Ms Jessica Tan, Managing Director of Microsoft Singapore

Ms Lam Siew Bee, Deputy Director, Digital Inclusion, Sports & Social Cluster, Infocomm Development Authority,

Distinguished guests,

Scholars and graduates,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Friends of the media,

Good morning and welcome to the Microsoft Unlimited Potential Scholarship Award Presentation and IT Apprenticeship Graduation Ceremony 2010.

Introduction

Technology plays an important role in our daily lives today. At the Infocomm Accessibility Centre, or IAC, we recognise the importance of Technology and its ability to enable people with disabilities.

This is why we are committed to enabling people with disabilities through IT: to improve their quality of life.

Since the IAC’s inception, we have offered more than 2,200 training places to more than 1,000 people with disabilities who have since discovered the power of technology.

3P Partnership

IAC is the fruition of a successful collaboration between the People, Private and Public sector. With support from the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore, the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, the National Council of Social Service, the Tote Board and Microsoft Singapore, IAC is able to provide IT training for people across disability types.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our partners for sharing our commitment to enable people with disabilities through technology.

Today, our special thanks go to Microsoft Singapore for committing themselves further to maximize the potential of people with disabilities through technology. Ms Jessica Tan will soon share with us our new initiatives and at this juncture, I would like to say how happy we are for having found such a supportive and generous partner who has helped us over the years and who share our vision for people with disabilities.

To our partner Volunteer Welfare Organisations, thank you too, for believing in the same cause and making it possible for your clients to benefit from technology and training at the IAC. To our partner training agencies, thank you for your dedication and passion.

Encouraging more employers to step up

I would also like to congratulate the IT Apprenticeship Graduates and the recipients of the Microsoft Unlimited Potential Scholarship. I trust that the skills and award you receive will be of help when you seek employment in the open market.

At the same time, I hope that more employers will consider hiring people with disabilities and integrating them into the work place.

With more active participation from private sector employers to open their doors to IAC graduates, coupled with the support we currently have from the People, Public and Private sector, and the new initiatives from Microsoft Singapore, we can all help to enable more people through technology.

Thank you.