At the sixth Goh Chok Tong Enable Awards ceremony, held at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre on Tuesday 3 December, 13 persons with disabilities were honoured for their outstanding achievements. Among them, three received the UBS Achievement Award and 10 received the UBS Promise Award.

Local singer-songwriter Sky Shen (30 years old), who won the Goh Chok Tong Enable Award (Promise), was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at the age of 5 and has been using a wheelchair since the age of 12. However, he was not discouraged and not only graduated from university with honors, but also actively engages in upskilling himself.

This year, he wrote the theme song for the Singapore Paralympic team March On and also designed new music curriculum for social service agency MINDS Woodlands School, helping children learn life skills through music.

“For example, I use songs to teach children how to take public transport and write letters to their families, helping them learn important life skills and also providing them with a platform for self-expression. This is especially important for children with disabilities who may not be able to express themselves,” Sky shared.

13 outstanding persons with disabilities were honoured

The award ceremony was attended by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, and Ministry of Social and Family Development Mr Eric Chua

In his speech, Chua pointed disability inclusion is a shared responsibility and a whole-of-society effort, with public attitudes playing a very key role. By recognising the capabilities of persons with disabilities, fostering inclusive and accessible workplaces and shared spaces, and equipping the public with skills to support persons of all abilities, we can build a society where everybody can succeed.

“In 2011, I returned to Singapore with my first guide dog, which made me realize that there is still a lot of room for improvement in society’s understanding and inclusion of people with disabilities.”

To promote change, Cassandra Chiu (45 years old) and like-minded friends co-founded K9 Assistance in 2020, a non-profit dedicated to increasing people’s acceptance of assistance dogs. Over the past four years, they have actively advocated for the introduction of assistance dogs persons with disabilities and in June this year, the government announced that it would gradually allow assistance dogs to enter public places, on par of that with guide dogs.

“We plan to raise funds to provide assistance dogs to those on the candidate list,” shared Cassandra in an interview. In addition to serving as the Executive Director of K9 Assistance, she is also the chairperson of the Disabled People’s Association.

The organization brings together people with different types of disabilities, provides a platform for mutual learning and support, and actively advocates in many areas, including promoting barrier-free measures in the workplace and public places.

“One achievement I am particularly proud of is the accessible facilities at Gardens by the Bay, which showcases Singapore’s potential as an accessible tourist destination. This not only helps disabled tourists but also benefits the local community,” she added. With these outstanding contributions, Cassandra is one of the winners of the Goh Chok Tong Enable Awards (Achievement) 2024.

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