Treat our friends on wheelchairs and caregivers with understanding.

[tom]

Although Punggol residents are relatively young , but on mornings/evenings especially during weekends, we can still see some wheelchair bound residents with their caregivers/maids in eateries and at void decks.

Residents use wheelchairs for many different reasons, just like an able person who may like to move around on a bicycle, motorcycle or car. The only difference is we are mobile and they have problems getting around. Some may be old, others may be injured.

  So If we're interacting with a wheelchair user for the first time, we may not know how to react. Of course we don’t want to be offensive, at the same time we may  want to be helpful and understanding.

Punggol residents may encounter cases where our fellow wheelchair bound residents and caregivers are put in a sorrowful position  when going around searching for a vacant table for their meals.

Are Singapoeans game enough,  willing to share a table eating with them ? or graciously let them have your table ?  lets share.

[tom]

Wheel-chair info :

People on wheel-chairs need not necessarily be disable or sickly. 

In future it may be another means of transport for the slightly inconvenience. They may only temporarily suffer from pains like Arthritis, Low back pain, recent Knee replacement, Lower Leg Pain or pain related with bone structures.

Our population is ageing, middle aged may be stresed, others temporary disable may find it difficult to move around with clutches.

 In Europe and some other advance countries, people with slight mobility problems are proudly moving around with classic 3 wheeler, 4 wheeler, joystick control battery operated scooters. Price range from S$ 600 to several thosand dollars. Some can be use on rough country terrain, seaside,  others can climb stairs.

The Govt. are currently building infrastructures for the next 10, 20 years where more peole are expected to move around with wheel chairs. Those who can afford may be on 3 or 4 wheeler motorised wheel-chair / scooters.

[tom]

It is heartening to note, Punggol North are gradually making wheelchairs more accessible from inner roads to kerbs. Some had been completed, others are under construction.

It's an act of compassion.