Goh Chok Tong Enable Awards continues to celebrate the achievements and promise of persons with disabilities in its third edition
Singapore, 3 December 2021 – The Goh Chok Tong Enable Awards (GCTEA) recognised the achievements and promise of 13 exceptional persons with disabilities today at the awards ceremony held at the Istana with Guest of Honour President Halimah Yacob. The ceremony was also attended by Emeritus Senior Minister (ESM) Goh Chok Tong and Ms Sun Xueling, Minister of State for Social and Family Development, and Education.
An initiative of the Mediacorp Enable Fund (MEF), a community fund administered by SG Enable, with Mediacorp as the official media partner, the Awards is supported by Tote Board as the Founding Sponsor and UBS Singapore as the Principal Sponsor.
· The GCTEA (UBS Achievement) to celebrate persons with disabilities who have made significant achievements in their own fields and serve as an inspiration to others; and
· The GCTEA (UBS Promise) to encourage persons with disabilities who have shown promise to pursue greater heights in their areas of talent and the willingness to serve the community.
Launched in 2019 by ESM Goh Chok Tong, Patron of the MEF, the Awards has honoured a total of 42 Awardees for their outstanding accomplishments and potential over its three editions (please refer to the 2019 and 2020 releases for more information). The Awards has established a platform, not just for honouring these individuals for their contribution to the communities they serve, but to also drive greater inclusivity across Singapore.
President Halimah Yacob said, “Today’s recipients have showed us that there are no boundaries to what persons with disabilities can achieve. As a society, we can do more to support persons with disabilities in their integration into the wider community by removing prejudices and assumptions of their limitations.”
ESM Goh Chok Tong said, “Beyond celebrating these outstanding individuals for who they are, we want to share their journey and their stories with all Singaporeans. We want to show what our persons with disabilities can achieve, when given the opportunity to prove themselves. We want a society where persons with disabilities are fully integrated in the community and in the workplace.”
List of Awardees 2021
GCTEA (UBS Achievement) – Celebrating persons with extraordinary achievements
In recognition of their noteworthy accomplishments in their respective fields, three inspiring individuals were awarded the GCTEA (UBS Achievement). They are (in alphabetical order, according to surname):
Mr Richard Kuppusamy, 44
Born with congenital Spina Bifida resulting in paraplegia, Richard is an accomplished architect, President of the Disabled People’s Association and a passionate disability advocate who has worked on award-winning landmark projects to enhance accessibility for the disabled community.
Dr Dawn-joy Leong, 56
Dawn-joy is a researcher, multi-artist, board member of the Disabled People’s Association and one of the founding directors of K9 Assistance (Ltd). Diagonosed as autistic at age 42, she is a disability advocate and mentor for aspiring artists and researchers, who has published, performed and exhibited her transdisciplinary work internationally.
Mr Lim Chin Heng, 71
Born with profound hearing loss, Chin Heng dedicated his life to teaching for more than 45 years and is a pioneer in the field of education for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community in Singapore. In this, he was instrumental in introducing various teaching approaches and sign languages used in Singapore.
The above Awardees will each receive S$10,000. Handicaps Welfare Association, Very Special Arts Singapore and Singapore Association for the Deaf, which nominated Richard, Dawn-joy and Chin Heng respectively, will also receive S$5,000 each in recognition of the contributing role of nominating organisations in the success journeys of persons with disabilities.
GCTEA (UBS Promise) – Motivating talented individuals with a bright potential
These 10 promising individuals were presented with the GCTEA (UBS Promise) in recognition of their bright potential and commitment to serve the community, and they will each receive S$5,000. They are (in alphabetical order, according to surname):
Mr Allan Cai Chenxi, 23
A disability inclusion advocate born with Down syndrome.
Mr Chong Qi Ping Kishon, 29
A Customer Experience Inclusivity Officer with an acquired disability due to a stroke.
