PSSA 2004 - Individual Category Award Winner

Professor Lee Eng Hin

University lecturer, orthopaedic surgeon and researcher - these are what some people might know Professor Lee Eng Hin to be, but there is one added role - that as a volunteer - which stands out above the rest. In his work with various voluntary welfare organisations over the past 20 years, Prof Lee has helped to shape the national special education scene as well as improved the quality of life for disabled children.

His contributions date back to 1984, when he initiated Seating for Severely Disabled Children, a project sponsored by World Orthopaedic Concern to help children who otherwise were unable to sit. By providing proper seating for them, Prof Lee's effort has enabled many children to develop physically and mentally as they are no longer confined to lying down at home with no means for further development.

In addition, he was involved in setting up Margaret Drive Special School (MDSS) in 1987 to serve children in three areas: Early Intervention Programme, Programme for the Multiply Handicapped and a Programme for Children with Autism. Apart from serving in several committees in MDSS, he also ran free orthopaedic clinics for the children. He also helped set up Rainbow Centre, the umbrella body that coordinates the activities of MDSS and Balestier Special School in 1992, becoming the Centre's Vice President, then President in 1998.

In 1987, he started the Singapore Back School with the Singapore Physiotherapy Association to help chronic sufferers of Low Back Pain. This was modelled after the Canadian Back Education Unit (CBEU) and he managed to get them to allow the School to use the programmes with a nominal start-up fee.

Three years later, he chaired a committee set up by the then Singapore Council of Social Service to study the feasibility of integrating physically disabled children into mainstream schools. This resulted in the Integration Support Programme started in the Asian Women's Welfare Association, which subsequently became the TEACH ME programme, which has been instrumental in integrating many disabled children into mainstream schools.

For his selfless giving of time and expertise for the good of children with disabilities, Prof Lee has also been presented with two National Day Awards, one in 1998 and another in 2003.

Other PSSA 2004 winners: