Stroke survivor Mr Terry Chong (above) had seen the Singapore River many times from its banks, but never from the water. Last month, that changed.
The 52-year-old, who is a trainee at the SPD Sheltered Workshop, took a cruise down the iconic river for the first time, organised as part of the activities for the SPD Ability Walk 2025.
Held at the Asian Civilisations Museum on Saturday, 13 September, the event marked its 10th anniversary with over 2,000 participants and volunteers coming together in celebration. Among the highlights were a heritage-themed scavenger hunt, and an accessible river cruise designed for participants with mobility challenges.
As the boat drifted from the dock, Mr Chong looked out at the skyline, taking in familiar landmarks from a new vantage point. “This is my first time cruising along the Singapore River so I’m very excited,” shared Mr Chong.
Makings of an accessible cruise ride
This milestone had been more than a year in the making. When river cruise operator Water B first supported the event last year, the river experience was inaccessible to those with mobility challenges. This motivated the organising team to find ways to enable persons with disabilities to enjoy the ride this year, and a breakthrough came during a site recce.
“As the accessible dock is further away from our event venue, we brainstormed ways to make the cruise ride happen. For instance, we engaged shuttle services to transport clients to the accessible dock,” explained Adeline Tan, SPD’s resource development manager who led the organising of the event. “For us, accessibility isn’t just a consideration, it’s a commitment.”
To bring this inclusive experience to life, Water B reconfigured the existing fleet and ensured newly procured boats could accommodate a portable wheelchair ramp.
“One of our main challenges was finding a ramp that fits securely and could be adjusted to accommodate changing water levels each day,” said Mr Darren Tan, Director of Water B.
“To make sure the experience is safe and comfortable for wheelchair users, we also tapped on SPD’s expertise to help us assess the suitability of the ramp and overall boarding process,” he added.
Ensuring a safe and inclusive boarding
Prior to the event, SPD’s team, including occupational therapists, visited the dock to conduct an accessibility assessment and shared their recommendations with Water B.
A major challenge was the boarding of 30 clients, including 18 wheelchair users, onto a fleet of eight boats. As each vessel could only accommodate only three wheelchair users due to its interior layout, the team had to plan every detail with precision.
“To work around this, our therapists had to carefully adjust and position the wheelchairs on each boat to ensure comfort, stability and safety,” said Adeline.
In addition, clients using motorised wheelchairs had to be transferred to manual ones for safety and ease of going onto the ramp.
“We’re grateful that Water B took in our suggestions on how to place the ramp, the number of wheelchair users that can be accommodated on the boat, and the boarding and disembarking process for persons with disabilities,” said senior occupational therapist Lavanitha Roshan (above) from the SPD Sheltered Workshop.
“On the actual day, our therapists and workshop supervisors were also hands-on throughout the event, helping with transfers and ensuring all clients could board with a peace of mind,” she added. “It was heartening to see all parties working together to make this an inclusive experience.”
More than just a cruise ride
For Mr Chong, the reassuring presence of the therapists and volunteers made this SPD Ability Walk a memorable one. Initially worried that the rain would cancel the ride, he was relieved when the weather cleared just in time.
“I’m happy to [finally be able] to take my first cruise ride. I enjoyed the experience,” said Mr Chong.
Seeing how every passenger was able to fully participate in the experience is what motivates Darren and his team to continue exploring ways to enhance inclusivity.
“Introducing an accessible river cruise allows visitors of all abilities to experience our local heritage waterfront. It also sets a strong benchmark for accessibility across the tourism sector,” shared Darren.
Looking ahead, Water B plans to work with SPD to explore training opportunities that will help staff better support passengers with disabilities.
For Adeline and the organising team, the highlight of the day was seeing the smiles of the clients and other passengers with disabilities.
“We were all very moved to hear from a participant who will be retiring from the SPD Sheltered Workshop this year. A long-time supporter of the Walk, she shared that the cruise ride was a meaningful first-time experience, like a memorable parting gift. Reflections like these remind us why our work matters,” said Adeline.
Her sentiments were echoed by Lavanitha: “Seeing our clients and other persons with disabilities enjoying the cruise was incredibly validating for our team. It proved that inclusive event designs can work when everyone come together to remove barriers.”
“Many of our clients were so excited, posing for photos before the boat even left the dock. Even when it started to rain, they happily put on raincoats because they didn’t want to miss the experience.”
—————————————————————
At its core, accessibility goes beyond physical infrastructure. It is about collective effort and the shared belief that everyone deserves to belong. Each step we take helps build a more inclusive community where no one is left out. Our heartfelt thanks to all our sponsors, volunteers, and participants for making our 10th SPD Ability Walk a success.