and encouragement. Wheelchair-bound and unable to travel by herself, she relies on her mother to take her to school. During classes, she emails or texts her lecturers when she has questions.

An Arts and Social Sciences student at the National University of Singapore (NUS), she hopes to secure a job after graduation and also help children with special needs.

Recipients will receive S$12,000 per annum from the scholarship; the S$1,000 increase is a first since the scholarship was launched in 2004, and was based on a recommendation by the Centre for Enabled Living.

This is also the first time five scholarships have been given out.

“We were so impressed by the calibre of all the scholarship candidates this year that we decided to help all five exceptional youths realise their dreams to pursue a university education,” said Mr Pirmez.

Calling it an “easy decision”, he said that the foundation welcomed more applicants next year, adding: “If 10 applicants are all outstanding candidates, then we’ll give them to all 10!”

Society for the Physically Disabled (SPD) President Chia Yong Yong said: “Their successes not only serve as an inspiration to other students with disabilities, their experiences are also reminders to the community that, with a bit of understanding and support, people with disabilities can be a part of all.”

In her speech, Ms Rajah commended APB, and affirmed the Government’s commitment to providing appropriate education for all children by providing full handicapped facilities to support the needs of students with physical disabilities.

Fellow APB scholarship winner and NUS science undergraduate Amanda Chan, 21, who has a spinal cord tumour, said the removal of barriers made it possible for her to access other buildings besides those of her own faculty, enabling her to take up Arts electives that she previously could not.

“The wheelchair-enabled van especially for students with wheelchairs is a great help to me,” she said.