DISABILITIES
THE UNCRPD
- People with disabilities are the world’s largest minority
- 650 million people around the world experience various forms of disabilities
- 80% of people with disabilities in poor countries live in poor countries which renders them
less access to physical amenities, infrastructure, financial support and social policies
- Disabilities involves issues to do with social exclusion and being disabled increases one’s
exposure to abuses and vulnerability
- Up till the 1970s globally, rights of disabled people were not under the main purview and
not a priority
- With the adoption of the United Nations Charter there has been a slow recognition that
disabled people are rights bearers under international law
- In the 1970s UN adopted non-binding declarations to do with the rights of disabled people
- Before the 1970s, people based everything on the Medical Model of Disability which
focused on physical defects or impairments
- UNCRPD was adopted by the UN in 2006 and was the very first human rights treaty that
was developed by disabled people for disabled people
- The goal of the UNCRPD is to promote, ensure and protect and ensure the full and equal
enjoyment of all human rights as well as the fundamental freedom of all people with
disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity
- UNCRPD is a very important document with regards to how it marks a shift in the way
societies view and treat people with disabilities in comparison to the past where persons
with disabilities tend to be seen as the fringes of society, objects of sympathy, pity, charity
→ marks a shift in the way in which societies view and treat people in the modern day
- UNCRPD emphasises and enshrines the rights of Persons with Disabilities as right holders
and subjects of law
- UNCRPD puts Persons with Disabilities in the centre with the rights to fully participate in
formulating and implementing the various policies that affect them
- UNCRPD reflect the social perspective that sees disability as a universal social experience
that is not unique to an unfortunate few in society
- UNCRPD shifts the lens from seeing Persons with Disabilities as the outskirts of society
and an unfortunate few to humans
- UNCRPD eliminates legal and social barriers that prevent PWDs from fully participating
in society
DISABILITY IN SINGAPORE
- In Singapore, people with sensory and physical disabilities constitute half of the disability
group, with the other half comprising those with intellectual and developmental disabilities
- There is an upward projection of persons with disabilities and with a rising demographic
trend of ageing, the number of disabled people is projected to rise significantly by 2030
- Quality of Life Study of Adults with Disabilities conducted by the National Council
of Social Services (NCSS) in 2017, 49.0% of disabled people in Singapore have a moderate
to severe disability, 55.6% of disabled people in Singapore have a chronic heart condition
→ A person who is classified as disabled does not experience impediments and challenges
with regard to that disability, but other mental or physical health conditions that further
impede their lives
- The shift in the governmental and social mindset towards disabled people in Singapore due
to national interest of developing human resources to increase productivity in the society
1980: Launch of Car Park Label Scheme in Singapore which provided access to wider parking
spaces for drivers and passengers with mobility impairment
1999: Ministry of Education launches Assistive Technology Fund to cater to students in the
primary, secondary and pre-university levels
2006: First Wheelchair-accessible Public Bus is launched
2019: Compulsory Education Act that was implemented in 2003 now extended to disabled
children in schools with moderately and severely disabled children to attend government
funded Special Education (Sped) Schools
SOCIAL INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION
(I) Definitions of Social Inclusion and Social Exclusion
- Social Inclusion encompasses and influences three main domains of a person’s life namely
political, economical and social
- UNESCO defines Social Inclusion as “A society for all in which every individual, each with
rights and responsibilities, has an active role to play”
- Social Exclusion refers to systemic disadvantage or discrimination of an individual based
on their identity with factors such as gender, ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, age
(II) Social Exclusion
1. Unequal access to resources (ST)
2. Unequal participation (ST)
3. Denial of opportunities (ST)
4. Corrosion and breakdown of society due to poor social cohesion
5. Entrench and worsen the marginalised conditions of segments of society
6. Communities who are excluded face unemployment, poor educational outcomes, low
income, poor housing conditions, poor health and family breakdown
- Disabled people are excluded socially as they
- Face physical barriers to their inclusion
- Are not included in legislation
- Meet financial struggles due to their inability to get educational opportunities and
correspondingly employment
- Face attitudinal barriers and obstacles in their daily life
PREVAILING ISSUES STILL FACED BY PWDs
(I) Lack of accessible physical amenities
(II) Attitudinal barriers
(III) Employment difficulties
(IV) Participation in the society
(V) Discrimination and stigma faced
(VI) Isolation and social exclusion