50 Years of Social Issues In Singapore by David Chan

Author:David Chan [Chan, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-06-14T16:00:00+00:00

Conclusion

Ignorance, superstitions and beliefs about retribution for sins in a previous life or punishment for the sins of one’s parents have often been at the root of discrimination against persons born with disabilities. The rise of capitalism and the inability of PWDs to contribute effectively to the demands of capitalist production have further contributed to the marginalisation of PWDs. The “medical model” in the early years sought to isolate and “fix” PWDs. The pendulum swung towards a “social model” in the 1980s and 1990s with the concomitant rise of human rights and welfare state systems.

International definitions of disability, especially those that carry the prestige and weight of the UN or the WHO, are important statements that express the standards and norms by which communities around the world measure their conformity with global best practices. The periodic and frequent changes to definitions of “disability” reflect the contestations that have taken place (and are still taking place) between “medical” and “social” models of disability. Further, the compatibility (or incongruence) of extant definitions of “disability” or “disabled person” employed by national and local authorities, with existing laws, norms and notions of disability — or local “culture” — is a reflection of the degree of change that the relevant institutions aim to see achieved in that society or community. In many cases, national and local communities have attempted to align themselves as far as possible, with globally accepted definitions — financial cost being the usual ultimate consideration.

Being a highly trade-dependent society with an aversion to welfare state thinking, Singapore has been somewhat behind the curve of the social model. Unfortunately, it is unlikely to move as far as most Western countries given that the belief or perception that disability is a personal/family tragedy, rather than a social issue, is still very strong in Singapore. Nonetheless, some elements of the social model have been incorporated into Singapore’s disability paradigm. For example, the increasing focus on policies that aim to change society, the advocacy for inclusivity, and the push for barrier-free accessibility and accessible buses are all aspects of “change” which the social model would advocate. The definition of disability in as early as 1989 espoused the idea of a social model of disability in Singapore, although it stops short of the rights-based model common in the West.

The increasing proportion of the elderly in the Singapore population has moved policies towards greater inclusivity for the elderly which also benefit PWDs. The demands of many interest groups and the spread of international norms of disability rights have also moved Singapore’s policies towards a greater consideration of PWDs as persons of worth. It looks like the trend towards viewing PWDs as individuals who have rights and can make meaningful contributions to society — similar to elderly individuals with various impairments — will continue.

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