Friends and Organisers of The Purple Parade,
- How are you doing? Are you ready to start the Parade?
- This Parade started in 2013 – it’s been 12 years since it got started, and it’s not going to stop. It’s not going to stop until every one of our hearts across Singapore, we have in our hearts a sense of empathy and understanding and a willingness to make change for the better, change to make our society a lot more inclusive, a lot more understanding, a lot more kind in everything we do, and everything we build.
Progressing on the Enabling Masterplan 2030
- Two years ago, you would remember that we launched Enabling Masterplan 2030. We put together a big set of plans from now to the end of the decade, in order for us to have a comprehensive roadmap to ensure that in every part of our lives, from our estates, from our workplaces, to our homes, to our communities, to our daily lives, we plan for the hardware and ‘heart’ware of inclusiveness, so that whether we are typically enabled or we are differently abled, we can live life to the fullest and pursue our fullest potential.
- There are three major areas of work, friends, that we need to focus our hearts and minds on:
- The first is to ensure that all of us, regardless of our abilities, can achieve lifelong learning. For most of us, we know already it’s a struggle. For those of us who are differently enabled, differently abled, it’s even harder. So we need to put our hearts and minds to ensure that all Singaporeans have the opportunity for lifelong learning.
- The second is we want to pursue independent living for those who are differently abled. Their caregivers have been telling us that they hope that in their old age, they can ensure that their children who are differently abled, are able to live independently – heartfelt requests by many parents and by many caregivers.
- The third is making our social and physical environment a lot more inclusive and caring. And I just want to say, friends, that we’ve made a lot of good progress. Thanks to all of you for putting your hearts and minds at inclusiveness.
- One example is that earlier this year, our colleagues worked together with the Accessible City Network Community Workgroup to do an audit of Robinson Road. Robinson Road is one of the oldest parts of the CBD. We take it for granted, we go to work, we come home, but for those who are differently abled, sometimes just going to work and getting home can be a challenge. So don’t talk about the whole island – let’s start area by area, district by district. The Accessible City Network worked with students, disability groups, office building owners and employers to identify the practical gaps just along Robinson Road and the surroundings, and we have identified solutions that we have to implement over time and prioritise those that are most important to our friends who are differently abled.
- One example is that earlier this year, our colleagues worked together with the Accessible City Network Community Workgroup to do an audit of Robinson Road. Robinson Road is one of the oldest parts of the CBD. We take it for granted, we go to work, we come home, but for those who are differently abled, sometimes just going to work and getting home can be a challenge. So don’t talk about the whole island – let’s start area by area, district by district. The Accessible City Network worked with students, disability groups, office building owners and employers to identify the practical gaps just along Robinson Road and the surroundings, and we have identified solutions that we have to implement over time and prioritise those that are most important to our friends who are differently abled.
- The first is to ensure that all of us, regardless of our abilities, can achieve lifelong learning. For most of us, we know already it’s a struggle. For those of us who are differently enabled, differently abled, it’s even harder. So we need to put our hearts and minds to ensure that all Singaporeans have the opportunity for lifelong learning.
- So that’s one example of how practically we make the plans of the Enabling Masterplan come to life. The second example is that earlier this year, my colleagues from MSF and HDB have worked together with our disability organisations, and we are going piloting the Enabled Living Programme. And that’s what I just spoke about earlier. We have made progress, but there’s an exciting journey ahead of us. Any caregivers say, I hope that there is a housing solution for my child when I’m no longer around. And so, let’s sail forward. Let’s push the Enabled Living Programme forward. Let’s give it our best shot. And if it works out, let’s work to scaling it across the island so that we can achieve the aspiration of independent living for all our fellow men and women who are differently abled.
- We’ve made good progress with a lot more work to do. Let’s bring our hearts and spirits together, let’s work together and achieve all that we set out to achieve in each and every one of our Enabling Masterplans – an exciting journey ahead of us.
- I’d like to thank our very hardworking organisers of The Purple Parade, and let’s grow from strength to strength. Every one of us has a part to play. Let’s work together and make this Parade a wonderful success. Thank you very much.