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Singapore: Call for council setup to
help the handicapped, elderly and young
By Johnson Choo
Channel News
Asia, June 26, 2003
 Singapore - Helping the less mobile in Singapore get around
more easily - that's the aim of the last set of recommendations by the
Remaking Singapore Committee.
Their focus is on the handicapped, the elderly and those with young
children.
The committee said the solution was to set up a
council.
The opening of the North-East Line has brought Sherena Loh, an
administrator, new-found freedom to get around.
Despite being wheelchair-bound, she can get into the trains easily, using
the well-designed ramps and elevators.
Ms Loh said: "It's a sense of freedom, a sense of independence. I'll
be able to come out of the house on my own without bothering others to
help me around."
But her joy stops right outside the train station.
Everywhere else she wants to go around Boon Keng Station is a challenge.
And it's because of such challenges that the Remaking Committee suggested
setting up a National Council on Accessibility.
The main aim of the proposed council is to help implement full
accessibility from home to destination and back.
The main hurdle is in coordinating the various agencies' efforts.
For example, the MRT operator for ease of access to stations, LTA for the
crossing of public roads, town councils and HDB for mobility within the
public housing areas for people who are less mobile.
Ms Judy Wee, President of Handicaps Welfare Association and a Member of
Remaking Singapore Beyond Cars Sub-committee, said: "It's not only
the people with disability who will benefit from the accessibility.
Mothers with young children in prams, grandma who needs to go to the
market with her push cart, all these people benefit from
accessibility."
The committee hopes the proposed council can advise authorities in the
planning and construction of all physical infrastructure.
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