Key points
- Plan ahead for an outing by checking online if your destination has the
necessary accessibility features.
- Many cinemas, theatres, museums, parks, playgrounds and sports facilities in
Singapore are accessible.
- If travelling overseas is a challenge, consider a staycation at a local resort
or hotel.
- Check out the list of inclusive leisure/ recreation activities that you can
participate in.
You can also check out this list of inclusive leisure/ recreation groups that specialise in activities such as
horticulture, arts and crafts, music and sports as well as these events here.
General information
Actions to take
- Visit the Enabling Village, which is equipped with accessibility features and various amenities for those
with disabilities.
When deciding what to do for the weekend, it helps to plan ahead by finding out if a place is wheelchair-accessible
or has other features to accommodate persons with disabilities as not all buildings are accessible.
In Singapore, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) is developing user-friendly
built environment by promoting Universal Design (UD) for buildings and public places where the young, the old, and
persons with disabilities can work, live and play. To encourage the adoption of such designs, the BCA
initiated the annual BCA UD
Awards to accord recognition to stakeholders for incorporating user-friendly features in their developments.
The Enabling Village near Redhill MRT station is an
integrated community space with multiple facilities for persons with disabilities and the rest of the community
– the first of its kind in Singapore. These include an ActiveSG gym with accessibility features. It also hosts various community events for visitors with disabilities. These include arts festivals, pop-up stores
and movie screenings.
Getting there
Transport is always an important consideration. Information on different modes of
transportation can be found in the Transport section of this
website.
Arts, culture and entertainment venues
Retail
Shopping Malls are important community nodes where persons with disabilities meet, share experiences, and participate in different activities.
Frasers Property Singapore is committed to creating a supportive and caring environment at their malls by investing in its industry-first Inclusion Champions programme with select tenants at its malls to provide consumer inclusivity training, including disability inclusion training supported by SG Enable, so that they can be better equipped to support shoppers with different needs, including persons with disabilities. As of July 2024, it sees 31 retailers providing inclusive services at 104 stores, across 10 Frasers Property Singapore malls.
Selected stores also offer “Calm Hours” every Monday and Tuesday, where lights are dimmed, and noise reduced to provide a more comfortable shopping environment for persons with sensory needs.
Elevators and ramps are conveniently located throughout to facilitate ease of access for visitors with mobility challenges. Complimentary loans for wheelchairs are available at selected malls, subject to availability.
In line with legislation, malls also welcome guide dogs trained to assist individuals with visual challenges.
For more details, do view Frasers' Accessibility Guide.
Disabled People's Association (DPA) Access Guides
Participating in recreational and leisure activities is essential for fostering social connections and enhancing well-being. Ensuring that these activities are accessible to persons with disabilities helps them engage more fully in community life and enjoy shared experiences.
The Disabled People's Association (DPA) is dedicated to improving accessibility for persons with disabilities by enhancing their access to recreational and leisure venues. In collaboration with LevelField Consultants and key partners such as National Gallery Singapore, JEM, and Singapore Zoo, DPA has developed a series of Access Guides. These guides offer key information about accessibility features, including step-free routes, accessible facilities, and provisions designed for visitors with specific needs. Each guide also includes maps and directions to help make planning your visit easier.
For more details, explore the following Access Guides:
National Gallery Singapore
Keppel Centre for Education
Jem
Singapore Zoo
Cinemas
At Cathay Cineplexes, wheelchair users are encouraged to buy tickets at box office
counters in advance to secure suitable seats. More information on the number of wheelchair-accessible seats
available in each theatre can be found below:
At Golden Village Cinemas, people can check if wheelchair-accessible seats are available
when booking online. More information can be found below:
Other useful links:
Performance Venues
Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay is dedicated to supporting access and upholding their vision of being an arts centre for everyone. Their premises are wheelchair-friendly, with features such as wheelchair-accessible toilets, accessible parking and special seating arrangements for patrons with mobility challenges. It is also guide and assistance dog-friendly and has additional accessibility facilities such as tactile floor markings, lift access, handrails and more. As part of its PLAYtime! series of theatre productions for children, Esplanade presents Relaxed Performances (RP) with a welcoming and relaxed environment for those who are on the autism spectrum or have sensory sensitivities. Special modifications are incorporated into the performance to make it relaxed. Since December 2022, Esplanade has also introduced Relaxed Environment (RE) performances at the centre. RE performances are suitable for anyone who benefits from being able to make a noise, leave and return to their seat or access the toilets during the performance. No modifications are made to the performance. Esplanade’s Beautiful Sunday and Coffee Morning & Afternoon Tea series are presented in RE settings. All Esplanade Presents programmes that offer concessions have ticket concessions for persons with disabilities (PWDs). This concession for PWDs can also be utilised by one accompanying companion.
Other venues such as the Sports Hub also have dedicated areas for accessible seating; tickets for such seats can be
bought by calling 3158 7888 or visiting the Singapore Indoor Stadium box office.