Ms Rosalind Foo Yen Ping, 43
An aspiring counsellor for the disadvantaged who was born deaf.
Ms Joan Hung Hui Xin, 25
A National Goalball player with visual impairment.
Mr Muhammad Arshad Fawwaz, 24
The founder of ‘Inclusivity 4 All’ online concert series diagnosed with autism and ADHD.
Mr Noah Tan Kai, 20
A visual artist and Special Olympics Singapore bowling athlete diagnosed with autism.
Mr Tan Whee Boon, 56
A disability inclusion advocate and National Wheelchair Rugby player with an acquired disability.
Mr Steve Tee Wee Leong, 40
A Paralympian Tandem Cyclist and public speaker with Retinitis Pigmentosa, an incurable eye condition.
Mr Elliot Teng Z-Kai, 21
An aspiring lawyer for the disadvantaged diagnosed with bilateral severe-to-profound hearing loss.
Mr Wong Chee Foong Winston, 33
A disability inclusion advocate with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.
The profiles of the Awardees are available in Annex A. For more information about the Awards, please visit www.mef.sg.
Quotes from the Evaluation Panel and Sponsors:
Chairman of the GCTEA Evaluation Panel and a Board Member of SG Enable Associate Professor Dr. Wong Meng Ee said, “The extraordinary talent of persons with disabilities is exemplified by the number of quality nominations we continue to receive year on year. It was indeed a challenge to arrive at the most deserving, especially having to pick from a pool of nominees who have all demonstrated impressive credentials. We look forward to more applications in the following years and hope to inspire more persons with disabilities through the Awards.”
CEO of SG Enable Ku Geok Boon said, “This year’s winners are outstanding in their fields and they have made significant contributions too. We hope their stories will be an inspiration to other persons with disabilities, and also the rest of the community – to stay committed and pursue their dreams, despite any odds they face.”
CEO of Mediacorp Tham Loke Kheng said, “The Awards recognises exceptional individuals who had overcome great barriers to achieve remarkable things and make a difference in our communities. Their resilience and determination continue to serve as an inspiration to everyone looking to excel in their respective fields."
Fong Yong Kian, Chief Executive, Tote Board said, “Tote Board is proud to be a founding sponsor of the Goh Chok Tong Enable Awards. We are heartened that many persons with disabilities have overcome their personal obstacles and through hard work, achieved much in their lives. The awards ceremony enables our society to recognise the many contributions made by persons with disabilities. This is one way we can build a more inclusive society.”
Edmund Koh, President of Asia Pacific, UBS, added, “This is UBS Singapore’s third year sponsoring the UBS Achievement and Promise awards. In line with our new global purpose on – Reimagining the power of investing. Connecting people for a better world - UBS has consistently believed in developing the potential of the community around us, whatever their abilities, by investing, nurturing and helping them to achieve their full potential and promise. It is our honour to acknowledge the achievements and promise of these extraordinary individuals who are able to overcome their challenges, accomplish personal achievements and be a positive driver of change and inspiration. Each and every one of the finalists are incredibly inspiring and extremely deserving of this award. A common denominator amongst all of them is their determination to overcome their difficulties and still care for their community. This quality is even more important during this time of the pandemic where they inspire us to continue to be resilient, courageous and stand united to help each other."
Media contact
Tasneem Djabarali
Corporate Marketing & CSR Associate
Tasneem.MD@mediacorp.com.sg
About Mediacorp
Mediacorp is Singapore’s national media network and largest content creator. Its purpose is to create engaging and trusted content, as well as to connect communities and inspire people. Mediacorp engages over three million people in Singapore daily across four languages on its digital platforms including meWATCH, meLISTEN and CNA.asia, six TV channels and 11 radio stations. Beyond Singapore, Mediacorp also has a growing international audience through CNA and content distributed across markets.
