Mr Augustin Lee, Chairman of MINDS
Ms Looi Mei Fong, Deputy Principal of Ngee Ann Polytechnic
Mr Kenneth Tan, Chairman of Singapore Film Society
Mr Kelvin Koh, Chief Executive Officer of MINDS
Distinguished guests, friends, ladies and gentlemen
1. Good evening everyone. I am delighted to join you this evening for the opening of MINDS Film Festival 2022. It has been a long time since I came to the cinema because of work and other commitments, and I am really glad that I am coming back to the cinema to support this film festival – a very meaningful one.
2. Since its inauguration in 2017, the MINDS Film Festival (or MFF) has become a regular feature in MINDS’ list of public engagement events, sharing meaningful and uplifting stories of persons with intellectual disabilities.
3. MFF 2022 returns this year, after a 2-year hiatus due to COVID-19. The event is especially meaningful for MINDS as it is also celebrating its 60th Anniversary. On this note, I would like to commend our corporate and community partners for supporting and bringing back this meaningful initiative and being part of this movement to empower persons with intellectual disabilities.
4. Film is an effective medium to raise awareness for causes like inclusivity that would otherwise be difficult to put into words. The MFF offers a diverse collection of films, animations and compelling documentaries to provide their perspectives, abilities and aspirations, which may not be very different from ours.
5. As you enjoy the films brought to you by MFF, I hope you will also be able to identify with those living in our community and cheer them on as they strive to overcome social stigma and other challenges. Our support and the offer of friendship will go a long way in helping them to live meaningfully and independently as much as they can in our community.
Engendering Inclusive Community Living
6. Singapore has come a long way in bringing about greater awareness to engender social inclusion. Social Service Agencies like MINDS play an important role in complementing the government’s efforts to support persons with intellectual disabilities and their families. Since its introduction in 2007, the Enabling Masterplans have served as roadmaps to guide the community in enabling them to realise their potential and be active contributors to society.
7. Today, the inclusivity outlook in Singapore is encouraging, but more can be done. A recent Social Inclusion Index study commissioned by MINDS found that respondents were empathetic towards those with more obvious cognitive impairment. Those who had positive experience or heard positive stories were also more receptive to interacting with persons with intellectual disabilities.
8. The study also revealed that 3 in 4 people in the study have not interacted with persons with intellectual disabilities before, and that a lack of opportunities for interactions has contributed to negative impressions. It is therefore important to create more opportunities for the community to interact with one another in common spaces like this.
9. Inclusivity, however, is a whole-of-society effort. The Enabling Masterplan 2030 (EMP2030) launched yesterday emphasised the need for the community to work hand-in-hand with the government in building a more inclusive Singapore. To this end, I am heartened to see that many have stepped forward to support persons with disabilities. For example, employers work with us to provide our graduates from the Special Education (SPED) schools with customised employment and internships under the School-to-Work Transition Programme helmed by SG Enable. Volunteers and befrienders also give their time, energy and expertise to contribute to our Social Service Agencies and to befriend and support persons with disabilities.
10. The Ministry of Education recently launched the Vocational Education Teaching and Learning Syllabus, which broadens the definition of work and recognises that our SPED graduates can make valued contributions in a range of settings, including open employment, sheltered and customised employment, volunteering and home-based work. This is a curriculum that is more inclusive and considers all students in SPED, in preparing them for post-school living, learning and working.
Need for Greater Public Education and Advocacy
11. One of the goals of EMP2030 is for Singapore to embody what it means to be a caring and inclusive community, with positive attitudes, mindsets, and behaviours towards persons with disabilities. Education and engagement are key to achieving this goal. To this end, the MFF is a powerful platform that creates greater public awareness. More importantly, it plays an integral role in debunking stereotypical mindsets. In this regard, I’m heartened to share that MINDS is formalising its partnership with the Singapore Film Society to ensure that the MFF is here to stay.
12. MINDS will also be signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Ngee Ann Polytechnic this evening, working with students from the School of Film and Media Studies to develop short films on intellectual disability. I hope this collaboration will encourage our youths to seek out stories that are closer to home and more relatable to our local audiences and express them through their lenses.
Conclusion
13. With the signing of the two MOUs, I look forward to more exciting films that will generate greater interest and discourse within our community, shape thoughts and inspire action towards greater inclusivity in the community.
14. In this Year of Celebrating SG Families, I encourage all of you to step forward – whether as family members, friends or employers, to explore how we can better support persons with intellectual disabilities and their families. Together, we can build a more cohesive and inclusive Singapore. I wish everyone a good MINDS Film Festival and all the best to all our partners and friends. Thank you.
Source: Ministry of Education, Singapore