Representation of Persons with Disabilities on Boards and Management of Social Service Organisations

Disability social service agencies (SSAs) are independent, non-profit organisations, each with its own mission and Constitution. They determine the composition of their leadership teams based on their organisational objectives. We do not track the proportion of persons with disabilities on the Boards or management of these SSAs. SSAs are encouraged to diversify their boards to strengthen decision-making, governance and accountability. Disability SSAs interested in diversifying their Boards, including with candidates with disabilities, can tap on the Board Match Programme by the Centre for Non-Profit Leadership (a part of the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre), which identifies and matches best-fit candidates to serve on their Boards and committees.

SSAs in Singapore's disability sector work closely with various stakeholders to support persons with disabilities and be a voice for their needs. They draw attention to gaps, and partner with agencies to propose, test-bed and implement solutions. They provide a range of support for persons with disabilities and their families – early intervention, education and care services, employment support, recommendations for and training on use of assistive technology, and raising awareness on disability – all of which enable persons with disabilities to achieve their potential, and live a life of dignity and meaning.

The cross-sectoral Committees that developed the Enabling Masterplans have included persons with disabilities, care-givers, and stakeholders from disability SSAs in the formulation, review and implementation of the Masterplans.

Under the Third Enabling Masterplan, we launched three thematic cross-sectoral Workgroups in 2019 on the topics of employment, independent living, and inclusive preschools, which are key areas relevant to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Workgroups consulted extensively with persons with disabilities, care-givers and staff from disability social service agencies to develop and review their recommendations. Close to 300 participants took part in 15 engagement sessions over 2019 and 2020. The Workgroups will be issuing their recommendations by April 2021.

To monitor Singapore's progress on the UN Convention, MSF leads an Inter-Ministry Committee that focuses on the implementation of the Convention. The respective agencies, overseeing policy areas under the Convention, engage persons with disabilities and disability SSAs when developing policies in specific domains. For example, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) oversees the accessibility of the built environment (under the Convention's Article 9 on Accessibility). BCA's Code on Accessibility ("Code"), which sets out mandatory requirements and design guidelines for making the built environment accessible, is periodically reviewed by a tripartite Code Review Committee. The Committee includes representatives from several disability SSAs, who work together with other Committee members from public agencies and trade associations and chambers to review and draft the Code. This collaborative process resulted in the latest Code on Accessibility, launched in July 2019.

SG Enable, the single touchpoint for disability services, is governed by a Board of Directors that includes persons with disabilities. Employees with disabilities within SG Enable and MSF also provide first-hand perspectives and insights on how we can improve support for persons with disabilities.

We will continue our partnership approach, by seeking the disability community's views on challenges and opportunities, and inviting the community to co-create and co-design solutions, to build a more inclusive Singapore, together.