The theme for this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities is “Removing barriers to create an inclusive and accessible society for all”.
To observe this day, we want to help remove barriers that limit accessibility and participation by persons with disabilities in all aspects of society and development. The first part of our initiative is to collate feedback from you and to pass them on to the relevant government agencies.
Article 9 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities states that
‘State Parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure to persons with disabilities access, on an equal basis with others, to the physical environment, to transportation, to information and communications, including information and communications technologies and systems, and to other facilities and services open or provided to the public, both in urban and in rural areas’.
The Government has indeed taken steps to improve the lives of persons with disabilities. For instance, the Building and Construction Authority (“BCA”) has set up the “Our Friendly Built Environment Portal” to create awareness on friendly built environments which is key to making Singapore an all-inclusive and barrier-free society.
However, we would to bring more attention to this portal and to complement the feedback mechanism which has been provided at BCA’s website.
From now until 31 December 2012, whenever you come across any area(s) which has been well designed for persons with disabilities or any area(s) which can be improved, please provide us with your feedback in the following format and provide pictures where possible.
- Name
- Location
- How is this area considered to have been well designed? If not, please answer questions 3 to 6. Otherwise please answer this question and question 7.
- Why is it considered inaccessible?
- Who is it inaccessible to?
- How can this location be improved?
- How important is this?
- Photo(s)
Send your feedback and photos via email to maruahsg@gmail.com.
We will collate your feedback and provide them to the relevant government agencies. We would also be posting some of your feedback on our Facebook page.
MARUAH thanks you for contributing! Please encourage your family and friends to keep a lookout and help make Singapore an all-inclusive and barrier-free society.
MARUAH Singapore 
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