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Possibilities for an Inclusive Society in Singapore: Becoming Inclusive Within
Author(s) -
Lim Levan
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of policy and practice in intellectual disabilities
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.592
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 1741-1130
pISSN - 1741-1122
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-1130.2009.00214.x
Subject(s) - inclusion (mineral) , inclusive development , universal design , sociology , inclusive growth , social change , social transformation , political science , order (exchange) , social model of disability , economic growth , public relations , environmental ethics , social science , psychology , law , business , poverty , engineering , economics , mechanical engineering , finance , psychiatry , philosophy
Abstract The envisioning of Singapore as an inclusive society has witnessed the most progressive systemic and policy developments concerning people with disabilities in recent years. The building of “heartware” in society (as in the will, values, and attitudes of its citizens) in order to realize the vision of an inclusive society, however, requires both change from within and change from without. For the vision of an inclusive society to be realized, an inclusive system needs to be upheld and supported by people who are inclusive within. The seeds for the possibilities of change in society toward inclusivity of diverse others (e.g., persons with intellectual disabilities) lie within the individual and imply that at the core of such change is personal interior growth and transformation. The sustainable and successful transformation of Singapore in becoming an inclusive society, in addition to the external social and educational changes, depends on individuals who are willing to embrace interior change and personal transformation to become more inclusive of themselves and others.