Judy Wee’s dedication in campaigning for an accessible and inclusive environment led to significant changes for those living with disabilities. Judy Wee was born with deformed limbs, but she never let that stop her from doing what she wanted. She loves water sports, learnt to cook and clean as a child, studied at mainstream schools and started a consultancy to improve disabled access in Singapore’s built environment.
The MDAS supports 150 members, or about 500 if you include their families. “Many years ago, doctors would tell parents that their affected child would die before reaching adulthood. Today, we see more of them live to their thirties. But we’ve not seen anyone in Singapore living beyond that.” Her parents sought to normalise her growing up years. They didn’t restrict her from doing anything; they simply told her that she was different. They didn’t mollycoddle her either. Like her siblings, she too had to learn to do household chores, including cooking and cleaning.I didn’t know what disability was. I didn’t grow up thinking I was disabled.
At that time – in the late 1970s – disabled people were also not “seen” in the public sphere, primarily because of the inaccessibility of the built environment. She spent the next three decades working there. Along the way, she completed her tertiary education via a scholarship programme, graduating from Ngee Ann Polytechnic with a diploma in computer studies.
Eventually they gathered enough data to build a strong case, and began discussions with the Public Works Department , now the Building and Construction Authority .When Wee saw how wheelchair-bound people in Vancouver, Canada, moved around with such ease, she resolved to look at how Singapore could be just as accessible.
Treat us as you would anyone else. If we need help, we’ll ask for help… Just don’t pretend you didn’t see us. Wee’s first day in primary one – her parents pushed for her to study in mainstream schools, first in CHIJ Opera Estate Primary School, and later at CHIJ Katong Convent.