Disability Sports Master Plan

The Disability Sports Master Plan aims to expand access and opportunities for sports participation by persons with disabilities (PwDs), develop organisational and professional capabilities in disability sports, as well as build public awareness of disability sports and strengthen affinity with Team Singapore athletes.

Photo of tennis coach teaching smiling male learner with special needs how to perform an overhead serve

Disability Sports Master Plan - 3 Broad Outcomes

Expand access and opportunities

Develop capabilities
Build public awareness of disability sports

Community We Serve

Physical

Physical disabilities refer to either a total or partial loss of bodily functions such as the ability to walk, or a total or partial loss of a part of the body. It can result from congenital causes or acquired from serious illnesses or injury

Sensory

Sensory disability includes deafness/hard of hearing and visual impairment. Deafness is the partial or complete loss of hearing in one or both ears. There are varying degrees of visual impairment from moderate-low vision to total blindness.

Intellectual

Intellectual disability is a developmental disorder characterised by limitations in intellectual functioning (reasoning, learning, problem-solving) and adaptive behaviour (communication, social and practical skills). This disability originates before the age of 18, and the individual faces more difficulty than others in thinking, learning, and independence

Autism

Autism is a developmental disability that affects the person’s ability to make sense of the world and relate with others. Persons with autism face difficulties with social communication and interaction across contexts.

*definitions in alignment with SG Enable

Timeline and Key Milestone

2015 2015 2016 2016 2016 2017 2018 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2022

Jan 2015

MCCY convened an inter-agency Committee for Disability Sports to recommend ways to raise awareness of and participation in disability sports, as well as engender greater inclusiveness and understanding of persons with disabilities (PwDs) through disability sports.

Photo of para three athletes lighting up the ASEAN Para Games cauldron

Dec 2015

Singapore hosted the ASEAN Para Games for the first time from 3 to 9 Dec, generating public awareness about disability sports at an unprecedented scale. The event demonstrated how sport can be a means to foster inclusive and accessible communities.

A group of children with special needs using flotation devices in the swimming pool guided by coach and parents

May 2016

Disability Sports Master Plan (DSMP) was launched with 3 broad outcomes recommended:

Expand Access & Opportunities for Participation
Develop Organisational & Professional Capabilities:
Build Awareness & Strengthen Affinity

May 2016

The first Centre of Expertise (COE) for Disability Sports - Sengkang Sports Centre - was officially opened in conjunction with the launch of Yes! I Can, a beginner level disability swim programme.

A volunteer and a participant on wheelchair at inclusive ActiveSG gym

Feb 2016

ActiveSG gym started operating the inclusive gym at Enabling Village which has a complete set of inclusive gym machines.

Jan 2017

The inaugural Inclusive Sports Festival (ISF) was introduced at Our Tampines Hub featuring 15 para and adaptive sports tryouts. The event was intended to spark interest in sports participation among the PwD community.

Photo of Guest of Honour and special guests at launch event of Play-Ability

Mar 2018

Play-Ability, initiated by Temasek Foundation Cares and SportCares, was introduced to encourage regular participation in recreational sports.

Photo of a special needs badminton player high five his unified partner whithout disability after a game during Play Inclusive

Jul 2018

Inaugural Play Inclusive competition, where persons with intellectual disabilities teamed up with students from mainstream schools to compete as unified teams. Co-organised by SportCares and Special Olympics Singapore, this initiative was designed to facilitate shared sporting experiences between persons with and without disabilities.

A coach looking on to a boy preparing to throw a basketball into the hoop.

Mar 2019

Intro A Sport was introduced to match knowledge and skills of disability centre and school staff and sports coaches to encourage sustainable sports programmes in schools and centres.

Illustrations of people kicking a football, doing lunges and high knees.

May 2020

Online exercise videos was created for PWDs and families to stay active when COVID-19 disrupted all the physical sessions.

Guest of honour and VIPs on stage during the opening of Inclusive Sports Conference 2021.

Mar 2021

The Inclusive Sports Conference was a three-day virtual conference aimed to strengthen Singapore’s ecosystem for inclusive sports by organising a gathering of disability sports sharing and capability building, with a long-term view towards international and regional partnerships.

Jan 2022

The Social Service Corporate Membership Scheme was introduced. It aims to partner with Social Service Agencies that serve PwDs to facilitate ActiveSG membership sign ups and encourage group access to sports facilities by members of these SSAs for an active lifestyle.

Mar 2022

The introduction of Para Sport Academy provides greater support by providing structured programmes, quality coaching and conducive facilities for participants to enjoy para sports in Singapore on a regular basis and progress along the development pathway.

COS 2023 speech on DSMP updates