What Singapore's new disability task force must get right

More attention needs to be given to removing barriers that prevent participation in the workforce and everyday life.

- Lyn Lee

The difference between asking "What is wrong" and asking "What helps" is where inclusion either stalls or succeeds. It is also where Singapore's new Taskforce on Assurance for Families with Persons with Disabilities, set up in November 2025, will be tested, says the writer.

(ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH)

“How disabled are you?” the recruiter asked.

After life-changing brain surgery that left her with multiple disabilities, Clairin applied for a role in the same industry where she had already built over a decade of expertise.

That single question showed how quickly inclusive intent can unravel when processes are not designed for participation.

The question was not malicious. It was procedural, a checkbox moment in a process that’s meant to facilitate equal employment opportunity. Yet, it revealed a deeper problem where there is a greater focus on labels than on whether the candidate could actually contribute meaningfully to the company.

Clairin chose not to proceed with the remaining interview rounds. She joined another organisation that approached inclusion differently. Rather than centring the conversation on diagnosis, the management focused on what she could offer and what she would need to contribute effectively. A role was shaped around capability, not constraint. Belief came first, followed by practical adjustments that made participation possible. Yet, the journey to secure, and sustain, employment was far from easy. Clairin had to pitch for her own role, and initiate conversations about accommodations after the offer letter was extended.

That difference between asking “What is wrong?” and “What helps?” is where inclusion either stalls or succeeds. It is also where Singapore’s new Taskforce on Assurance for Families with Persons with Disabilities, set up in November 2025, will be tested.