The Goh Chok Tong Enable Awards recognise 15 Awardees for their achievements and efforts to champion inclusivity

Singapore, 21 November 2025 – The Goh Chok Tong Enable Awards (GCTEA) honoured the achievements of 15 remarkable persons with disabilities at a ceremony held today at Pan Pacific Singapore. Graced by Guest of Honour President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the ceremony was also attended by Emeritus Senior Minister (ESM) Mr Goh Chok Tong, Patron of the Goh Chok Tong Enable Fund (GCTEF); and Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Social and Family Development and Ministry of Law, Mr Eric Chua.

Launched in 2019, the Awards is a key initiative of the GCTEF, a community fund administered by SG Enable and supported by Mediacorp, that provides persons with disabilities the opportunities to actively contribute to society and lead socially integrated lives through 3As: providing financial Aid, supporting Aspirations and conferring Awards. Through its commitment to champion inclusivity, the Awards recognise and celebrate the excellence and promise of outstanding individuals.

The GCTEA comprises two categories:

• The GCTEA (Achievement) celebrates persons with disabilities who have made significant achievements in their own fields and served as an inspiration to others; and
• The GCTEA (Promise) encourages persons with disabilities who have shown promise to pursue greater heights in their areas of talent and willingness to serve the community.

List of GCTEA 2025 Awardees

GCTEA (Achievement) – Celebrating individuals with extraordinary accomplishments

In recognition of their noteworthy achievements in their respective fields, these inspiring individuals are awarded the GCTEA (Achievement) and $10,000. They are (in alphabetical order, according to surname):

1. Kua Cheng Hock

Visually impaired since birth, 70-year-old Cheng Hock is dedicated to improving lives of the visually impaired community. 

Promoting independence by introducing guide dogs to Singapore, the entrepreneur who specialises in assistive technology is now tackling the nation’s built environment with Accessible Indoor Navigation. Creating opportunities for the community, Cheng Hock developed a plan for the Elections Department that enabled Singaporeans with visual impairment to vote privately at polling centres since 2011. To expand professional careers options for the visually impaired community, he established a foundation to provide improved education and training opportunities. Cheng Hock was nominated by the individual, Toh See Kiat.

2. Tan Wei Qiang Jovin

Through sports, 39-year-old Jovin uplifts individuals with disabilities. Born with cerebral palsy, he became Singapore’s first certified sailing coach, and mentors parasailers of various disabilities. His advocacy has enabled persons with disabilities to hold boating licenses, expanding their independence and career options.

A passionate para-athlete, he won Singapore’s first parasailing gold at the 2014 Asian Para Games and another at the 2015 ASEAN Para Games. After competing in four consecutive Paralympics, he transitioned to competitive Boccia following the removal of parasailing from the Paralympic Games. The Admin Assistant Executive at ChapmanCG was nominated by Changi Sailing Club and ChapmanCG.

3. Toh Wei Soong

One of Singapore’s most successful para-swimmers, Wei Soong is a two-time Paralympian who has collected gold, silver, and bronze medals, at the Asian Para Games, Commonwealth Games and ASEAN Para Games between 2013 and 2023, challenging perceptions about disability.

Diagnosed at age two with transverse myelitis, a rare neurological condition that inflamed his spinal cord and affected mobility in his lower limbs, he began swimming at the age of six. By the age of nine, he was competing locally, and at 15, he joined Team Singapore to swim internationally. The 2019 GCTEA Promise Award recipient, who is currently the editor of two publications and Vice-Chairperson of the Singapore Para Athletes Commission, was nominated by the Singapore Disability Sports Council and SPD.

4. Yap Qian Yin

Paralysed below the waist due to complications from chemotherapy when her childhood leukaemia relapsed at age 16, Qian Yin has risen above her challenges with remarkable strength and determination.

While pursuing her Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Finance, she won gold medals in parasailing at the 2014 Asian Para Games and 2015 ASEAN Para Games.  An advocate for the disabled community, she volunteers with SmartBFA, contributing to efforts that enhance accessibility standards and improve policies that benefit people with disabilities across Singapore. The Board member of the Disabled People’s Association and Chairperson of the Fundraising Subcommittee was nominated by the Disabled People's Association.

