I believe that everyone is equal.

When I was doing a student exchange programme in the US, I met a student who was wheelchair bound. We were staying in the same dormitory. We became friends, and one day he invited me to his room for dinner where he cooked for me a really good Indian meal. For someone who do not bear culinary skills and enjoys spicy food, it was a real treat for me :) He showed me around his room and I saw that the furniture retrofitted for someone in a wheelchair e.g. slightly shorter tables so he could reach out and prepare the food and cook. I was amazed.

Returning to Singapore, I realised that I hardly see any student in a wheelchair on campus and I didn't have friends who had physical/intellectual impairment. In fact, it was not just on campus. I didn't see many people with disability around most places I go to.

We designed and built our environment so that we can all build for ourselves lives as people, families and a society. People with disability are an equal part of that society. I want to be part of creating an environment and society that gives equal opportunities for all.

Join me in supporting HWA to bring equal access and opportunity to every person with disability.

For the past 40 years, the Handicaps Welfare Association (HWA), a voluntary welfare organisation, has been providing much needed services to people with physical disabilities so as to facilitate their integration into mainstream society. Although HWA is a member of the National Council of Social Services (NCSS), it is not funded by the Community Chest and therefore has to raise its own funds to meet the cost of running all its programmes and services that benefit over 2,100 people with physical disabilities who are registered with the Association. It has become increasingly difficult to raise the money to run our programmes and services. We therefore have to rely on the generosity of corporations and members of the public for financial support.