Singaporeans from all walks of life will come together to celebrate the nation’s 59^th birthday next week. National Day events and activities will take place at many corners of the island – from offices and schools to malls and community spaces. For this upcoming National Day, we asked our SPD Inclusion Champions what they think event organisers can do to make such national and large-scale celebrations enjoyable for persons with disabilities and their caregivers.

Tip 1: Ensure accessible facilities

One of the foundational aspects of an inclusive event is to ensure facilities are accessible.

“It’s great that there are now accessible routes planned for wheelchair users to navigate at big events such as the National Day Parade and Chingay. However, as a wheelchair user, I still struggle with crowded lifts and constantly occupied accessible toilets. I often see others using lifts or wheelchair-accessible toilets despite having escalators and regular toilets nearby because it is convenient for them. This can become an inconvenience for people with disabilities,” said Mr Kishon Chong who works in the public transport sector.

Event planners can help by designating lifts for use by those with mobility challenges and ensuring that accessible toilets are prioritised for use by individuals with disabilities.

Tip 2: Create sensory-friendly areas

Large-scale events often involve loud music, crowds, and multiple sound speakers, which can be overwhelming for attendees with sensory sensitivities. This can be even more challenging for some children as they try to absorb and understand everything that is happening around them.

Elliot, who is born blind, relies heavily on his hearing to explore. However, the noise can get too overwhelming for him. “We try to expose Elliot by bringing him to different events and let him experience all the activities like other children. However, when we see him covering his ears or becoming more affected by the surroundings, we will check if he wants to leave. Sometimes he would still prefer to stay and have some fun!” said Elliot’s mother, Wei Shi.

Wei Shi hopes to see more quiet zones where caregivers of children with special needs can take a breather, as this allows them to participate in events without the stress of sensory overload.

Tip 3: Provide live captioning

Hearing loss happens on a spectrum where some are able to hear higher or lower frequencies, and the extend of the hearing loss also differs. It is also important to note that not all people who are hard of hearing know sign language.

“I don’t particularly enjoy going to crowded events because I am not able to hear the conversations that are going on due to the noise. For large events, there are usually an emcee, but very often I can’t hear what is being said,” shared Mr Winston Wong who uses hearing aids.

“Even though we are seeing more sign language interpreters hired for events, I can’t understand what’s going on as I do not use sign language. Having live captioning are more helpful to people who are hard of hearing like me who do not sign,” he added.

Tip 4: Promote understanding of disability challenges

Educating event officials and other attendees on the importance of inclusivity and how they could assist those with disabilities are crucial in the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the community.

“Because of my disability, some people will look past me and instead, speak to my companions about what I need or want. It would be nice if they can address and speak with me directly,” quipped Kishon.

Wei Shi faces similar situation when she is out with Elliot too. She hopes that the general public can be more considerate and understand that having a disability should not exclude them from having fun.

Tip 5: Offer advance information and support

For caregivers of persons with disabilities, heading outdoors may require some careful planning. This can range from packing an extra change of clothes to identifying accessible routes to and at the venue.

For Mdm Siti Fadillah, these considerations are crucial when bringing Sayfullah, who has cerebral palsy, to events or activities. “If event organisers could provide a floor plan in advance, it would help to  prepare us for the event. We could spend less time worrying about potential obstacles and head directly to stalls or areas that are accessible to people with disabilities,” said Fadillah.

By incorporating these tips, event organisers can help to create an environment where everyone feels welcome and included. Making events accessible is not just about adhering to regulations; it’s about ensuring that everyone can participate and be meaningfully engaged when they are there.