GCTEA (Promise) – Motivating talented individuals with bright potential

These 11 promising individuals were presented with the GCTEA (Promise) and $5,000, in recognition of their potential and commitment to serve the community. They are (in alphabetical order, according to surname):

1. Arassi Maria Rajkumar

A dancer and co-dance facilitator with Down syndrome, Arassi exemplifies the power of the arts in fostering inclusion and raising disability awareness. An avid enthusiast in various dance forms including contemporary and Indian classical dance Bharatanatyam , she co-founded the Diverse Abilities Dance Collective (DADC) in 2018. She is a co-trainer at DADC’s ELEVATE dance programme for persons with diverse abilities and Maya Dance Theatre’s Celebration of Life!, a pilot body motion programme to promote wellbeing and intergenerational bonding.  Having begun her journey at age four with the Down Syndrome Association (Singapore), she now gives back as both an actor and dancer with the organisation. Arassi was nominated by Maya Dance Theatre Ltd.

2. Chan Si Qi Amanda

Amanda became paraplegic at 20 years old due to a spinal condition, but persevered and completed her degree at the National University of Singapore in 2014. She currently works in the Financial Crime Risk and Compliance team at Deutsche Bank.  

During the dbEnable work placement programme, she supported interns with disabilities by offering guidance and moral support. Beyond her professional role, she combines her passion for inclusion and sports through her involvement with Para Cycling Federation of Singapore (PCFS) re, where she initiated dbEnable Cycling for All, a major annual event that involves para-cyclists riding alongside participants without disabilities, giving everyone the opportunity to experience and learn about adaptive sports. Amanda was nominated by the Para Cycling Federation of Singapore.

3. Johnson Chia Rong Xi

A professional who continually strives to raise the bar, 33-year-old Johnson is an inspiration to the Deaf community and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). A graduate in Accountancy and Finance from Nanyang Polytechnic in 2013, he is completing his ACCA qualification as a professional accountant while holding a full-time leadership role. A dedicated community leader, Johnson has also served as Honorary Assistant Treasurer (2021–2023) for the Singapore Association for the Deaf (SADeaf) and currently chairs its Social Group of the Deaf Committee. Johnson was nominated by his employer, Avon Group.  

4. Cheong Hui Ming, Johannes

At 31, Johannes has never let his intellectual disability define him. A Retail Associate at UNIQLO for the past 12 years and recipient of two long service awards, he continues to broaden horizons for persons with intellectual disabilities and champions inclusive hiring. An avid sportsman, he serves as an Athlete Leader with the Special Olympics (SO) and assists in coaching badminton for athletes with intellectual disabilities. A strong advocate for persons with intellectual disability community, he takes part in dialogues with government leaders and volunteers actively with Community Chest and Purple Parade. He also contributed as a consultant for the Mediacorp Chinese drama series Your World In Mine (2022). Johannes was nominated by MINDSG Ltd.

 5. Hui Xuan Lin Florence

A Retail Associate at UNIQLO, 25-year-old Florence is a role model for inclusive hiring and a source of inspiration for persons with intellectual disabilities. She joined UNIQLO as an intern and became a full-time employee in 2021. A quick learner and mentor to fellow interns with intellectual disabilities, Florence exemplifies how persons with disabilities can thrive in competitive work environments. A medal-winning bowler and Athlete Leader with Special Olympics Singapore, she actively promotes sports and inclusion. Beyond work and sports, Florence is also dedicated to the arts, performing guzheng with the Purple Symphony Orchestra since 2020 and earning third place at the 2020 Singapore Chinese Music Competition. Florence was nominated by APSN Katong School.
 

6. Victoria Liew Yi Xuan

Turning her experience of being deaf into a source of strength, 24-year-old Victoria raises awareness for invisible disability communities and champions creative inclusive design for Singapore’s public spaces. Through a pioneering study on the challenges faced by the d/Deaf community in navigating these spaces, she has highlighted how disability can serve as a powerful lens for innovation rather than a limitation. As a Master of Architecture graduate, Victoria developed an Inclusive Design Toolkit for the deaf community, tailored to Singapore’s socio-cultural and built environment context.  With the Toolkit, she aims to collaborate with public agencies to translate research into practical design interventions. Victoria was nominated by the National University of Singapore.

