Key takeaways:

• SPD hosted around 30 senior government officials from all over the world
• The overseas officials were eager to find out more about SPD’s best practices
• SPD hopes to achieve better practices for improving lives with disabilities beyond our shores

SPD had recently hosted close to 30 senior government officials from over the world. They were in Singapore to attend the five-day Singapore Cooperation Programme titled “Empowering Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs” and were eager to find out about SPD’s best practices. From this sharing session, SPD hopes to improve the lives of more individuals with disabilities in Singapore and those beyond our shores.

Early this month on 9 May, SPD hosted close to 30 senior government officials from countries such as Cambodia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Pakistan, Nigeria, Mauritius, Timor Leste and Togo, who are involved in their country’s social policy planning and development. They were in Singapore to attend the five-day Singapore Cooperation Programme titled “Empowering Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs” co-organised by the Civil Service College and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A brief introduction of SPD gave the guests some understanding of the work we do to support people with disabilities in the community – be it in early intervention, education, employment or social support in general. A lively discussion ensued as the group was eager to find out more about some of our best practices. The two-hour visit concluded with a tour of the SPD Ability Centre which took them to programmes such as the Day Activity Centre, Sheltered Workshop, Rehabilitation Centre, Building Bridges EIPIC Centre and the Transition To Employment programme.

The guests were brought around on a tour of SPD Ability Centre to understand and gather more information on the programmes and services that SPD has.

At each station, staff from SPD makes sure that the guests were briefed on the programme and services that the station provide.

SPD hopes that the session helped and looks forward to the great things to spur forth from the different countries.

“Besides supporting people with disabilities through direct services, sector empowerment is also an area we focus on. We hope that through visits like this, we could influence and enable policymakers, educators and professionals, so that their decisions and work can improve the lives of more individuals with disabilities in Singapore and those beyond our shores,” said Sharon Chuo, manager for Advocacy and Public Education, who was one of the hosts.