With a focus on nurturing talent and growing the sector, the company is committed to investing in nation-wide initiatives like Star Search, Anugerah, Yaar Antha Star and SPOP, commissioning a wide variety of work from local content creators, and collaborating with institutes of higher learning. As Singapore’s first local Multi-Channel Network in partnership with YouTube, Mediacorp is also committed to developing a network of digital content creators.
For advertisers, Mediacorp has partnered industry-leading brands like ESPN, Mothership, Popcorn, theAsianparent, VICE, YouTube and 99.co to form the Mediacorp Digital Network in offering more effective content-driven solutions.
Mediacorp is the recipient of industry accolades including New York Festivals, World Media Festivals, PromaxBDA (World and Asia) and Asian Academy Creative Awards.
For more information, please visit mediacorp.sg.
About SG Enable
Set up by the Ministry of Social and Family Development in July 2013, SG Enable is the focal agency for the disability sector in Singapore, dedicated to enabling persons with disabilities and building an inclusive society. It seeks to empower persons with disabilities and their caregivers with timely access to information, referral services and grants; enhance training and employment for them; and engage the community to integrate them as integral members of society. It also manages the Enabling Village. SG Enable is a registered charity and an Institution of Public Character.
For more information, please visit www.sgenable.sg.
ANNEX A
Profiles of Goh Chok Tong Enable Awards (GCTEA) 2021 Awardees
(in alphabetical order, according to surname)
The GCTEA (UBS Achievement) celebrates persons with disabilities who have made significant achievements in their own fields and served as an inspiration to others. The three Awardees this year include:
Mr Richard Kuppusamy, 44
Richard Kuppusamy, an architect by profession, is President of the Disabled People’s Association and a passionate disability advocate who has worked on award-winning landmark projects to enhance accessibility for the disabled community.
Born with congenital Spina Bifida resulting in paraplegia, Richard is an accomplished architect and a wheelchair user. Growing up overseas, he attended mainstream schools, where he learnt to adapt to challenges despite his disability. This continued when his family returned to Singapore, until he departed for Scotland to pursue his degree in Architecture at the Glasgow School of Art in 1995. After graduation, Richard practised as a professional architect in the United Kingdom for more than 11 years, before returning to Singapore in 2012.
In Singapore, Richard practised with acclaimed architecture firm WOHA for five years where he worked on milestone projects, such as Kampung Admiralty, Singapore’s first fully integrated living development, and Enabling Village, an all-accessible public space which combines retail, lifestyle, and training for disabled members of the community. Now, he works at real estate and investment group Lendlease as its Head of Digital in Asia, where he leads a team of over 75 people in the digital transformation of the built environment sector.
Richard also spearheaded the CBD Accessibility Mapping Project in 2019, designed to help improve the accessibility of downtown Raffles Place for disabled individuals working in the area. Following which, he was appointed as a Member of the Enabling Masterplan 2030 Steering Committee to continue building inclusive spaces in Singapore.
A passionate advocate who champions equal access for persons with disabilities, Richard also sits on the Board of Directors of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Care Fund which provides additional support to SAF servicemen who are severely disabled due to military service.
In addition, Richard captained the Singapore Wheelchair Rugby team from 2016 – 2018.
Dr. Dawn-joy Leong, 56
Dr. Dawn-joy Leong is a researcher, multi-artist, board member of the Disabled People’s Association and one of the founding directors of K9 Assistance (Ltd), Singapore’s first and only charity organisation promoting the benefits of assistance dogs for the disabled. A disability advocate and a mentor for aspiring artists and researchers, Dawn-joy has published, performed and exhibited her transdisciplinary work internationally, including the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Australia, South Korea and Singapore.
Dawn-joy’s life changed completely in 2007 when she pulled herself back from negative thoughts of suicide, sought the help of a psychologist and was subsequently diagnosed as autistic at the age of 42. This gave her a new sense of identity and purpose, which she channelled towards her lifelong passion for academia and art.
