Join the inclusion movement to support the integration of people with disabilities by adding the Breaking Barriers badge on your Facebook profile picture.

Environmental, attitudinal and institutional barriers often inhibit persons with disabilities and keep them from stepping out into the community to do the things that they like, and be where they want to be. With that in mind, SPD initiated the “Breaking Barriers” campaign to remove these barriers to inclusion through greater awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disabilities in our society so that they too, have equal access to education, employment and all aspects of community participation.

The 10-week campaign was launched on 10 February in an event held at The Central Library and graced by Minister for Social and Family Development, Mr Tan Chuan-Jin. Close to 80 community and corporate supporters as well as representatives from the disability community attended the event.

Although Singapore has made much progress in building the infrastructure needed for persons with disabilities to get around, more needs to be done especially in changing the mindsets of the general public towards the community of persons with disabilities. Over the next two months, SPD’s roving photo exhibition and Open House are among the activities planned to promote greater inclusion and awareness between Singaporeans from all walks of life – with and without disabilities alike, and to increase support for persons with disabilities.

SPD President Ms Chia Yong Yong said, “We all have different abilities. Through this campaign, we hope to chisel away the mental barriers and perception that people have about living with those with disabilities. With a better understanding of disabilities, we hope that the general public and people with disabilities can look beyond their differences to become more accepting of interacting with and befriending each other.”

Find out more about the “Breaking Barriers” campaign here!