A Voice of Our Own: Rethinking the Disabled in the Historical Imagination of Singapore Zhuang Kuan Song National University of S
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A VOICE OF OUR OWN: RETHINKING THE DISABLED IN THE HISTORICAL IMAGINATION OF SINGAPORE ZHUANG KUAN SONG NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE 2010 A VOICE OF OUR OWN: RETHINKING THE DISABLED IN THE HISTORICAL IMAGINATION OF SINGAPORE ZHUANG KUAN SONG (B.A.(Hons.), National University of Singapore) A THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE 2010 “I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble…” Helen Keller, 1880-1968 Author, Political Activist, Lecturer Deaf Blind Person Acknowledgements This research had been a long, arduous but entirely rewarding process. Coming to this stage has not been easy, and apologies are in order for those whom I had inadvertently or accidentally offended throughout this process. Throughout the two years of my postgraduate studies, I learnt much about myself and about the lives of people with disabilities. Understanding the mentalities of disabled people and how their lives are structured has become second nature to me and I hope had made me a better person. This research would not have been possible without the support from my supervisor, Dr Sai Siew Min. She had been my academic supervisor since my Bachelors’ and had given me guidance since. Dr Sai had been encouraging and I thank her for the patience she had shown while I was formulating the direction of the research. Consulting her had been a breeze for she would gladly put aside whatever she was doing, whenever I entered her office without prior appointment. Even during her pregnancy and maternity leave, she would gladly accommodate my needs and questions. I would not have wished for a better supervisor than her. The majority of the two years of my post graduate studies had been spent working in the postgraduate room. Here I had interactions with fellow course mates and the staff and professors of the History Department. They had shown kindness and support towards me, and had never shied away from a warm greeting. My thanks to them for making me feel at home in the Department. The same goes to the librarians and staff at the Central Library. Knowing them on a personal basis had made things much easier at times, and I thank them for their support. i Throughout the course of my work, I made the acquaintance of Uncle Ron and Auntie Rena. Both had become like family to me, and I had enjoyed the many days that I spent at their home. Visiting them was never a chore and I would like to thank them for allowing me to be part of their lives. Gordon too, had become more of a friend than an interviewee and I am grateful for the time we spent conversing. My own friends have also been a source of support and inspiration. My soccer kakis for constantly reminding me that there is more to life than books. Sundays and weekday nights spent kicking a ball away would had been lonely without all your companionship. My family for being there always. These two years had also seen many upheavals in my life. My close friends had always been around to support me during these dark times. My gratitude goes to Cammie, Towkay, Stanley and Ying. Cammie, you had been a wonderful confidant for the past 11 years, and may we always be the best of friends forever. Towkay, may us one day fulfill our dreams of winning a singing competition, after all the karaoke practices that we have had. Stanley, I regretted selling my bike, but not meeting a friend like you. To Ying, my thanks for all the Thai lessons and practices that you had shared with me. I hope that you would be able to find a feen and happiness soon. And of course to you, Khun Nam Waan. For all the companionship that you had given me and the memories that we created and are still creating. To many more years ahead of us. ii Table of Content Acknowledgements..................................................................................................................... i Table of Content ....................................................................................................................... iii Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................. v Summary .................................................................................................................................. vii Chapter 1: Repositioning Disability within Civil Society in Singapore ..................................... 1 Civil Society in Singapore ....................................................................................................... 1 The writing of Singapore History ........................................................................................... 3 Studying Disability in Singapore ............................................................................................. 5 The Beginnings of the Disability Rights Movement ............................................................... 6 Disability Studies and the Social Model of Disability ............................................................. 8 Challenging the Social Theorists .......................................................................................... 12 The Postmodern Turn in Disability Theory .......................................................................... 15 Disability and Feminism ....................................................................................................... 17 The Discursive Construction of Disability ............................................................................ 20 Chapter 2: The State and the Disabled ................................................................................... 23 1945-1960s: Of Welfare and Aid .......................................................................................... 23 1970s: A New Language of Rehabilitation ........................................................................... 25 1980s: The Equalization of Opportunities ........................................................................... 28 The State and the Remaking of Disability ............................................................................ 29 A National Workshop on Defining Disability and the CRDP, 1983 ....................................... 32 The Impact of the IYDP and the Disability Movement......................................................... 38 The Advisory Council of the Disabled, 1988 ........................................................................ 39 The State’s Understanding of Disability ............................................................................... 44 Chapter 3: The Coming of Age of Disability Activism ............................................................. 46 The Activism of the Disabled ............................................................................................... 48 The Disabled Worker ........................................................................................................... 51 Education and the Disabled ................................................................................................. 53 Bus, Taxi or Car? ................................................................................................................... 56 Connecting a Nation? The MRT System ............................................................................... 63 Accessibility in Singapore ..................................................................................................... 67 iii From “For” the Disabled to “Of” the Disabled ..................................................................... 72 Chapter 4: A Positive Identity of Disability ............................................................................ 76 Celebrating Normality .......................................................................................................... 77 “In your Condition you still think of Sex?” ........................................................................... 80 Building a Community, Building a Nation ............................................................................ 83 Nationalism and the National Day Parades ......................................................................... 87 Chapter 5: Performing Disabled Identities ............................................................................. 90 Chee Yuan Cheow: The World is Ours to Hold .................................................................... 90 Gordon: Seeing the World in Different Ways ...................................................................... 98 Ron Chandran Dudley: The Discursive Limits of Disabled Identity .................................... 104 An Identity of Disability ...................................................................................................... 108 Chapter 6: Situating the Disabled in the Historical Imagination of Singapore ................... 110 Appendix A: Documents of the DPI ....................................................................................... 115 Appendix B: Definitions of Disability...................................................................................... 126 Appendix C: Form used in the CRDP ...................................................................................... 128 Bibliography ........................................................................................................................... 142 iv Abbreviations ARF Additional Registration