36th Storey, PSA Building, 460 Alexandra Road, Singapore 119963.

Tel: 3757794/5

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Good Evening,

Dr Tan Cheng Bock

MP for Ayer Rajah and Patron of Handicaps Welfare Association,

Dr Robert Loh, President, NCSS,

Members of Handicap Welfare Association (HWA)

Volunteers,

Ladies and Gentlemen

I am happy to join you this evening to celebrate the

Association’s achievements over the past 30 years. It is indeed no small

feat for a voluntary organisation to remain vibrant and actively serve its

members for three decades. The Association owes this achievement to its

staff, its members and volunteers for their effort, sacrifices and support

over the years.

The Handicaps Welfare Association (HWA) started with the simple vision of fostering friendship among disabled people. Because it firmly believed that it could do more, the HWA has been able to expand its scope and remain relevant to its members’ needs. Today, I am glad to note that HWA has a wide variety of services, such as an active transport scheme to help members commute to workplaces and schools, a driving service using special hand-controlled driven cars, a rehabilitation centre, and an independent living centre, amongst other services.

Membership has also grown over the years. From 23 members at its founding in 1969 to over 1,600 today, HWA is continuing to prepare its members for the Knowledge Age, and the information technology skills that are needed. I am told, for example, there is an Education Sub-Committee looking into the training of members in computer and academic skills. The use of the PC, the Internet and other IT tools will help open up new possibilities and services for the disabled.

HWA has also contributed to the well-being of the disabled in general. Last year, HWA and the National Council of Social Service collaborated to update the booklet - "Access Singapore". This booklet provides valuable information on places that are accessible to people with disabilities.

I am also encouraged to know that many of your members have succeeded in transcending their physical limitations. I understand that some members of HWA scaled Mount Kinabalu recently - something that most of the able-bodied have not even done! Others have scaled their own personal Mount Kinabalus. I am told about a young man who became wheelchair-bound after sustaining a spinal injury. Despite his disability, he was determined to continue with his studies. So HWA helped him with a scholarship for him to continue with his studies in NUS. This year, he graduated with impressive academic results. On top of that, he also bagged a Lee Kuan Yew Gold Medal, which is given to the best graduates from NUS. Such examples of courage by the disabled , inspire others to excel and to challenge themselves to discover their areas own of strength. It is a spirit which gives meaning to the words of an ancient sage who said : ‘no one knows what he can do, until he tries’.

For programmes and services to succeed, they need willing and

available Singaporeans to volunteer their time and energy. We need more

Singaporeans to step forward and play a part in helping those who are in

need. As we enter into the new millennium, the "Many Helping Hands"

approach will remain even more relevant as society faces new challenges

and complex issues. A comprehensive provision of services and

programmes for the disabled needs a strong collaboration between the

government, citizens and the voluntary sector

We need to work together to strengthen the bonds in society.

Singaporeans need to come together to encourage people who might need

just a little more help to keep up. The challenge for VWOs, therefore, is

to manage the perceptions of society and to help society as well as the

disabled to see the potentials this group of people have. With effective

programmes, many disabled people can enjoy fuller and more meaningful

lives buttressed by self-esteem, just like any other member of society.

This is an ideal that the community at large should support.

On this note, I wish HWA all the best for the next 30 years and

the rest of you, a pleasant evening.