Museums
The National Museum of Singapore and National Gallery Singapore have
various accessibility services. Both have free manual wheelchairs available for use on a first-come-first-served
basis, and wheelchair-accessible facilities. They also welcome service dogs or guide dogs. Check the respective
museums’ websites for more information.
The ArtScience Museum has wheelchair-accessible toilets, lifts and parking spaces.
Public Libraries
The National Library Board (NLB) nurtures Readers for Life, Learning Communities and a Knowledgeable Nation by promoting reading, learning and history through the libraries and archives.
Punggol Regional Library
Punggol Regional Library offers a suite of services to create a welcoming start-to-end experience for persons with disabilities. Located in One Punggol, Punggol Regional Library is a warm and inviting space which features technology, programmes and special collections for all patrons. Interested patrons are encouraged to learn more about the library's Accessibility Information.
Accessible Membership
Accessible Membership provides an expanded scope of library services across all libraries for persons with disabilities, on top of basic library membership privileges.
Accessible Membership is open to persons with disabilities who are beneficiaries of eligible disability schemes and services funded by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), or who had attended or are currently attending government-funded Special Education (SPED) schools.
Accessible Members enjoy:
a) A longer borrowing period (from 21 to 42 days);
b) A longer renewal period (from 21 to 42 days);
c) Free reservation of items (which costs $1.57 per item); and
d) Priority access to accessible features in Punggol Regional Library.
Find out more about the Accessible Membership and how to apply.
Sports facilities and playgrounds
Engaging in sports and physical activities can make a tangible difference for people with disabilities. According to the NCSS Quality of Life Study, persons with disabilities who participate in sports or physical recreational activities are 1.7 times more likely to have a better quality of life (p. 27).
Participating in sports and physical activities boosts physical and mental health, builds confidence, independence, and social skills, and fosters connections within the community. That is why Inclusive Sports is a key component of the Enabling Masterplan 2030 (EMP2030), our national strategy for supporting people with disabilities and promoting inclusion.
In line with EMP2030, the Disability Sports Master Plan (DSMP) is being refreshed to increase sports participation among persons with disabilities. As the focal agency for disability and inclusion in Singapore, SG Enable is working closely with SportSG to explore making sports more inclusive across the country. The aim is to use sports as a way to promote wellness, dignity, independence, and a supportive community for everyone.
Sports
Actions to take
SportSG has launched the Inclusive Sports Portal in 2024, a comprehensive resource dedicated to promoting and facilitating sports for persons with disabilities.
By visiting the portal, you can find information on a wide range of accessible sports opportunities, such as their inclusive sports programmes and facilities designed to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities. Their "Play Inclusive" campaign promotes inclusivity within our community by creating shared sporting experiences for individuals with and without disabilities. This initiative fosters mutual understanding and cooperation, helping to build a more inclusive society.
Explore the Inclusive Sports Portal to discover how you or someone you know can get involved in inclusive sports and experience the numerous benefits of physical activity and community engagement.
The ActiveSG gym in the Enabling Village is the first inclusive gym where persons with disabilities, seniors and the able-bodied can exercise together. It features inclusive gym equipment such as removable seats for wheelchair users and Braille on the treadmill user panels for persons with visual impairment. You can also find other inclusive gyms and pools across Singapore.
For persons with disabilities and their caregivers who are interested to find more sporting opportunities, head over here for a list of disability sports providers.
For further enquiries, please write to inclusivesport@sport.gov.sg.
Parks
At the Singapore Botanic
Gardens, the Botany Centre and entrances are wheelchair-accessible, but some other areas are not due to the
hilly terrain. Wheelchairs are available on loan.
Gardens
By the Bay also has wheelchairs available for rental at $2 per day. It also has special ramps, lifts, wide
pathways and barrier-free routes incorporated in its spaces.
Playgrounds and toy libraries
There are over a dozen inclusive playgrounds in Singapore. These have equipment such as wheelchair-accessible
merry-go-rounds which allow children with and without special needs to play together. Children with special needs can also visit these 'toy libraries' which have toys that are specially curated for
them.
Vacationing in Singapore
If you wish to look for accessible accommodation, you may visit travel websites which
allows you to filter searches for properties with accessibility features. These include Agoda, Airbnb and TripAdvisor.
For locals in Singapore who find it challenging to travel overseas, or who are looking
for a short getaway, Sentosa Island is just a short drive from the mainland. The island has many
wheelchair-accessible attractions and hotels, including some in Resorts World Sentosa, an
integrated resort which is home to popular attractions such as Universal Studio Singapore and S.E.A. Aquarium.
Other useful links:
Resources and Support
- Booking wheelchair berth seats at cinemas:
- Accessibility information for the following places of interest:
- List of wheelchair-friendly attractions in Singapore: LadyIronChef
- Guide for wheelchair users arriving in/departing from Changi Airport: All Go Easy
- Wheelchair-friendly accommodation in Singapore: All Go Easy
- Additional resources for Caregivers