Inaugural symposium looks at legal issues faced by those with unseen disabilities

Idea for a multi-agency task force to support them raised at Access to Justice Symposium

- Christine Tan and Claudia Tan

A woman with intellectual disability allegedly endured sexual assault, but her ability to testify in court was doubted and no charges were filed.

A girl with undiagnosed autism spectrum disorder at the time, who was violent, was sent to a girls' home, but she was bullied and tried to take her own life.

These real stories of two individuals with special needs were highlighted on March 26 at Singapore's first symposium on legal challenges faced by people with invisible disabilities.

The inaugural Access to Justice (A2J) Symposium was hosted by legal aid charity Pro Bono SG at the State Courts.

Lawyer Peggy Yee, who is the chairwoman of the organising committee, told The Straits Times that invisible disabilities include mental health conditions, such as psychosis and schizophrenia, and special needs such as autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and intellectual disability.

"No one wears a sign to say he has mental health issues or is autistic," she said.

In his speech at the event, Second Minister for Law Edwin Tong said the Ministry of Law (MinLaw) would be committed to a multi-agency task force, comprising ministries and social support agencies, to support people with invisible disabilities within the justice system.

The idea for such a task force was raised by Ms Yee at the symposium.

Mr Tong, who is also Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, added that a symposium of this nature was long overdue.

Noting that Singapore's legal system has been continually enhanced over the years, he said: "There is not much point in being a first-class legal system if the members of society that it is meant to serve are unable to access it, unable to claim justice and unable to use the system."