New task force set up by Govt to support those with disabilities; Enabling Village opens new space

SINGAPORE – A new task force will be set up by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) to strengthen support for people with disabilities and their families across life stages.

The inter-agency task force, chaired by Minister of State for Social and Family Development Goh Pei Ming, will engage those with disabilities, their caregivers, community partners and employers as part of its work.

It will make its recommendations public in 2026.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced this on Dec 5 at the official opening of Vista, a four-storey block at the Enabling Village, which provides more space for services for those with disabilities after they turn 18 and age out of the system.

This includes a simulated HDB flat living environment to help them learn how to live independently.

MSF said in a statement on Dec 5 that the five-member task force had been appointed by Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli.

The Taskforce on Assurance for Families with Persons with Disabilities will study and develop recommendations in three areas: employment, community living and affordability. These include supporting those with disabilities in upskilling, reskilling and expanding the range of employment opportunities available to them, as well as strengthening community-based support through better access to healthcare, care planning and sustained support for families.

The task force will also study the financial costs borne by people with disabilities and their families and recommend ways to keep disability support services affordable.

The working group comprises Mr Goh; Minister of State for Health and Digital Development and Information Rahayu Mahzam; Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development and Law Eric Chua; Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower and Finance Shawn Huang; and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education and National Development Syed Harun Alhabsyi.

In his speech, PM Wong said many caregivers worry about what comes after special education (SPED) schooling, like whether their loved one is ready for work and able to live independently.

The Enabling Masterplan 2030 aims to strengthen post-SPED support, but more needs to be done, he added. Employment outcomes for people with disabilities must improve, and students graduating from SPED schools and institutes of higher learning need more support to transition from school to work, he said.

Others with higher care needs will also require more structured pathways to transition from school to society, he added.

“MSF has been looking at these issues for some time. But it’s really a whole-of-government and, more importantly, a whole-of-society effort. Because it’s not just about what the Government does – it’s also about how all of us, including employers and the community at large, respond,” he said.

SG Enable opened the Enabling Village in Redhill in 2015 to provide a dedicated space for those with disabilities where they can live, learn and work alongside their caregivers and the wider community.

The expansion is part of SG Enable’s efforts to strengthen post-18 pathways for people with disabilities and to support their caregivers, the disability agency said.

At Vista, the Independent Living Studio, which is developed with TOUCH Community Services and supported by charity for disabilities SPD, resembles a typical HDB flat and is fitted with smart-home features and assistive technology.

The simulated environment allows users to practise essential daily living skills, undergo hands-on training and even stay overnight as part of structured learning modules.

The Enabling Academy, which offers courses to support employability and learning, will be housed in Vista from now. The academy was opened in 2022 and works with partners across the education, business and social sectors to offer courses.

To help caregivers and those with disabilities plan for long-term support needs early, the Future Care Planning Resource Centre, run by SG Enable, will also operate from the new building. It will tap a network of social service agencies and community partners and serve as a sector hub where caregivers can get help.

Other tenants of the building include CaringSG, which provides caregivers with respite and emotional support, and inclusive singing organisation Voices of Singapore, which will run inclusive choir programmes that welcome participants of all abilities.

Among the many excited faces at the event was Madam Li Shu Yun and her son Allan Cai. Madam Li, 62, has visited the Enabling Village multiple times a month since it first opened in 2015.

Allan, 28, was born with Down syndrome, and attends talks and courses by the Enabling Academy on topics such as art, communications and computer skills.

Madam Li said moves like expanding the Enabling Village send a good message that more thought and importance is being placed on those who are differently abled.

“When you look at the space, the services, and how everyone is working together – it really makes you feel like the entire society is moving towards inclusion,” the university lecturer added.

PM Wong said Singapore has made strides in changing attitudes and mindsets over the years.

He said that when

he attended the Purple Parade in October

, he remembered being at the first parade in 2013 – it was then a small gathering of advocates and supporters. The Purple Parade is an annual gathering in Singapore to raise awareness for those with disabilities. This year’s parade drew more than 15,000 participants.

“We can all take heart in the progress made. But we still have work to do,” said PM Wong.