7. Nur ‘Aini Binte Mohamad Yasli 

At 33, Aini continues to push beyond her physical disabilities to give back to Singapore through education, sports and community service. Just two months after taking up powerlifting in 2017, she made history as Singapore’s first female para-powerlifter at the 9th ASEAN Para Games in Kuala Lumpur. Over the years, Aini represented Singapore on the world stage, including Asian Para Games (2018 and 2023), and the Birmingham Commonwealth Games (2022). Aini clinched a bronze medal and lifted a lifetime best at the 11th Fazza Dubai 2021 Para Powerlifting World Cup. While competing, Aini joined Republic Polytechnic in 2020, transitioning from administrative officer to lecturer in 2024 where she now contributes as a Sports and Health Educator after retiring from competition. She supports PlayBuddy, an adaptive sports play group for children with physical disabilities, which won the Singapore Disability Sports Council's Community Changemaker of the Year award in 2023 Aini exemplifies resilience, leadership, and serves an active role in community initiatives. Aini was nominated by Republic Polytechnic.

8. Jade Ow Yanhui

Born d/Deaf, 23-year-old Jade is working toward a vision where performers with disabilities are recognised as equals in the performing arts. Her love for performing arts led her to pursue Theatre Studies at the National University of Singapore in 2021. With support from her lecturers at the National University of Singapore and ART:DIS, Jade has become one of Singapore’s few d/Deaf actors and theatre specialists. Now with the National Gallery Singapore, she contributes to access programming and audience development. She mentors youths with diverse learning needs, and trains children with multiple disabilities through movement and performance. Jade was nominated by the National University of Singapore.

9. Patricia Gerardine Tomnob Merilo

Born d/Deaf, 28-year-old Patricia works across disability groups to promote the idea that accessibility is a shared responsibility. Raised in an oral environment, she found acceptance and identity through Redeafination (RDF), a Deaf dance crew she joined at 16, where she also learned sign language and later became a Deaf sign language interpreter. As Redeafination’s resident choreographer and dance captain, she led the group in major performances, including the Osaka Expo (2025), Purple Parade (2024) and National Day Parade music video (2022). At Equal Dreams, Patricia serves as the Digital Accessibility Lead, heading a team which includes two visually impaired colleagues and co-developed a Deaf Empowerment Programme, further advancing inclusion and accessibility across communities.
Patricia was nominated by Equal Dreams Pte Ltd.

10. Lydia Tay Wan Ching

A 30, musician Lydia champions disability inclusion with a firm belief that music can heal and unite communities. Diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at 16, she discovered her passion for music after taking up the violin in 2012. Lydia went on to pursue a Diploma in Sonic Arts at Republic Polytechnic (RP), where she joined the RP String Ensemble and rose to become its Principal Violist, Artistic Director, and Student Advisor. Her pursuit of musical excellence later took her to Russia, where she studied music conducting and had the honour of leading the St Petersburg Symphony Orchestra in a performance. Today, Lydia continues to share her love for music as a member of The Purple Symphony, Singapore’s largest inclusive orchestra. Lydia was nominated by her mentor Yeo Teow Meng.

11. Sherry Toh Yee Teng

Diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) as an infant, Sherry lives with a life-threatening muscle-wasting disease. An avid gamer, she champions the transformative potential of gaming to improve the lives of persons with disabilities and advance inclusive game design.

In 2023, Sherry contributed to Singapore’s first disability studies anthology, writing on gaming accessibility and representation. She also received international recognition for her work in elevating and diversifying gaming. A regular columnist, Sherry shares her expertise and insights on gaming for international publications, reaching a global audience. Sherry was nominated by Mr Victor Zhuang.

Michael Ngu, Chairman of the GCTEA Evaluation Panel, Board Member of SG Enable and a GCTEA 2019 Achievement Awardee, said: “We are continually inspired by the calibre of nominations received at the seventh edition of the Award since 2019. Each of today’s Awardees exemplifies exceptional resilience and achievement in fostering inclusivity. As we honour 15 recipients, we remain committed to championing inclusive efforts and acknowledging excellence in the years ahead”.
 
Lee May Gee, CEO of SG Enable, said: “The Goh Chok Tong Enable Awards shine a light on the courage, talent and determination of our Awardees. Their achievements remind us that when we recognise and support the abilities of every individual, our society becomes stronger, kinder and more cohesive. As we honour this year's recipients, we call on everyone to play a part in building a Singapore where every individual is respected, included and able to contribute meaningfully.”

For more information about the Awards, and to support persons with disabilities through the GCTEF, please visit GCTEnableFund.sg.

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