He is concerned with social stratification, where the big divide between the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ has grown even wider. No children should therefore be denied the opportunity to an equal education because of lack finances. He, would ensure that. He also wants to make sure our elderly are included in society, that they may age with dignity. With our population ageing at a rapid rate, it is crucial that we also provide for those who have looked after us while we were still struggling in our diapers!

But, he stopped short at that. A portion of society, has been ignored, overlooked, and totally written off from Singapore’s society! Persons with disabilities. To say that they have been ‘swept under the carpet’ would be an understatement, for singly, they may be quite insignificant and even negligible, but collectively, that would have been a really huge bulge under the carpet that cannot be ignored.

In short, this group of people have been literally obliterated and cease to exist in our social equation!

To cater to the needs of the financially-challenged group is a “no-brainer” (PM’s own words, before he became a PM). Just pump in the dollars and cents, and have the children work for it themselves. To look after the needs of the elderly is a social responsibility in line with Asian principles of ‘piety’ and ‘respect for our elders’. And with our rapidly ageing population, something has to be done.

But to address the needs of those with disabilities, it is a long term commitment and dedication. To really accept these people into our lives calls for a total change of mindset, a paradigm shift of what constitutes a human being, and tolerance.

There is much economic returns in supporting children from low-income families – to turn the void deck kid to a Nobel prize winner! As for the elderly, everyone will have to take that route at some point in their lives, so it does make economic sense in that way.

What about disabilities? Not all will benefit from the services and facilities for the disabled. And chances of getting a Nobel winner from the group? practically zilch. Why bother?

“What is an inclusive society? It’s one where everyone benefits from the progress of the nation, where everyone has a say, a stake, and a sense of belonging. It’s one where everyone aspires to do better through their own efforts and feels that he or she has a real chance to move on. Why is this important?

“First, fundamentally, we are one Singapore family. Then it’s a reflection of what we are and our values, how we see ourselves, how we want others to see us. it’s also a practical matter because if we are inclusive and we work together, we stand together and succeed. but if not, we fall apart and we fail.”

It sounds good, promising and uplifting. Until you read the rest of the speech, and then you realise that there are just some people who are not and probably will not be admitted into the Singapore family. Outcasts.

Every time I hear a child with disabilities recite the Singapore Pledge alongside his non-disabled peer, I feel a sense of guilt and remorse. And every year when I watch the National Day Parade, I think about how we are misleading this group of people, pulling the wool over their eyes!

They recite the pledge with pride and sincerity, and revel in our Nation’s birthday celebrations. I don’t think they have in any one moment not considered themselves as Singaporeans. They believe themselves to be part of the Singapore family. What devastation to learn that they have never really been considered a part of Singapore! To be disowned and turned out by the people you have learned to call family.

This is the saddest day of my life!

Having a disability does not put one in the position to demand life’s extras. It is unfortunate for one to have a disability, but it should not be used to generate pity and sympathy, to get advantages and benefits out of it. And the public should be sensitive enough to realise and understand that a disability is not the same as being helpless and pitiful. In fact, many people with disabilities are self-sufficient, independent and have pride. They do not need pity and lesser still, hand-outs and freebies.

Unfortunately, this way of thinking is rife in our society, still. The public view people with disabilities with much pity, and also some people with disabilities feel they are entitled to life’s extras, just because they have a disability.

Take for example, music lessons. Many people with varied forms of disabilities would undoubtedly benefit from exposure to music, be it music therapy, or the study of music itself. And there are even more people without an obvious disability who could also benefit from musical experiences. But it is the former that gets all the ‘perks’, usually in the form of free lessons.

I see many children who could definitely benefit from some form of musical experience, but they do not receive any because the family truly is unable to afford such ‘luxuries’. So they continue with life, without that very dimension that could help them get on, academically, socially, emotionally, and developmentally. And I see children with disabilities, getting free music lessons, even though their families are quite financially capable of paying for such services. On top of that, there are families who actually demand such free services, and complain when they do not receive any. This, I cannot fathom.

Since when, is having a disability equated entitlements and benefits? Why are people so willing to offer ‘freebies’ to those with a disability, yet turn away others who could clearly benefit from their services, and who can hardly afford them in the first place?