Dawn-joy graduated with a Master of Philosophy in music composition from the University of Hong Kong in 2010, and a PhD in Autism, Neurodiversity and Multi-Art Praxis from the University of New South Wales in 2016, for which she was conferred the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Postgraduate Research.
Since returning to Singapore in 2016, along with her assistance dog, Lucy Like-A-Charm, who provides mitigation support for her sensory anxiety, Dawn-joy has been passionately engaging in disability advocacy and mentoring future disabled leaders in their chosen fields of practice.
Dawn-joy was the first and only Singaporean autistic researcher to be invited to sit in both the organising and scientific committees of the Asia Pacific Autism Conference 2019, having mentored three emerging autistic adults towards achieving excellence in their fields of practice – one of whom, James Chan, was a recipient of the GCTEA (UBS Promise) in 2020.
In 2019, Dawn-joy and two young artists with Down Syndrome participated in Singapore’s first disabled-led art and design residency at the library@orchard. The following year, she became the first autistic artist in Singapore to be commissioned by a major visual arts institution, the National Gallery Singapore, to hold a solo exhibition, titled Clement Space.
Dawn-joy’s latest project, Scheherazade’s Sea: Continuing Odyssey 2021, is a multidisciplinary digital-cum-live performance, which features three other young artists with special needs in an experimental production, supported by the National Arts Council, with creative collaborator Very Special Arts Singapore.
Mr Lim Chin Heng, 71
Lim Chin Heng dedicated his life to teaching for more than 45 years and is a pioneer in the field of education for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community in Singapore. In this, he was instrumental in introducing various teaching approaches and sign languages used in Singapore.
Chin Heng was born with profound hearing loss and attended the Singapore Chinese School for the Deaf (which later became the Singapore School for the Deaf). He was the first Deaf Singaporean to enroll into the American School for the Deaf and went on to attend the Gallaudet University, graduating with a degree in Mathematics in 1975, followed by a Master of Education of the Hearing Impaired from the Gallaudet Graduate School in 1981.
Upon his return to Singapore, Chin Heng played a key role in implementing Total Communication using Signing Exact English and speech simultaneously at the Singapore School of the Deaf and the Canossian School for the Hearing Impaired, to address the high number of students who were failing the Primary School Leaving Examination. He was also responsible for setting up a resource library on deafness and the creation of a Deaf Access Committee at the Singapore Association for the Deaf (SADeaf).
Over the decades, Chin Heng was deeply involved in the advocacy of education and welfare for the deaf community. He held various prominent positions throughout his years of volunteer service with SADeaf, Disabled People’s Association and Singapore Disability Sports Council; oversaw the 5th World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) Asia Conference in 2016 as chairman of the organising committee; and conducted countless leadership workshops for the deaf community both locally and internationally.
In recognition of his efforts, Chin Heng received the Outstanding Deaf Citizen Award from SADeaf in 1995 and the Edward Miner Gallaudet Award from the Gallaudet University Alumni Association in 2000, which recognises international leaders for promoting the wellbeing of deaf individuals around the world. Most recently, he received the Lifetime Achievement award from SADeaf in September 2021 for his tireless contributions to SADeaf and the community.
Chin Heng is currently a Mathematics resource teacher at Beatty Secondary School, and has also taught at Mount Vernon Secondary School, Upper Serangoon Secondary School and Balestier Hill Secondary School.
The GCTEA (UBS Promise) aims to encourage persons with disabilities who have shown promise to pursue greater heights in their areas of talent and to continue to serve the community. The 10 Awardees this year include:
Mr Allan Cai Chenxi, 23
Born with Down syndrome, Allan Cai faced multiple medical conditions such as low muscle tone and difficulties in pronouncing multisyllabic words. He also had to cope with profound hearing loss in both ears which resulted in him wearing hearing aids.
