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ITE Plays Its Part in Showcasing Skills of the Disadvantaged

Ling Qiang Long, 19, spent one Saturday morning in June distributing food packets to the physically advantaged, pushing their wheel-chairs and chit-chatting with them. This ITE West (Balestier) graduate could think of no better and more meaningful way of spending his time.

Said Qiang Long: “Just seeing the appreciative smiles of the handicapped is enough satisfaction for me; it makes my efforts worthwhile. On my part, I just try my best to make their stay at Balestier campus as comfortable as possible.”

Qiang Long is one of the 30 ITE students who helped out at an event jointly organised by the Handicaps Welfare Association (HWA) and ITE, with the support of the Central Singapore Community Development Council. This first nation-wide Skills Competition for people with physical disabilities was held at ITE West (Balestier) on 7 June 2003. Bearing the theme, Bridge: Towards a More Inclusive Society, the event showcased the skills and talents of the physically disadvantaged, and also aimed to eliminate misconceptions the public has about the limitations of these people.

The competition categories include Graphic Design, Web Page Design, Jewellery Making, Accounting, PC Assembly and Computer-Aided Drawing and Design (CADD).

Besides providing logistics support, ITE staff also helped in the setting of test questions and judging of three of the skills areas, namely, Web Page Design, PC Assembly and CADD.

Participants Warming Up to Their Tasks
ITE staff Mr Anthony Sim, Lecturer/Mechanical & Electrical Engineering Design, ITE East (Tampines) felt “very honoured” to be involved in the competition. As a Chief Judge of the CADD competition, his tasks included ensuring the setting of appropriate questions, and overseeing the running of the competition.

Said Anthony: “The competitors were a bit nervous at the start, but they soon warmed up to the tasks at hand. They were eager to do well and tried hard. I felt happy to see them having the courage to prove that they have the ability to do well in this area. The hours spent in setting the questions, and putting the facilities in place were certainly worth the efforts!”

Added Ms Tan Siew Choo, Lecturer/Information Technology who was Chief Judge for PC Assembly: “The participants were excited and keen. It was heartening to see that some of their family members were around to give them moral support. I believe that the competition has helped to build up their confidence.”

Guest-of-Honour for the Skills Competition was Mr Chan Soo Sen, Minister of State (Prime Minister’s Office) & Ministry of Community Development and Sports. He highlighted his three hopes. Firstly, he hoped that the Singapore society would provide more opportunities for the handicapped. Secondly, he hoped that people with disabilities would “show resilence” and “work towards their own fate.” Finally, he encouraged voluntary organisations to be more entrepreneurial in seeking jobs opportunities for the physically disadvantaged.

Running concurrently with the Skills Competition was a public forum on Enhancing Employability. At the forum, speakers with physical disabilities discussed issues such as understanding the struggles of the disabled, and how to promote a disabled-friendly workplace.