Organization
Disabled People's Association(DPA)
Singapore's only cross-disability non-profit organisation run by and for persons with disabilities, founded in 1986. DPA advocates for independent living, full societal participation, and equal status for disabled Singaporeans through policy engagement, disability awareness training, and direct member support. It is the key civil society voice shaping Singapore's disability policy.
About
The Disabled People's Association (DPA) was registered in Singapore on 28 April 1986, making it one of Southeast Asia's longest-established cross-disability organisations governed by persons with disabilities. Located at Thong Chai Building, 50 Chin Swee Road, DPA is the only cross-disability, non-profit, membership organisation in Singapore that is run by people with disabilities for people with disabilities.
What They Do
DPA engages in policy advocacy across housing, transport, employment, and education to push for a more inclusive Singapore. The association delivers disability awareness and inclusion training to employers and public agencies, provides peer support and advisory services to disabled individuals and their families, and publishes research on disability rights. DPA regularly engages with government ministries and the Enabling Masterplan review processes, contributing the lived-experience perspective of disabled Singaporeans.
Who They Serve
DPA serves Singaporeans and Singapore residents with all types of physical, sensory, and other disabilities, regardless of age. Its peer-led model means members directly support one another through shared experience. The organisation also serves employers and organisations seeking to build disability-inclusive workplaces and broader civil society stakeholders through its public education and advocacy work.
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