SINGAPORE: Singaporeans today are more accepting of people with disabilities as part of the community, workplace and everyday life.
This is according to findings by the Society for the Physically Disabled (SPD) which conducted a nationwide survey to gather the public's perception towards people with disabilities.
The study, which
mirrors an earlier one conducted in 2009, is part of the Society's
on-going 'I Accept' campaign which aims to encourage the public to
accept people with disabilities as equal members of society.
A total of 904 respondents, aged between 15 and 65 took part in the initiative.
It consisted of both street and online surveys conducted from end-November till end-December last year.
The
findings revealed that there is a considerable improvement in the
public's perceived barriers in communicating with people with
disabilities.
25.3 per cent of the respondents say they think it
is harder to communicate and deal with people with disabilities than
non-disabled people, compared to 43 per cent in 2009.
There is
also a significant decrease in the number of people who feel people with
disabilities are dependent on others - from 47 per cent in 2009 to 13.4
per cent in the 2011 polls.
53.1 per cent of those surveyed felt
people with disabilities should be accompanied by a non-disabled person
when going out to public places.
This is a slight fall from the 66 per cent polled in 2009.
Ninety-three per cent agreed that more can be done to help people with disabilities on public transportation in Singapore.
Ninety-six
per cent also expressed the need for more members of the public to give
way to people with disabilities while entering lifts and boarding
trains.
Nearly 80 per cent of 61 respondents who are in a position to hire are open to employing people with physical disabilities.
SPD's
president Ms Chia Yong Yong, said: "Besides generating awareness and
greater acceptance of people with disabilities in major areas such as
employment and education, we hope to also cultivate graciousness in the
public's everyday encounters with people with disabilities such as
showing a little more patience, giving way and lending a helping hand.
"It
is heartening to see improvements in the level of receptiveness towards
people with disabilities amongst Singaporeans, and we do hope to see
this trend continue, and to see more people with disabilities integrated
and included in our mainstream society."
- CNA/fa
"like"
As much as singapore still has some way to go to swiss standards (disabled has no problems taking public transport for eg.) - I think we're much better than some countries (Korea for eg.)
I think my 6 months there I saw less than 5 disabled people in public places. Dont know where the govt/family hid them already..
Originally posted by motoway:As much as singapore still has some way to go to swiss standards (disabled has no problems taking public transport for eg.) - I think we're much better than some countries (Korea for eg.)
I think my 6 months there I saw less than 5 disabled people in public places. Dont know where the govt/family hid them already..
in hospitals or nursing homes?