Members of Friends of the Disabled Society use the accessible beach track during a trial run at Siloso Beach. – The Straits Times
SINGAPORE: Victor Chng loves the beach, but he has not visited one in at least 20 years.
Chng, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair to get around, said: “The sand would get stuck to my (wheelchair’s) wheels and they can get very dirty and troublesome.”
So, the 53-year-old was delighted to see Singapore’s first accessible beach track at Sentosa’s Siloso Beach.
The track extends 23m over the sand towards the shoreline from the Emerald Pavilion, which sits between the road and the beach. The slip-resistant track enables wheelchair users and others with mobility difficulties to access the beach, but stops a distance from the water.
It was launched on Saturday (Aug 10) at a morning event organised by the Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) and SG Enable, and supported by Republic Polytechnic.
The track and a recently introduced tour of the island, led by and designed for people with disabilities, are part of Sentosa’s commitment to be a more inclusive tourist destination.
“These innovative initiatives are designed to enhance the visitor experience for everyone, regardless of physical ability or mobility challenges, and to set a new standard for accessibility in tourism,” the SDC said.
It added that more than 30 locations on Sentosa, such as hotels, attractions and dining outlets, already include lifts, entrances and pathways that are accessible to wheelchair users.
Paralympic medallist Theresa Goh, who has retired from competitive swimming, described the track as a “great step”, having seen similar initiatives in Australia and Spain.
The 37-year-old said: “For wheelchair users and people using walking aids, it is very challenging to go onto the sand, as you don’t know how uneven or how hard the sand is. And so, there are safety issues.”
She said the track enables people with disabilities to experience going to the beach safely.
The track is being trialled until Oct 31.
Visitors can give their feedback via a QR code displayed near the track.
This will help the SDC assess the feasibility of placing such tracks on other Sentosa beaches.
At the Aug 10 event, visitors could also try para-sports such as blind football, boccia and stand-up paddle boarding, and pen their best wishes to the Singapore athletes competing in the upcoming Paralympic Games in Paris.
Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development, was the guest of honour at the event.
Chan Fui Lee, 55, and her husband Cheong Weng Thim, 54, were at the beach with their 21-year-old daughter Cheong Chel Sie, who has a rare genetic disorder and autism spectrum disorder, and uses a stroller to get around.
Chan said their daughter was excited to use the track and a beach wheelchair, which can be rolled across the sand, allowing her to dip her feet into the sea.
Her mother noted that the track allows people with disabilities like her daughter, and others such as seniors with mobility issues, to enjoy the beach.
She said she hopes the SDC would consider extending the track so that it ends nearer the shoreline, so that users get a better view of the sea. – The Straits Times/ANN