I believe, regardless of abilities (and disabilities), economic forces do determine the availability of services and resources. If a child from a poor family has no opportunity to learn music even though the child could benefit from such a programme, why should a child with a disability be readily given such a service at no cost, even though it is not beyond the family’s means to pay for such services? Not all people without disabilities get the best experiences and exposures in life, why should those with disabilities be different?

Worse, many of these recipients of such ‘free’ services are not very appreciative either – commenting on the ‘poor’ level of services they are receiving, or that what they are given is ‘not enough’. They have also come to expect that all services given should be made ‘free’, at no cost!

I find this trend worrying. Young children with disabilities may grow up with a very wrong idea of what charity means. They may grow up thinking that just because they have a disability, they are entitled to ‘freebies’, and won’t even bother to work for anything they want. I don’t think this is the way our society should be moving.

My proposal: for those who are truly unable to afford the full cost of service, a token amount should still be paid. I don’t believe everything should be given, if the appreciation is not really there. I find that some people with disabilities are fighting NOT for equal opportunities, but an unequal one, as long as it is in THEIR favour.

It was heartening to know that he is aware of the current state of things – that all is not well in the field of care for the visually impaired here. And to know that he is willing to take action to remedy the situation.

It was great news to hear that there are positive steps being taken to improve the state of education for children with visual impairments. But herein lies the unsettling bit.

I believe the Minister and all his policy makers at the meeting do not have a complete grasp of the complexity of the educational needs of children with visual impairments. They tend to compare that to rehabilitation for adults with visual impairments, and align services along such lines. I was interrupted in my attempt to state the differences, and to explain educational needs. Do they not want to hear me out, or they believe they know it all? Well, from the CV of all at the table, I am a “nobody”.

Another worrying comment made by the Minister: that we are seeing fewer and fewer children with visual impairments and multiple disabilities because of medical advancements (emphasis is mine). How more wrong can he be? Research abound showing the rising incidence of children with multiple disabilities, including visual impairments, precisely because of advancements in medical science, in particular, pre-natal care! CVI is on the rise and can account for as much as 40% of children diagnosed with a visual impairment. I believe, visual impairments here still only refer to that affecting the eye and perhaps the optic nerves. Those of cerebral or brain origin have not been considered at all. I think we need work here to create awareness.

As we begin to plan for services for people with visual impairments here, I fear the emphasis is moving towards general low vision care. The presentation by Dr Chiang a post-doctoral fellow here, specialising in low vision care is especially worrying. The emphasis on generic low vision care overlooks several important aspects of support for visual impairments:

1. support and services for children are essentially different from that for adults with low vision;

2. educational support and services for children are not the same as rehabilitation for adults;

3. emphasizing on low vision care would sideline the support and services for those with little functional vision (considered ‘blind’ here);

4. emphasis on clinical low vision care does not seem to include children or even adults with CVI;

5. not enough is mentioned about early intervention for infants and young children.

My priority now, as our team meets in a couple of weeks, is to reiterate the need for specialised educational services for children, beyond the typical rehabilitation services, as well as to ensure there is sufficient services for those with CVI, and planning to include early intervention as well.

I will not fight a separate battle, that is too troublesome, tiring, and it means starting from scratch. If the group is going ahead with their plans for general low vision care, I will hitch on the side for specialised services for children. I have and will not waver from my original intent.

Of course, there was that ‘motivator’ involved – a rather expensive one. She wanted an iPhone, and I wanted her to learn her Braille. We struck a ‘deal’ in late October. The deal was: She finishes all 12 books of “I Do Like It” braille and learn all the Grade 2 Braille codes, and she can get an iPhone.

I must admit I was a little doubtful initially, and thought I need not part with my dear $$$. Was I surprised! She was all out to get that iPhone. Even practised reading in the night, before she goes to sleep. She wakes up early (good heavens, it’s the holidays girl!) and we have Braille EVERYDAY for 2 months!!!

I was a little tired after 5 weeks, but seeing her enthusiasm, I couldn’t disappoint her. We persevered. I really admire her perseverance at it, and wished it could be translated to her school work too. Well, we must not ask for the moon and the sun, when we just got the mountains!

So, will she continue reading and writing Braille now that it is all over? I wouldn’t count on it. But I know that when the time comes, she’d be prepared!

That is an achievement for 2010, and we managed to do it before the year ends. Now, let’s aim for the O&M…