Allan’s confident and positive attitude has allowed him to actively advocate for persons with special needs. He was part of the pioneering batch of advocates of Our Lives, Our Voices (OLOV) Self-Advocacy programme jointly run by Down Syndrome Association (Singapore) and Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS). Through the programme, he represented the disabled community to co-deliver a keynote speech at Having A Say Conference 2018 in Australia and co-presented the We Are Able! 2018 conference in Singapore.
Allan was also a panelist at the ‘Conversations’ segment of The Purple Parade 2019 and most recently, was nominated by MINDS to represent persons with intellectual disabilities as a member of The Purple Parade Working Committee 2021.
Despite his hearing and speech limitations, Allan has always been one to take on any opportunities that came his way. Along with the cast of Kin, he was one of three performers who represented the Down syndrome community at the President’s Star Charity 2019, which led to Allan being offered a role in Kin: By The Fans.
Mr Chong Qi Ping Kishon, 29
Kishon Chong was an active young man who excelled in his career as a chef, but his life changed unexpectedly when he was struck with a spinal stroke in 2018, resulting in paralysis and loss of sensation from the waist down. Having lost the ability to walk, he powered through intense therapy for over two years to re-learn how to be independent with basic daily living tasks and improve his physical functions.
Determined to find full-time employment, Kishon worked closely with SPD’s Transition to Employment programme to upskill himself and explore job opportunities. In 2020, he successfully became Tower Transit’s very first Customer Experience Inclusivity Officer (CXIO). As Singapore’s first CXIO hired by a public transport operator, Kishon has worked tirelessly to create a more inclusive and caring commuting culture in Singapore.
To improve the experiences of commuters with disabilities on public transport, Kishon effectively pioneered two of Tower Transit’s first public inclusivity initiatives earlier this year, namely the Public Transport Confidence Course and the Public Bus Inclusivity Course.
During his time in SPD, Kishon also offered peer support to fellow clients and readily participated in focus group discussions on initiatives that promoted inclusiveness for persons with disabilities, such as the Public Transport Council's Inclusivity Sports app.
Ms Rosalind Foo Yen Ping, 43
Rosalind Foo was born deaf and struggled to communicate with her family and friends while growing up. The kindness she experienced from individuals along the way greatly helped her journey. She excelled in her studies, thanks to assistance from teachers in mainstream schools who knew sign language, encouraging classmates who willingly took notes for her in polytechnic, and now, sign language interpreters and notetakers who support her as she pursues a Bachelor of Counselling at Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS).
Rosalind has been active in volunteering work with multiple organisations. She was one of the founding members of the HI! Club in Ngee Ann Polytechnic and has been volunteering at TOUCH Community Services’ Silent Club for 20 years. She used to teach relief classes at the Singapore School for the Deaf and has even taken the initiative to conduct sign language classes for her schoolmates and faculty, as well as volunteer at various events, at SUSS. Currently, she tutors deaf students at a student care centre.
Passionate about positively impacting the lives of the disadvantaged, Rosalind is currently working to complete a peer support specialist course with the National Council of Social Service, in addition to her undergraduate studies. She believes in lifelong learning and aims inspire other persons with special needs to live a fulfilling life.
Ms Joan Hung Hui Xin, 25
Born with visual impairment, Joan Hung has to cope with a deteriorating eye condition but that has never deterred her from caring for others and helping others to succeed. She uses her own unique experience to inspire others who are visually impaired and advocates for a more inclusive society.
When she found it difficult to engage in traditional sports that were highly reliant on sight, Joan turned to Goalball, a sport that challenges an athlete's hearing, agility, and reaction time. She played an instrumental role in the Singapore National Team and was the top scorer at the Malaysian Open in 2018, beating more experienced countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, leading to Singapore’s first win at a Goalball competition. As a national athlete, she continues to train six days a week, with the aim of representing the country at future international competitions.
Joan is also the main facilitator for Control Your Controllables (CYC), a resilience programme that teaches values through the sport of Goalball. This programme was inspired by Joan’s personal struggle with her deteriorating sight and how she overcame challenges by applying the thinking she has learnt as a Goalball athlete. Through CYC, Joan has reached out to students from more than 20 schools.
