Social Advocacy Case Studies (Singapore)

Case Study 5: Towards A Barrier-Free Nation

After NEL have ramps for buses

Straits Times, The (Singapore)-December 6 2003

Auihor SHERENA LOH Administrator, l\,luscular Dystrophy Association (Slngapore)

WE REFER io the etter, Slngapore not handy for the disabled" and the report Trying time wheeling
round S'pore (ST, Dec 1).

Overthe past few years ihe Handicaps Weliare Assoclallon has been actively advoGting the creaiion of a
more accessible environmeni for peopLe wiih phvslcal disabilllies

Towards this end we have collaborated wth ihe authorties, such asthe Land Transpod Authority (LTA),
SBS Transli Building and Construciion Authority, architects and commercialdevelope.s.

From access surveys in publlc buildings, shopping cenires, schools and places of interesi we were able to
provlde lnpulforihe revision ofihe Code on Barrie.Free Accessib ity in Buidings in 1995 \dllh 3 second
;evision pub ished lasi year. This code seNes as a guide ior developers and architects in making provisions for
accesslble fealures in the built environment

The recently opened North-East Line, specifcally designed to be disabledJriendly ncorporai's featLrres
lamoed enirances, qlass llfts, wide fare gates and a tactile guiding sysiem for peope wiih visual
sr.rch as
mpajrment. These have enabled the dlsabled io be more independent and encouraged ihem to veniure out on

To familiarlse our members io tlaveL on ihe l\rRT, the associaiion conducts reguLar field trips to MRT
staiions and encourages those who need assistance to seek help from station siaff. v"e can expeci an increase
inthenumberofthealderlyandpeople\,!ithdisabillties,especalywheelchairusers,whotrsvelby,4RTwhen
all staiions are retrofitted

While LTA and SBS Transit have made effods lo improve the accessibility of stations ihete could be
technical consfaints in certain areas. We will continue io work wiih the auihoriiies on th€se lssues

Lasi week, more ihan 300 delegates from the region met ln Singapore for the lnalgural Meeting and
Conference ofthe Asia & Pacific Dis3bility Forum (APDF) We were fodunate to have ihe supportofSBS
Transit and Senlosa Lelsure Group which provided low_floor stepess buses io faclliiate ihe transpodauon of
wheelchair users The use of a poriable ramp a lowed forqLrick and easy boarding and allghiing fronr these
buses (see P ciure)

lf publc buses could be ftied with auiomaiLc reiractable ramps itwould aso beneiii the elderly, childl€n
and those who ind jt difficult to negotiaie steps. B!ses would ihen provide ihe essential link io the [,4RT
stations making for seamless transpoiation

While we appreciaie the effofts made to lmprove accessibjity, Slngapore si llhas some way to go We
appeal io all concerned io continue woi<ing towards creaUng an envlronment thai is safe and friendly for

We would also Like io thank LTA, SBS Transii. Seniosa Leisure Group donors and all oihers who
contribuied to the success ofthe APDF conierence

JU DY WEE (fl S) Presid eni, H andlca p s welfa re Association Chairperson Asla & Pacinc D isability Fo ru m

WRITE in response to the ai.icle. Trying ilme whee ing round Spore'(ST Dec 1)

As a whee chair user, was very happv !!hen learnt that lhe North_Easi Llne (NEL) wo!ld be bulLt wiih
disabledJriendly faci iiies

Before an accessible train sysism *as,n place people with muscLr lar dysvophy _ nrany ofwhom relyon
motorised wheelchairs - had few optionsi family car, specially adapted vehicies orthe London cab, which a€
expensive means of transporiaiion.

Wiih the openlng of NEL, memberc ofthe lvluscular Dystrophy Associaijon ofSjngapore have an efficient
and economical aliernative ihat has given them greater independence of movement.

The NEL's bardeFfree facilities were buili in consullation with various organisations for the disabled-
Wherever possible, rccommendations made were looked into and incorporaied to effect a transportaiicn
sysrem ll^al wou d oe usefLl ard trclus ve io a l

While we eagerly await a fuly accessible railtGnsporl sysiem on all lines by 2005, we hope thatthe
authorities will seriously consider intrcducing low-step and stepless buses with retraciable ramps. A fuliy
iniegraied kansport system bullt to facililate use by allwill allow families, parenis with ptams, the eldeiy and
persons with disabiljties qreater opportunities for independence and iniegration wiih ihe rest ofthe communify.

We believe that Singapore willbeconre a more gracious societywhere pu blic facilities and activities are
built and conducted with ihe goalofinvolving allSingapoteans.

A gracious society cannot be built ovemighi but iflhere's a willingness among all- policy makers, service
providers, users and the naiion ai large - to communicate and undersiand each olher,lo learn frori each other
and to continuously make improvements, we willeventually getthere some day. Hopefully, the waitwon't be
loo long.