The Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore or MINDS has become the lead provider of education services for the Intellectually Disabled.  It was the pioneer in this field when it set up the first Chin Pu Centre serving 26 children in 1962 - some 42 years ago.  Not long after, in 1969, the lack of residential facilities for severely Intellectually Disabled persons prompted the Association to establish Tampines Home.  This was partly to help ease the long waiting list for admission into Woodbridge Hospital – it seems that in those days they used to send Intellectually Disabled persons to the mental hospital.  Quite mind-less, actually, but that is now history. 

MINDS has since progressed to emerge as the largest organisation serving the Intellectually Disabled, with 5 Special Schools, 3 Employment Development Centres, 2 Training & Development Centres and 2 residential homes.  What has impressed me is the spirit exhibited by MINDS, of constantly innovating and evolving to remain relevant and to provide the best service. 

Today, I am truly happy and honoured to officiate in yet another epoch-making moment of MINDS - the  Foundation Laying of its new Combined Service Centre.  I understand that construction is scheduled for completion in October 2005, and that the project is 90% funded by the Ministry for Community Development, Youth and Sports to help Voluntary Welfare Organisations upgrade their services.  MINDS raised the remaining 10% of funds from public donations.

Although the first major component of this new Centre is Residential Services, it is a Home with a Difference. A Home with a Heart, I might add.  It will replace the current Tampines Home and West Coast Hostel, and will offer individualized services to Intellectually Disabled persons across age groups and functioning levels - from children, to the multiple-handicapped, to those capable of working in open employment.  Its Children’s Home will be among the first dedicated residential service for Intellectually Disabled children.  A “preparatory Group Home” will expose higher functioning Intellectual Disability adults to independent living and help transit them to full social integration. 

The second major component will be Adult Training Services where the “Training & Development Centre” will reflect MINDS’ very own brand of a day activity centre providing effective training to develop the potential of lower functioning clients.  In fact, “Training & Development” will be the hallmark of services offered at the new Centre.  It will not be a Home where residents sit around and pass time aimlessly.  The entire Centre will be a training institution dedicated to maximizing the potential of Intellectually Disabled persons.  Independent living, social, leisure and work skills will be emphasized.  Before-&-After-School programme will be administered to the children, pre-vocational training will be conducted for those able, engagement strategies will be applied to those in severe condition, and social enterprises in the form of a Cafeteria and Thriftshop in the premises will offer employment to the more capable ones. 

It is only through such value-added programmes to complement the purpose-built facilities that MINDS can offer a life of quality and dignity to the residents.  MINDS’ resolve in achieving a paradigm shift in residential services is illustrated by its engagement of a renowned expert from the Centre for Developmental Disability Studies, University of Sydney, to help develop the service model.  This also sets a precedent in the social welfare circle in raising the quality of service provision to international standards.

With its comprehensive services and a wide range of clients, the new Centre will be able to offer a range of volunteering opportunities.  I am happy to learn that MINDS has specified Community Involvement Outreach and the building of “Social Capital” as a major strategy to garner community resources in support of the new Centre’s various endeavours.  Such efforts will not only educate the public towards accepting the Intellectually Disabled, but will certainly help to harness the Singapore “Heart-ware” to build a caring and cohesive society. 

The North East CDC will definitely be glad to partner MINDS in such community outreach projects. In fact, our   NE CDC will set aside a $ for $ matching grant of up to $20,000 for MINDS and Bowen Sec School to work out collaborative programmes. I am thankful to Bowen Principal, Mr Paul Chua, who, when I first broached the idea,  readily committed to work together with the NE CDC and MINDS to make this ‘inclusive’ programme a success. This will allow the Bowen School students to work hand-in-hand with Minds residents  and make the latter  feel that we are all indeed part of the total Singapore society.

This, after all, was what Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong emphasized during his National Day rally Speech. No one should feel left out in our Singapore society. We also welcome the policy announcements made by PM Lee, during the Official Opening of The Spastic Children’s Association of  Singapore’s Cerebral Palsy Centre last September 18, where more facilities and attention were rightly offered for persons with disabilities.   Indeed, many more able Singaporeans should come forth and extend their helping hands to make volunteerism more meaningful in this area. There is plenty of room for more helping hands. .    

In fact, I am privileged today to be present among so many Singaporeans who have played an important role in the formation of this “Singapore Heart-ware”.  I understand that SAFRA Radio DJs camped out in the shopping mall without comfort and rest for 4 days and nights, Singapore Polytechnic students attempted an unprecedented “Grand-Slam” Golf Tournament, Raffles Institution students organized an innovative “Swimathon”, and volunteers run a thriftshop called “Good-as-New Boutique”, all for the sake of raising funds for this new building.

MINDS is grateful also to corporate sponsors such as Seagate,  Merrill Lynch, KPMG and others who have also contributed funds and volunteer effort as active corporate citizens.  As your Mayor, I want to thank each of you for strengthening the Singapore social fabric.  I understand that significant sponsors would be honoured in the new Centre through rooms and facilities being named after them.  It is indeed an innovative way of engaging community support, as once your names are engraved, you are committed for life ! 

I would like to applaud MINDS for its work in developing the Intellectually Disabled towards leading more fulfilling lives.  I also extend my best wishes to Mrs  Jaya Mohideen, President of MINDS, its Executive Committee and the staff of MINDS as they continue with their challenging journey of integrating the Intellectually Disabled into mainstream society.  My CDC will extend to you our support to help mobilize community resources and build “social capital” for your new Centre. We chose “Bonding Heart and Home” as our NE CDC motto for good reasons.

I wish MINDS much success for its first purpose-built residential and training centre.  Before I lay the Foundation today, I now have great pleasure in naming this new Centre as MINDSville@Napiri.

Thank you.

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