Mr Muhammad Arshad Fawwaz, 24
Muhammad Arshad was diagnosed with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at a very young age and was raised by a single mother.
With a passion in singing, Arshad had auditioned at multiple talent shows but had always received rejections. Despite that, he was determined to not let others like him face the same struggles. He founded Inclusivity 4 All to provide a unique platform for persons with disabilities to showcase their talents as well as raise funds for the underprivileged in Singapore.
The first Inclusivity 4 All online concert aired on 24 May 2020, amidst the Circuit Breaker period. Arshad completed all the recording and editing of content from home and has since organised a total of six online concerts to date. Through Inclusivity 4 All, he has helped to raise funds for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Jamiyah Children’s Home, Pertapis Children’s Home’s food distribution drive and the Ramadan Food Campaign 2021, benefiting 50 families in Singapore.
In recognition of his contributions during a very challenging year for the community, Arshad received a Special Commendation Award under the People of Good Category at President’s Volunteerism & Philanthropy Awards Special Edition 2020.
Arshad is also an active volunteer at various organisations such as Fernvale Zone D Resident’s Committee and Al-Islah Mosque, and is a member of the Disabled People’s Association.
Mr Noah Tan Kai, 20
Diagnosed with autism at two years old, Noah Tan faced many challenges growing up, including difficulties with social and communications skills, and meltdowns when faced with changes to his daily routines.
Art played an important role in Noah’s life, by providing him an avenue to hone his concentration ability and serving as a communication tool through which he could express his feelings. Noah leverages his artistic talent to create artworks to raise funds for the community as well as his alma mater, Rainbow Centre. He also actively participates in advocacy events to raise awareness for persons with disabilities.
Four of Noah’s artworks were selected for the Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) Art Exhibition in 2014, 2016 and 2018, and he was awarded the Lee Kuan Yew Exemplary Student Award by the Ministry of Education (MOE) in 2018. The following year, he graduated from Rainbow Centre as a valedictorian.
Noah has been an artist in training with Very Special Arts Singapore for 13 years and was one of the few to be selected to attend a 20-week programme by the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Singapore (NAFA) in 2019. He also had the opportunity to present his artwork as a token of appreciation to President Halimah Yacob at the Inclusive Sports Conference 2021.
In addition, Noah has been a bowler with Special Olympics Singapore (SOSG) for seven years and has earned four gold medals at the SOSG 9th National Games and the Singapore National Para Bowling in 2017, as well as the National School Para Bowling Competition in 2019.
Mr Tan Whee Boon, 56
A bacterial infection from severe food poisoning resulted in the amputation of Tan Whee Boon’s bilateral upper and lower limbs in 2015. With this unexpected change, Whee Boon suddenly found himself unable to perform simple daily tasks like brushing teeth and getting dressed. Determined to get his life back on track, he embarked on an uphill rehabilitation journey, equipped with a positive attitude and dedicated support from his wife.
Whee Boon upgraded his employment skills by undergoing job coach matching conducted by SPD. He also attended a course in Building Information Modelling (BIM) in 2019 and since March 2020, has been employed at Keong Hong Construction Pte Ltd as a BIM modeller, where he prepares 3D drawings that are used in construction projects.
Despite the challenges, Whee Boon has retained his zest for life and continues to inspire those around him. He is an active member with Tan Tock Seng Hospital’s Amputee Support Group and volunteers regularly with Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, under their PlayKaki and PlayBuddy programmes. He is also a community teacher at the Singapore Institute of Technology, where he shares his experiences with students pursuing occupational therapy so that they can better interact and rehabilitate persons with amputations.
Whee Boon is currently a member of the National Wheelchair Rugby team and has participated in five international tournaments since 2017, assisting the team to clinch three silver trophies.
