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21 people with disabilities featured on ‘Purple Parade train’ under initiative to raise awareness

2024-03-14 00:00:00.0 海峡时报-新加坡原网页

SINGAPORE - During Hari Raya in 2023, 11-year-old Nur Anisah Daaniys Muhammad Sufian had visitors at her home who were curious about her blindness.

The two children wondered if Anisah, who was the same age as them, knew the same things they did, and asked her questions like how to spell the words “cat” and “sofa”.

“In my mind, I was like, ‘I’m not that disabled’,” said Anisah, who is a student vocalist for The Purple Symphony, Singapore’s largest inclusive orchestra.

She is one of 21 people who are featured in a Circle Line MRT train – dubbed “The Purple Parade train” – and on the platform screen doors of Bras Basah station, as part of The Purple Parade movement’s latest campaign to raise awareness of and celebrate the abilities of those with disabilities via public transport.

The decals of the 21 people – who include Paralympians Yip Pin Xiu and Maximillian Tan – on the train and station platform doors will be up for six weeks, from March 14 to April 21, said the Central Singapore Community Development Council and transport operator SMRT.

The 21 people will also be featured on two buses that ply SMRT’s route 960 for six weeks, from April 25 to June 5.

Besides mentioning the disability and occupation of each of the 21 people, the decals also include a quote from them.

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Anisah’s quote is about how she aspires to be a professional singer or a music teacher when she grows up, and her hopes to bring positivity and love through singing.

She hopes the initiative will lead more people to show compassion to and have greater awareness of people with disabilities.

“I wish for the public to see many of our faces and take the opportunity to relate to us,” she said.

Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat, who attended the launch of the initiative on March 14, said it was important to help people not only recognise disabilities, but also appreciate the abilities of those with them.

West Coast GRC MP Rachel Ong, who is an adviser to The Purple Parade, said the initiative involved public transport, as “we want to look at how to include our persons with disabilities in terms of housing, education, transportation”.

Local artist Glenn Phua, 28, who has mild autism, is another of the 21 people featured.

“I am actually very happy and excited that people know me and that I am a good man,” he said.

Local artist Glenn Phua, who has mild autism, is one of the 21 people featured on the train. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH

Ms Yip, who has won multiple gold medals in swimming at the Paralympic Games and world championships, said she was glad that Singapore is becoming an inclusive society in terms of infrastructure.

The 32-year-old recounted how she was initially scared of the gap between the train and platform at MRT stations when she first boarded trains with her wheelchair when she was younger. She also wondered if the stations would have a lift installed.

“But, nowadays, I take the MRT so often,” said Ms Yip, who has the progressive nerve condition Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and is a former Nominated MP.

“It’s important to create an environment where people are friendly and happy to ask for help,” she added.