Dear Members and Friends

Last week my team and I had a meeting with APSN which enables mildly intellectually challenged people to learn skills and find work. It was an educational, humbling and very touching experience because APSN also brought along two of their partners: Swensen’s and Orchid Laundry both of which have gone beyond intention and have provided employment for differently abled people for many years. The key learning points were:-

1. It takes a village to feed a child – here the work of the APSN job coaches are key to support the businesses which provide employment and the differently enabled employees.

2. Providing employment to differently abled people is not about PR or fudging quotas. It’s super hard and needs patience, compassion, persistence and true grit in spades.

3. There is still a stigma or level of uncomfortableness among most existing employees and, in a family business, among family members when differently abled staff are hired. Singapore is not as inclusive as it should be but our guest speakers are blazing a trail of humanity, openness and, above all, example.

4. Our guest speakers’ message to all businesses is the time for excuses is over. Talk is cheap. Stand up and help your fellow human beings now!

My team and I salute Rick Lim of APSN, Teo Tong Loong & Benny Ng of Swensen’s and Harry Toh of Orchid Laundry. We also salute our members and exemplars at Singapore Business network on Disability (SBNoD).

When will you join them?

Yours faithfully
Victor Mills
Chief Executive