Mr Steve Tee Wee Leong, 40
Steve Tee was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa in 2004, an incurable eye condition which will eventually lead to total blindness. Despite the setback, he pushed forward with his studies and graduated with a Bachelor of Information Technology (Double Major) from Edith Cowan University.
Despite facing countless rejections, Steve persevered and eventually landed a job at Eureka Call Centre Systems Pte Ltd, where he has worked at for close to 10 years. He was made Call Centre Supervisor and Trainer due to his excellent performance and nurturing qualities and has helped train many persons with disabilities. In recognition of his efforts, Steve received the SingHealth Inspirational Patient Award in 2010 and the Exemplary Employee Award at the Enabling Employers Award 2014.
Steve also works closely with social enterprises Glow in the Dark and Rebound With Resilience to conduct educational talks and workshops for schools and corporates.
As someone who constantly seeks to learn new skills, Steve picked up blind football in 2015, and went on to captain the team and represent Singapore at the ASEAN Para Games in 2015. He began tandem cycling in 2017 and worked hard to achieve the level of fitness and commitment required.
Steve clinched the bronze medal in the men's 4,000m individual pursuit race at the eighth Para Asian Track Championships in 2019 and represented Singapore at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games this year. He won the prestigious Singapore Disability Sports Council Sportsman of the Year Award (Resilience) 2021 in recognition of his efforts as a trailblazer and inspiration to others.
Mr Elliot Teng Z-Kai, 21
Elliot Teng was diagnosed with bilateral severe-to-profound hearing loss at the age of two and a half, but with the help of intensive audio-verbal therapy, he caught up with his peers in terms of speech development.
Having attended mainstream schools from young, Elliot learnt how to cope with his disability in everyday situations. Other than participating in public speaking competitions, he also represented his school in floorball and football and graduated with an International Baccalaureate Diploma from Anglo-Chinese School (Independent). Since 2020, Elliot has been pursuing a Bachelor of Laws at the Singapore Management University (SMU).
Elliot gives back to the community regularly. He has been assisting the students in the Boys’ Brigade (BB) Company at his alma mater and was awarded the President’s Award in 2018 in recognition of his contributions to the school, community, and BB Company.
As a recipient of the Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation Scholarship for Persons for Disabilities, Elliot is a strong advocate for the deaf community and has represented Singapore at the World Federation for the Deaf Junior Camp in 2017 in Australia. He is also a speaker at Parent Support Groups at Singapore General Hospital and National University Hospital, where he encourages and motivates new parents with children with hearing loss.
With his training in law, Elliot aspires to be an advocate for the disabled and the disadvantaged in the community.
Mr Wong Chee Foong Winston, 33
Winston Wong was diagnosed with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss at the age of four and started wearing hearing aids at 10 years old. Although he faced much stigma and discrimination growing up, including multiple rejections in his job search after graduating with a Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering (Honours) from the National University of Singapore, Winston continued to pick himself up after every setback and strived to be a role model for others.
In recognition of his tenacity and perseverance, Winston was awarded the Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation Scholarship for Persons with Disabilities and the Singapore Association for the Deaf Outstanding Deaf Student (Tertiary Education) Award in 2013.
In 2017, Winston started working at Nanyang Technological University (NTU)’s Accessibility Education Unit which provides support for students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and then joined Temasek Polytechnic (TP)’s SEN Support Division in 2019, where he continues to support students with SEN, organise inclusivity-related events and conduct disability awareness talks. He also initiated a new co-curricular activity in TP called SENvocates, through which he hopes to build and foster an inclusive community at TP.
Winston has been an active volunteer with SPD and SG Enable. He conducts disability awareness training for grassroot and corporate organisations as SG Enable’s Disability Inclusion Champion and is part of the Enabling Volunteers Resource Panel, where he assumes an informal advisory role to provide resources, advice and a representative voice for disability initiatives planned by SG Enable.
