Post material inspiration, material execution: the history of disability inclusion in Singapore (1980s-2024)

Abstract

This thesis examines the politics of disability inclusion in Singapore since the late 1980s till the present day. Through deconstructing societal discourse about disability in various arenas of disabled life, namely the strategic framework of disability services, anti-discriminatory laws and guidelines, and public awareness on disability, I argue that the politics of disability inclusion had been defined by a pursuit of post-material values by various stakeholders in Singaporean society, a pursuit which has been shaped and limited by material considerations. More specifically, Singapore’s pursuit of post-material values was the impetus for disability inclusion in Singapore to kick off. However, the execution of disability inclusion has been influenced by material factors: the need for prudent resource management and ensuring security through social cohesion limited disability inclusion, while boosting the actual and perceived productivity of the disabled body was a prominent strategy in including the disabled into society.