Ease Housing Rules For The Handicapped

Source : The Straits Times, Oct 13, 2007

MY SISTER suffers from multiple sclerosis and is wheelchair-dependent. She lives with my brother and mother in an old three-room flat in Bedok, where the flats are located between two flights of stairs.

My mother, who is 70 years old, suffers from severe osteoporosis, with her back almost permanently arched.

Should there be an emergency, my sister and mother would have great difficulty getting out of harm's way.

My sister goes to work every morning. My brother has to be around to help her. On the occasions when he needed to leave early for work, one of us (I or another sister) would have to go over to help her get out of the house. It is really very inconvenient.

A few months ago, there was an opportunity for her to apply for new flats in Bedok built with accessibility for the handicapped. Some were left over from an earlier Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme exercise. She approached the MP for help to secure one of the units as she badly needed a new flat to give her more mobility. Unfortunately, her application was unsuccessful.

Singapore is being transformed gradually into an inclusive society where the disadvantaged person's interest is taken into consideration. Creating barrier-free features has been a very encouraging development. This should be extended to other areas, thereby giving everyone the opportunity to play an active role in the development of the country, to the best of his ability.

The concerted input of all agencies is required for this to happen.

Tan Cheng Lee (Ms)