PSSA 2011 - Individual Category Award Winner

Ms Chia Yong Yong

Ms Chia Yong Yong has actively volunteered with the Society for the Physically Disabled (SPD) since 1997, providing inspiring leadership and propelling the organisation forward with her compelling drive. She became a member of the SPD’s Board of Management in 2004 and has been serving as the President since 2008.

Ms Chia, who was diagnosed with pereoneal muscular dystrophy, believes in giving people with disabilities equal opportunities, respect and dignity. She has been instrumental in facilitating their integration into mainstream society. One example is the setting up of the Infocomm Accessibility Centre (IAC), Singapore’s first centre to provide training in Infocomm Technology (IT) for persons with disabilities in 2008. IAC houses the IT Apprenticeship Programme, which focuses on providing relevant and practical IT skills training to enhance the employability of people across different disability types, and the Assistive Technology (AT) Loan Library which allows people with disabilities to borrow computer accessibility tools and AT devices for trial before purchase. So far, more than 1,000 people with disabilities have benefited from more than 4,000 training places comprising IT, apprenticeship and AT training sessions.

Assuming the role of Chairman of SPD Education Programme Committee since 2007, Ms Chia showed keen interest in the welfare of the younger generation by introducing the Disability Resource Handbook in 2009, a guide for teachers on integrating students with disabilities into mainstream classrooms. In addition, she also initiated the SPD Youth Aspiration Award in 2010 to inspire talented youth with physical disabilities to pursue non-academic interests.

Ms Chia chaired the SPD Charity Show Committee in 2007, 2009 and 2011, raising a total of $12 million and increasing the public awareness of the needs of people with disabilities. Under her leadership, the number of people SPD served grew from 2,200 in 2008 to over 4,000 in 2011, and SPD was awarded the Singapore Prestige Brand Award – Special Merit in 2009 and 2010. Displaying dedication in helping people with disabilities overcome daily challenges to lead fulfilling lives, Ms Chia is an inspiring role model for the people she serves and the wider community.

PSSA 2011 winners: