Singapore is a trailblazer in many fields, including its commitment to the inclusion and well-being of persons with disabilities. In 2015, Singapore’s Ministry of Social and Family Development together with SG Enable, Singapore’s focal agency for disability, launched Enabling Village. This is a first-of-its-kind community space that caters to people with physical, sensory, intellectual, and developmental disabilities. Through this village, SG Enable aims to facilitate the integration of persons with disabilities into society so they can lead active and fulfilling lives.
SG Enable applied universal design principles to repurpose a former technical school and its surrounding area into a state-of-the-art, inclusive village. It retrofitted the old buildings, replacing steps with ramps that have gentle gradients and installing lifts to accommodate wheelchair users. For the visually impaired, SG Enable placed tactile floor indicators to signal gradient change, installed handrails, provided braille lettering on key signages, and used colours to distinguish different blocks. For hard-of-hearing individuals, a hearing loop system was set up covering all event spaces to allow direct transmittal of audio to hearing aids so they could enjoy music and hear public announcements.
Enabling Village was also designed to create a park-like atmosphere, with lush greenery, well-lit and connected garden paths, visual landmarks, and an amphitheatre. Murals also adorn the buildings, featuring designs inspired by the artwork of artists with autism.
Facilities and services dedicated to persons with disabilities are now available at the Enabling Village. These include Kindle Garden, Singapore’s first inclusive preschool; a community gym with specialised equipment for seniors and individuals with disabilities; and a disability-friendly medical and dental clinic. The village also now hosts Singapore’s first stroke rehabilitation centre, and an innovation lab to showcase assistive technologies.
Emily Ong, Senior Director of Employment and Lifelong Learning at SG Enable, tells The ASEAN that these specialised facilities and services were developed with partners. “One of Enabling Village’s core strengths is its role as an incubator and testbed for pioneering inclusive business prototypes and accessibility features, reflecting the collective commitment of its partners,” she says.
SG Enable also organises activities within the village that cement its role as a hub for inclusive practices and solutions. One of these is the annual Enabling Lives Festival which brings together stakeholders, corporations, philanthropists, and the community to celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Another is the Enabling Village Tour led by guides with disabilities who showcase the universal design features of the village and share inspiring stories on how it has helped and empowered them.
Other collaborative activities include Movies Under the Stars, which entails movie screening at the amphitheatre every last Saturday of the month since June 2024 using in-sync, immersive, high-quality audio; and Accessible Sights: The First Pilot Multi-Sensorial Programme, which allows the visually impaired community to have a more in-depth and engaging experience visiting Enabling Village through a Tactile-Audio Interaction System (TAIS).
Enabling Village also launched the Invitation for Programmes initiative in October 2024, inviting organisations and individuals who are passionate about bringing inclusive and innovative programmes to Enabling Village. These programmes span wellness, art, sports, educational talks, and human libraries.
According to Emily, the response to this unique space has been overwhelmingly positive. She notes, “Since Enabling Village’s completion, feedback from persons with disabilities, caregivers, employees, and industry experts has been positive. Enabling Village has been featured in the Champions of Inclusive Spaces report by the Zero Project, a global and research-driven initiative to support the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
“We have been organising regular events at Enabling Village to celebrate the diverse abilities and have further garnered positive feedback on raising awareness on inclusion in the community. Enabling Village’s tenants have also shared the benefit of an inclusive ecosystem that offers accessible and inclusive spaces, which provide a conducive and nurturing environment for all to come together and drive meaningful impact. Beyond being a community space, Enabling Village reflects Singapore’s dedication to empowering persons with disabilities through training, employment, and integration. Many have shared that Enabling Village is a safe working environment for persons with disabilities, which reassures their caregivers.”
Enabling Village has been recognised for its exceptional design and social impact, receiving prestigious national and international awards, including the Design of the Year at the President’s Design Award 2016, the Grand Award with Special Mention at the DFA Design for Asia Awards 2017, and more recently, the 2022 Urban Land Institute (ULI) Global and Asia-Pacific Award for Excellence. In 2018, Enabling Village was also showcased as part of the Singapore Pavilion at the 16th International Architecture Exhibition by La Biennale di Venezia (Venice Biennale).
Emily shares some of SG Enable’s plans for the coming year. “As we celebrate 10 years of building dreams and enabling lives at Enabling Village in 2025, SG Enable will continue advancing our goals of an inclusive society with a four-storey extension of the space. Slated to be operational in 2025, the extension will be a model for inclusion and innovation, addressing post-18 challenges that persons with disabilities face after graduating from Special Education schools at the age of 18, such as finding services in the community that cater to their needs, opportunities for learning, working and integrating into society.
“The extension will focus on developing artistic talents, enhancing independent living skills, and supporting caregivers. Key features include independent living studios with smart home devices to help persons with disabilities build functional and social skills, supported by community resources. This approach provides a longer runway for skill development, fosters community acceptance, and offers alternatives to institutional care, easing caregivers’ concerns for the future.”
SG Enable, the focal agency for disability and inclusion in Singapore, enables persons with disabilities to live, learn, work, and play in an inclusive society. It creates equitable opportunities for persons with disabilities through thought leadership, sustainable social innovation, and impactful partnership. Guided by its core values of professionalism, innovation and empathy, SG Enable envisions a more inclusive Singapore and enabled lives. Set up by the Ministry of Social and Family Development in 2013, SG Enable is a registered charity and an Institution of a Public Character.
The views and opinions expressed belong solely to the interviewee and do not reflect the official policy or position of ASEAN.
