Purple Parade
The Purple Parade is Singapore’s largest movement to support inclusion and celebrate abilities of person’s with disabilities. It aims to help Singaporean’s increase their awareness of the disability community and to recognize their abilities. It is the 9th year that they are holding the Purple Parade on October 30th 2021. This year, the Purple Parade held its very first hybrid concert with audiences joining the Purple Parade at Suntec City and on Facebook Live.
Hybrid event
The hybrid event was hosted by Yip Ping Xiu, five times Paralympic Gold medallist as well the vice chairperson of the Purple Parade. To encourage supporters to support inclusion, they even have social media platforms where they have a Purple Wall. To support the movement on social media, supporters can take a photo and posts it on instagram or facebook using the hashtags #supportinclusion and #celebrateabilities. They also have a website where you can find out more about the Purple Parade: https://www.purpleparade.sg/about
Purpose of The Purple Parade
According to Yip Ping Xiu, she thinks that is is a huge privilege to be part of a powerful and impactful movement watching the Purple Parade grow every year. She felt that with such growth Singaporeans want a more inclusive society. She believes that core of the Purple Parade movement is to ensure that persons with disabilities are involved in the main chapter of Singapore’s growth. This means having equal access to things like education, employment, healthcare, transport and social interaction.
According to Alistair, the host of the Purple Parade, the annual parade is a platform for everyone from different walks of life to come together to stand in solidarity for persons with disabilities. He is encouraged to see a great turn out together. He is happy to see a strong support for the “Let’s all go Purple campaign” this year. They have a series of workshops called “Walk in my shoes” which is to create public awareness of major disabilities through firsthand perspective. Next, they have a Purple Symphony which is Singapore’s largest orchestra consisting of musicians with and without disabilities. They have performed at many events in Singapore from the Chingay parade, National Parade and the annual Purple Parade.
Past, Present and the Future
Mayor Denise Phua is the advisor to the Purple Parade movement. She shared that she is happy to welcome Minister Masogos and a small group comprising the organising committee, Representatives of Singapore’s 4th Enabling Masterplan for the Disabled and leaders from the business sector, government and Parliament. She wanted to share the past, present and the future of the Purple Parade.
History of the Purple Parade
She shared briefly of how The Purple Parade started in the past. 9 years ago, it started as a grounds up movement with a group of volunteers who wanted a national occasion to ensure persons with disabilities are remembered not forgotten. They wanted to support inclusion and to look beyond disabilities and celebrate abilities of the differently able. The first Purple Parade started at Hong Lim Park where they first made their statement with 3600 people.
They moved on to Suntec City where they saw more than 10 000 gathered annually in contingents, buildings lighted in purple, carnivals and concerts beyond their wildest imagination. The event was never to replace the good work done out there by their partners and disability organizations but always to remind the rest of Singapore that everyone is worthy and deserving of equal opportunities in life’s essentials.
Present times with Covid-19
Fast forward to the present with Covid-19, the team had to pivot to other means to continue The Purple Parade movement. They stayed the course with strong supporters and their online Going Purple campaigns and concert stayed strong. Even when the committee does not have the bandwidth to personally engage everyone, thousands have continued to support the cause and sportingly joined in. This year, more than 20 000 are expected to join them. “Let’s All Go Purple” campaign in October was a great success. They have introduced Purple Conversations and Digital Human Libraries to share the life stories of persons with disabilities.
Future of The Purple Parade
As for the future, the spirit of The Purple Parade must continue. It is about inclusiveness, not exclusiveness. The movement must include both persons with and without disabilities in leadership, outreach, partnerships and programmes. Their current and next generation of leaders in The Purple Parade and many activists will focus on the 3 A’s – Awareness, Action and Advocacy.
The team will build for the future deeper awareness of persons with disabilities because they all come in spectrum. The team will take action to support the higher-priority needs of the community including in the adult space. The team will continue to advocate for sustainable access to opportunities at school, at the workplace, in community facilities. Past success is no guarantee of future success. The only way to predict the future, as we all know is to help create it together. Denise Phua ended her sharing by thanking the supporting for believing that regardless of one’s ability or disability everyone is worthy.
How an individual supports Inclusion in his business
According to Norman Ngai, a financial advisory manager representing Financial Alliance Pte Ltd, he has been supporting inclusivity by being aware of the needs of persons with disabilities in his work in the financial sector. This is where his business provides equal access to consultation on insurance services and supports the disability sector with action. It is good to know that his firm caters to the special needs by having knowledge of a scheme where individuals with autism can get coverage for medical expenses due to accidents and infectious diseases.
In conclusion, it is heartening to know that he is fulfilling the vision of The Purple Parade which is for Persons with Disabilities to be fully included, valued and celebrated in our country. You can read more about the mission and vision of The Purple Parade here.
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